A FORMER school site which has been earmarked for a £200k transformation into a community garden could contain mineshaft waste and other polluting materials.

The Tele has obtained a report through Freedom of Information laws which identified a number of 'plausible pollutants' at the former St Ninian's Primary School site in Gourock, including mine waste and spillages from fuel tanks buried at Kirn Drive.

Potential sources of historic contamination, such as spoil heaps from copper extraction that once took place in the area, and incinerated waste from a nearby refuse destructor, are identified in the 100-page document.

Inverclyde Council has said that a 'precautionary approach' is being considered for future developments.

Officials have stated that steps will also be taken during the design process of the community garden to address any potential risks to human health.

The report examines potential environment risks at the former St Ninian's site, as well as the adjacent space now occupied by the new school.

Many of the potential pollutants identified are linked to historic activities on and around the site.

The presence of an abandoned mineshaft and extensive earthworks that have occurred since the 1940s mean that materials from adjacent land may have made their way onto the site.

Tin and lead from a nearby old rifle range are listed as potential contaminants, while hazardous elements such as arsenic and cadmium are listed as possible deposits from copper mine spoil heaps.

The report, which was written prior to the opening of the new St Ninian's next door in 2018, anticipated a 'low' risk to human health, provided the new building met a number of safety requirements.

However, the document said that there was considered to be a 'high to very high risk' of pollution occurring in the groundwater and surface water around the site.

The report states: 'Residual contamination from historical activities is known to exist within the site and whilst the building and hardstanding breaks linkages to human health there is an on-going risk to the water environment.

'The contamination source affecting the quality of the water environment in the area extends beyond the site boundary with extensive landfilling to the south and northeast of the site.

'The landfilled materials are anticipated to be from the former refuse destructor that was present within the site between 1901 and 1955.'

The contamination of the water environment extended beyond the site, with officials stating that the council would have to address the matter 'effectively and proportionately'.

We revealed in February how a community garden was planned for the vacated ground in Staffa Street, as local residents had said they did not want any new houses built.

A bike track, boating pond and growing area have all been suggested as part of the green space development, with a committee to be formed to take the ideas forward.

The design process for the site is not yet complete, with the council considering adding a topsoil layer to make the ground suitable for growing and subsequent landscaping.

Inverclyde Council plans to carry out further investigations at the site.

A council spokesperson said: "The report is a preliminary report based on the information available at the time and makes various assumptions based on that information.

“Further investigations would be required to find out the exact condition of the site and determine whether any further action is required.

“Currently, the site is extensively capped with demolition materials creating a barrier to any potential deposits underneath.

"Any future development of the site would be subject to the usual planning and other procedures and any recommendations, including the addition of a topsoil capping layer as has been suggested.”