Here you will find a comprehensive list of Frequently Asked Questions about this work.
This information is regularly updated and reordered based on priority issues and concerns raised.
Sefton Council want to carry out precautionary indoor air quality checks in homes near the former Johnson’s Dry-Cleaners site.
The former Johnson’s Dry Cleaners operated just off Stanley Road and was located between Alpha Street and Mildmay Road.
Some of the liquid chemicals historically used at the site are still in the ground and may have spread beneath nearby properties. These chemicals can turn into vapour and move up through the ground into buildings. This is more likely to happen in older (Victorian) buildings.
There is currently no evidence that air quality in homes has been affected, but monitoring is being undertaken to check levels carefully and provide reassurance for those living close to the site. These checks will tell us if any further testing or remedial action is needed.
There are three options available to you. You can:
- Request a testing visit
- Request more information about testing
- Decline any further engagement from us at this time.
These tests do not require any drilling and will cause minimal disruption. To request a monitoring visit, additional information or decline further engagement please contact us on 0345 140 0845 and press number 9 on your keypad.
Johnson’s Dry Cleaners operated on the site from the 1920s until late 2003 and used chlorinated solvents to clean and remove stains from fabrics.
The main solvent used was called Tetrachloroethylene (or PCE), which was once commonly used in dry cleaning. It is no longer widely used commercially due to potential risks to health from extended exposure – particularly to those who work directly with and come into regular close contact with this solvent. It is also used in some household cleaning products, adhesives and paint removers.
Tetrachloroethylene was stored underground on the site and over time some leaked into the ground.
As Tetrachloroethylene breaks down it forms a number of related chemicals. These are the chemicals we will be checking for during the tests.
No. This as a historic contamination issue and remediation works have taken place some years ago to ensure the former Johnson’s Dry Cleaners site was safe to build on.
However more recent monitoring around the site suggests that these chemicals may have spread and that further investigation of this is needed.
As part of plans to redevelop the site around 2012–2013, testing of ground conditions identified contamination associated with its previous uses. A remediation strategy was subsequently developed, and extensive works were undertaken, including the removal and treatment of solvents.
Although significant quantities of contamination were removed and treated, ongoing monitoring indicated that some contamination remained. As a result, redevelopment proposals were put on hold. At that time, the developer’s consultants did not raise any specific concerns related to contamination potentially affecting neighbouring properties.
Since the initial remediation works, the site has changed ownership several times, and redevelopment restarted. As part of this process, a review of the previous remediation and ground conditions was undertaken. This identified the need for further monitoring to inform any additional remediation requirements.
Subsequent testing and monitoring confirmed the presence of residual solvent contamination, including some off-site impacts. Consultants therefore recommended undertaking indoor air quality monitoring within neighbouring properties to ensure that local residents are not exposed to unacceptable levels of vapours.
Extensive remediation removed most of the chlorinated solvents from the site before the current residential development started.
Plus Dane, who now own the land, have a robust ongoing remediation strategy in place specifically designed to ensure the land is suitable for residential use.
The current remediation strategy focusses on the area of land that used to house the multi-story Johnson’s HQ building, the only part of the site that has not been remediated previously.
As part of this strategy, regular tests are conducted, validation reports produced and certificates provided for each stage. Inspections are also carried out by a specialist remediation consultant working with Plus Dane to ensure the strategy is being followed to the highest of standards.
The remediation strategy will remain ongoing until the development is completed
We understand there have been no concerns raised with regards to contamination levels on the site at any point during the implementation of the Plus Dane remediation strategy.
Recent testing has shown that some chemicals may have migrated through the ground beyond the original boundary of the factory site.
Because of that discovery, additional investigation is now needed to check whether any vapours could affect nearby homes or businesses in the future.
Properties on Alpha Street and Mildmay Road, which form the immediate border with the Johnsons site, as well as some additional nearby properties on Markfield Road and Hornby Boulevard will also be invited to join in with air quality testing.
In total around 60 neighbouring resident and commercial properties sit within the area we want to carry out testing in.
Sefton Council is working with The Environmental Protection Group (EPG), who are specialists in soil vapour migration and indoor air quality assessment and have been advising the Council on this issue.
