Gaswork sites as sources of pollution and land contamination: An assessment of past and present public perceptions of their physical impact on the surrounding environment

Abstract

Abstract The extent to which contaminated land is readily apparent to the public is important in determining the perception of risk attributed to a given site. This paper examines the physical characteristics of a particular industry associated with contaminated land, namely, UK gasworks. The environmental impact of the industry when it was operational has been reviewed and a survey characterising the appearance and condition of 35 former gaswork sites has been undertaken. It was found that the gas industry appears to have been a source of nuisance when operational, although the extent to which this is now associated with present sites is unclear. Of the 35 sites surveyed the majority remain in some form of gas supply or commercial use and are invariably associated with the visual impact of remaining gasholders. ‘Pollution’ as defined in the survey was evident at only 13 of the surveyed sites, although even this may be an overestimate of the general public's impression. These findings if reflected nationw...