Mobile home park residents fear radiation from below

People living on a former air base have called for a survey into land beneath their homes as they fear radioactive contamination.

Although it was only detected in two places and at levels "not considered sufficient to pose a significant radiation hazard", the report said further investigation "would be warranted" if the use of the land changed.

As new homes have been built and thousands more are planned nearby, some residents feel another survey is needed, and health officials have agreed there is "justification" for one.

Tollerton Park sits on part of a former RAF air base, where it is believed more than 1,200 aircraft, including Lancaster bombers, were taken apart, burned and buried there after the end of the war, the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) reported.

Part of that included disposing of glowing dials, which were made using radium-226.

Last year, campaigners against a proposed 4,000-home development on the surrounding fields shared the council report, which investigated the safety of Tollerton Park.

The 2008 report was carried out after the authority received a tip-off about four people who had lived there developing leukaemia.

It concluded: "The possibility of residual radium contamination at the Tollerton site exists, however the available scientific evidence does not fully support a causal link between environmental radium and the increased numbers of leukaemia cases reported.

"The levels of uncertainty involved in this study and public concerns are both high."

The council told residents last year there was no need for another survey, but in January said the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) had decided there was "suitable justification" to look again.

The council said it had passed the agency's suggestion on to the site's owners, but those pushing for another survey fear it will not happen unless the council does it.

Jill and Billy Gaff bought their mobile park home in July 2024, moving from Norfolk to retire in Nottinghamshire.

When they bought the home, they said their solicitor told them it was not common practice to have searches - legal and investigative checks which can uncover potential issues with a property before purchase - on park homes.

They said they were "shocked, stunned and angry" to read the 2008 council report.

"We're living in uncertainty," Jill, 63, said.

"All we want now is a thorough, invasive survey done on the park for a clean bill of health.

"We just want answers. We want to live a peaceful life. We came here to retire, not to fight the council."

Jill is a keen gardener but she said she had stopped digging up the land over fears around contamination.

Fellow resident Ian Martin, 66, moved to the site in 2018.

He said he also did not know about the 2008 survey when he bought his home, and found out last year when he was told by campaigners.

"I'm worried about the chances of radiation still being in the ground," he said.

"Since I moved here, various parts of the park have been dug up on three occasions.

"A new gas tank system was put in and every single park home got new pipes.

"I've got a greenhouse but this year I've stopped eating the fruit and vegetables since I found out."

The 2008 survey, which the council said was sent to residents in 2009, included a walk around of the mobile home site.

It found most of it was fine, but there was evidence of low-level radiation at two points, one in the then parking area and one just outside the boundary.

It added: "It is stressed that the levels of contamination detected in these locations are not considered sufficient to pose a significant radiation hazard to mobile home residents.

"The Environmental Advisor of the Defence Estates, MoD has reviewed the report and considered that no appreciable dose had been detected at the surface and therefore the risks of exposure are considered to be low.

"However, should the use of the land change [in particular should excavations be undertaken] then further investigation works would be warranted."

In July, the council sent a letter to 40 residents at the mobile home park to "allay concerns" about the land.

It said it had undertaken a review because the site was developed further, and was "satisfied the previous findings remain valid".

In January, it wrote to residents again.

It said it had been liaising with the UKHSA, which had said because of the new homes that had been built on Tollerton Park and associated groundworks, there was "suitable justification" for another radiation survey "to ensure that the impact of changes... are understood and the risks to health remain low".

In a statement, the UKHSA added: "Following a request by Rushcliffe Borough Council in 2025 for our views on whether the findings from the 2008 survey remains valid, UKHSA suggested that it may be of benefit for another radiation survey to be undertaken to ensure that the impact of changes at Tollerton Park since 2008 are understood and the risks to health remain low."

The council said it understood this position.

However, a spokesperson added: "As the available information does not indicate a significant risk of harm, there are no reasonable grounds for the land to be inspected by [us]."

It confirmed it has requested the owners carry out the survey, but has no enforcement powers if they do not.

Campaigners have expressed concern about the potential contamination under the rest of the former airfield site, as that is where thousands of new homes could be built.

The council has said if planning approval is granted for the development, it will be on the condition that further investigation into potential contamination is done, the LDRS reports.

James Naish, Labour MP for Rushcliffe, has been following the case.

He said: "I'm pleased for the residents who have concerns that those concerns have been genuinely recognised.

"Rushcliffe Borough Council has thankfully recognised pressure needs to be applied for a survey to be done.

"I do think the borough council has a responsibility to step in if the survey won't be done by the site owners, but right now there is a reason for the site owners to do it."

He estimated the cost of the survey, based on his team's research, as roughly £20,000 at the most expensive.

But residents fear the owners will not do the survey if they do not have to, given the costs, and they feel that because the borough council did it last time, it should do so again.

Ian added: "If they say there's nothing to worry about, that will prove it.

"We're very worried. Our grandchildren have been playing outside in this soil for the last six years.

"It's either contaminated or it isn't - and we need to know."

The BBC has contacted the company that owns the site for a comment.