They will be conducting the tests and have experience dealing with similar sites elsewhere in the UK.
Residents who have received letters are invited to nominate their properties for testing. If indoor air quality has been affected by these chemicals these properties are where it is most likely to have occurred.
Nearby households that do not take part in any testing will still receive updates so they understand what is happening and where to find more details.
Following initial tests more properties may be invited to take part in testing if we believe this is necessary.
There is currently no evidence that indoor air quality in homes has been affected by these chemicals.
Whether or not solvent vapours might enter a home depends on several factors, including where the chemicals are in the ground, the geology under the properties, the age or construction of the property, and any changes to flooring or ventilation made over time.
This testing is being done because some of the chemicals involved do have associated health risks, for example, if people breathe in a certain amount over time.
We want to confirm whether this may have happened and act if needed to ensure residents remain protected from any potential risks.
The environmental specialists that we are working with (EPG) advises that we are expecting to find no, very low or low levels of solvent vapours in most houses.
However, until we carry out these tests we cannot be certain what the levels may be in your home. It is important to note that there are baseline levels of chemicals that exist in the air inside your home and coming into contact with them is an everyday occurrence.
We know that people will have questions about the risk to their own and their family’s health. Until we can test the air quality in homes we cannot be certain if air quality has been affected or not.
Any health effects from breathing in gases produced by these chemicals depends on how much exposure has occurred and for how long.
At the low levels expected most people will not experience any impact on their health.
Some people who encounter longer-term exposures at low level may experience changes in mood, memory, attention, reaction time or vision.
Other evidence suggests that these chemicals could be associated with liver and kidney damage or effects on pregnancy. However, some of this evidence comes from either studies in animals or in workplaces where the level and mixture of chemicals is very different to this situation.
Following the results of testing we will know more about the likely impact of any chemicals found and will be able to provide more advice and information accordingly.
One of the key signs that solvent vapours are at a concerning level is a strong solvent smell. This has not been reported locally, which is reassuring.
If you notice unusual solvent odours inside your home, you should ventilate the property and report this to Sefton Council immediately. You can do so by calling us on 0345 140 0845 and pressing number 9 on your keypad.
No. We should not rely on smell alone which is why we are carrying out these precautionary tests.
If a property is tested, small air quality monitoring devices will be placed in downstairs rooms.
In some homes sampling of air between floorboards/under the floor may also be required however this will not cause any damage to the property.
Our experts will also want to carry out a brief visual inspection of features such as flooring, vents, air bricks and underfloor access. This will help experts understand how air may move through the property and place monitors appropriately.
This testing does not require any drilling and should cause minimal disruption to the occupier(s). Experts will not inspect unrelated parts of the home
The equipment is small, silent, and designed to cause minimal disruption. Visits are short and arranged at your convenience.
For the most effective results we would want to carry out intermittent testing over a period of two weeks. This includes taking an 8-hour air sample in metal canisters and a 7-day sample in small metal tubes,
An initial visit by experts to chosen properties can take around 1.5 hours, because it includes visual surveys and equipment placement.
Tested properties can be visited up to four times. This includes an initial survey and placement of samplers (1), the removal of the canister sampler later that day (2), removal and replacement of small tube samplers after about 7 days (3) and final removal after a further 7 days (4).
Yes. Residents taking part in the testing will be asked to keep windows and doors closed while sampling is taking place, aside from situations where ventilation may be required for other safety reasons.
Yes with your permission. Photographs may be taken of construction details, such as floors and venting, where needed to understand the property’s structure and airflow pathways. This will only take place with prior permission by the occupier.
Results from this testing will be shared as soon as possible after sampling and laboratory analysis. At this time we are unable to provide more detail of when the results will be available however we will update everyone with more information as soon as we are able to.
If necessary next steps may include further testing, practical measures to reduce exposure and remediation works.
Sefton Council, EPG and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) will work together to determine the most appropriate action to safeguard the health and wellbeing of residents.
This is what we expect to be the case. Many properties are expected to have no measurable levels or only very low levels of the relevant chemicals and testing will provide greater reassurance for residents going forward