Fernwood residents kicking up a storm over dust concerns in Newark area

Residents living on the Fernwood estate have expressed concern about the level of dust appearing on their properties.

A post about the issue on a community Facebook page attracted 150 replies covering 31 streets.

The concern is that they’re unsure as to where the dust is coming from given that the estate lays between the Bantycock Quarry, the Welcome Break services construction site and a new homes development.

One resident of the estate fed up with the dust is Cara Carlisle, who said: "We've been suffering with dust down here for quite a while, this happens all of the time."

"It's on your windows when your windows are cleaned, it's on the furniture outside, I've literally got to wash my windscreen before I can go anywhere because it's like it's been in a sandstorm."

After having her car cleaned one day, only to wake up the next with it coated in a layer of dust, Cara became frustrated and took to a community facebook group to find out if anybody else had been experiencing the same issues as her.

The post gained over 150 replies, with 31 different streets named as being effected by the dust.

Cara also became concerned about the potential health effects of the dust after 16 separate families also reported suffering from sneezing, coughs and throat problems, as well as chest infections and allergic reactions getting worse.

"Where we are seems to be in the middle of the quarry, the house building and the service station, so we're kind of getting blasted with rubbish from every side and it's really starting to grate on people."

"Obviously now we're having these heat waves you want to open your doors and your windows, but then you need to clean your windowsills every day and the furniture is covered in this fine, silty dust."

"I just want it to be known that this is effecting people and I don't really know what can be done. But because we can't say it's coming from one place, it's difficult to get someone to admit it's a problem."

Some comments left on the post by other concerned residents included: "I have to clean my patio glass tables and dust the chairs every day. Almost everyday I worry about any health issues, as we must be breathing this constant dust and sand into out lungs."

Another read:"Fed up with trying to keep my car clean. Windows are dirty the day after the window cleaner has been. Clean one day, filthy the next. Always sneezing but I don't have any allergies."

County councillor, Johno Lee looked into the matter after being made aware of the facebook thread: "This is environmental and it's due to the warmer than predicted weather we've been having drying everything out." he said.

"From the information I've gathered, a lot of it is due to harvest and may be added to by building works kicking up dust because it's so dry.

"We've spoken to the builders through the District council and they've informed us that they are using water, trying everything possible to keep the dust down.

"Although there was concern that it could have been from the quarry. I've visited and I'm happy that it's predominantly coming from the building works and farmers fields.

"There's not much more we can do about that, bar keep on asking builders to make sure they're damping down the area. We just need some rain really.

"My message to residents is that if they are having health problems they should contact environmental health, who will be able to advise further."