Urgent £1.1m works for a closed landfill site at risk of leaking toxic gas and liquid look set to be approved.

Kent County Council's (KCC) environment committee last week endorsed plans to modernise North Farm in Tunbridge Wells.

It is one of 18 closed landfill sites in Kent.

Several issues have been found at the North Farm Lane site requiring immediate attention, including the production of harmful landfill gas and high volumes of polluted water, known as leachate, which could cause harm to the local environment and human health.

David Beaver, KCC's commercial manager, said: "We have an obligation to remediate against environmental harm on this site.

"It is a must do, but it will allow us to develop sustainable energy on the site."

His comments were made during a public meeting in County Hall, Maidstone, last Thursday (May 19).

North Farm was a landfill operating from the early 1960s, taking domestic waste from the Tunbridge Wells area.

The landfill site was closed in the early 1990s, and a gas extraction system and flare stack was installed in 1995.

Active ongoing assessments have highlighted high volumes of leachate being generated as heavy rain falls across the whole site.

In addition, a recent audit report identified a number of age-related issues, such as an old gas pipe system being used to stop greenhouse gases being emitted.

Under new plans, councillors have agreed to install a geosynthetic clay liner (GCL) across the top of the site to minimise the amount of polluted water.

Meanwhile, upgrading the gas collection system will include the drilling of replacement wells and laying new pipework to connect to the existing gas flare.

This will reduce the discharge of greenhouse gases.

The total cost of the project is estimated to be in the region of £1.1 million.

A final decision is expected to be approved by KCC's cabinet member for environment, Cllr Susan Carey (Con).