In Sandbach, Cheshire, an 18-hole golf course known as Malkins Bank was developed on land with a hazardous industrial legacy that continues to pose environmental and health concerns. The course, which spans roughly 2 kilometers in length and is bordered by farmland and the Trent and Mersey canal, sits atop a former chemical waste landfill containing thousands of barrels of toxic substances.
The site’s industrial history dates back to the 19th century, initially serving as salt and alkali works before becoming a waste tip in 1950. During the 1960s, large-scale and indiscriminate dumping escalated, with documented records from 1968 revealing over 1,000 tonnes of waste deposited in a single month by companies including chemical giants ICI and Shell. The waste comprised hazardous materials such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), carcinogenic compounds banned in the UK since the 1980s.
Despite documented contamination—including barrels of toxic sodium cyanide and reports warning of potential chemical leaks into underground salt caverns—the local council ultimately determined the site suitable for redevelopment as a golf course. Following a reclamation process spanning four years, the council-owned Malkins Bank Golf Course opened in 1980.
Concerns over environmental safety persisted in ensuing decades. Methane chambers beneath the course frequently emitted hazardous gases, prompting partial capping measures that took over two years to complete after incidents such as a golf machine falling into a methane chamber. Reports through the 1990s and early 2000s noted recurring foul odors and chemical leachate damaging the turf. By 2003, authorities recommended further investigation due to detection of contaminants like benzene, toluene, and heavy metals at levels indicating serious pollution.
Cheshire East Council officially classified the site as contaminated land in 2011 after groundwater pollution was identified. However, remediation efforts were deemed financially unviable due to minimal expected benefits, especially since the groundwater was not used for drinking water and human exposure was considered low.
Tony Minshall, who leased the course from 2011 until 2025, was reportedly never informed of the contamination status prior to assuming the lease. He recounts that after taking control of the course just days following its designation as contaminated, he experienced multiple issues including foul-smelling substances surfacing during heavy rain in 2022, which damaged vegetation and leaked into adjacent waterways. An environmental assessment attributed these occurrences to inadequate landfill capping and poor site drainage.
Local residents and former golfers expressed outrage, describing the site as a "chemical soup" with ongoing risks of pollution. Graham Warner, a neighbor who received documentation revealing the extent of contamination, described the site as one of the worst derelict areas in Cheshire’s history, warning that the toxic materials could remain hazardous for a century. Pipes protruding from the 15th fairway discharge into Birchenwood Brook, displaying visible signs of pollution, including rust-colored soil and an oily sheen on the water.
Cheshire East Council stated that despite the contamination designation, specialist studies concluded the site remains appropriate for golf use, with consistent findings of low risk to human health, even during flooding. The council also noted ongoing monitoring and plans to improve drainage systems and site conditions through a pending planning application.
Minshall’s leasing company has since gone into liquidation, with the financial and personal toll of the contamination issues proving significant. Attempts to contact the current leaseholders for comment were unsuccessful. Records indicate that about 100 golf courses across England and Wales are built over former landfills, though such extensive contamination documentation is rare.