ENVIRONMENTALISTS in Wales claimed today that there are over 45,000 potentially contaminated land sites across the country.

A Friends of the Earth (FOE) Cymru investigation has found 45,157 potentially contaminated sites, which may contain dangerous substances left over from things like past industrial activities and waste disposal.

But the campaigners claim fewer than one in three councils publish a contaminated land register online and almost none of the sites have been inspected.

FOE Cymru’s Kirsty Luff said: “We must make sure the land beneath our feet is safe for people and wildlife. It’s shocking that so much land could be contaminated and yet isn’t being properly inspected. 

“People in Wales deserve to know whether the places where they live, work, and play are free from pollution.

“This issue must not be ignored — the longer the delay, the greater the risk to our health, the environment and future generations."

FOE Cymru demanded a public inquiry and funding from the Welsh government and Westminster for councils to tackle the issue.

The campaign group said this hidden legacy could pose serious threats to people, water and wildlife. 

FOE Cymru and its local activists reviewed publicly available data and submitted Freedom of Information (FOI) requests to all 22 Welsh councils, asking them to release their register of contaminated land.  

Of the 22 councils, 18 responded to the FOI request, but since not all councils responded, the true figure across Wales could be higher. 

The Welsh government told the Star that local authorities in Wales have a duty to identify contaminated land within their areas, adding: “If they identify areas that meet the definition of ‘contaminated land,’ they have a duty to ensure it is remediated appropriately.”