MAJOR LAND pollution on the site of Tesco’s distribution depot in Dundee is proving more difficult to clear up than was hoped.

Last year inspectors found diesel had been leaking from a tank over a long period of time, quite possibly from when the Kings- way site belonged to the former William Low supermarket group more than a decade ago.

The quantity of leaked diesel is not known.

Tesco brought in specialist contractors to deal with the problem via a voluntary remediation project and it was hoped the pollution would be cleared up by now.

A recent inspection found diesel was still in the ground below the tank although it had not spread to any other parts of the site.

A Tesco spokesman last night said its contractors had now started to pump the diesel out of the ground.

He continued, “There is no risk to the public. We are aware of the problem and we are dealing with it although it will take some more time. It is also likely that we will continue to monitor the site for some time, and quite possibly into next year.”

Tesco is working with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and Dundee City Council on the issue, he added.

A SEPA spokesman said, “Dundee City Council, Tesco and its environmental consultants have informed and consulted SEPA over activities for land affected by historic oil leakage from a fuel tank at Tesco’s Dundee distribution depot.

“It is understood this leak happened over a long period but the oil appears to have been held well by the site and we have not identified any significant water pollution.”

The spokesman said it was for the city council to decide whether to designate the site as contaminated.

If it does, SEPA will have to issue a licence for the cleaning-up operation.

A city council spokesman said, “Tesco are continuing to carry out work on the site, and a report will be prepared for the council is due course.”

Tesco announced last month that it is closing its Kingsway distribution centre next year with the loss of more than 430 jobs.

The adjoining Tesco customer call centre will be unaffected, the company said.