ENFIELD: Oil supply in garden baffles the experts (From Times Series)

ENFIELD: Oil supply in garden baffles the experts

11:05am Friday 7th November 2008 in Bizarre London

A family fears that their home is worthless even though it is sitting on top of a ready supply of oil.

The discovery of crude usually ushers in massive wealth, but not for the Michael family, who live in Belgrave Gardens, Oakwood.

This is because the soil in their garden is soaked through with the refined variety: highly flammable vehicle fuel.

They have lived with the smell of petrol hanging heavy in their home since they moved there in 1982.

Now the family have opted abandon fears about the effect the issue could have upon the home’s value, to break their silence and dig for answers.

On Wednesday, three stunned fire crews covered the lawn in sand and slapped a blanket smoking ban on the garden.

Youlla Michael, 38, said: “The fireman walked in and said “oh my God, I can smell petrol.” We hardly notice it now because we’ve put up with it for so long.

”My mum and dad live here and they are so un-aware of just how dangerous this could be.”

She fears that the source of the potentially explosive problem is an Esso petrol station that sits in Bramley Road, the A110, behind their parent’s home.

“This is very dangerous” said Mrs MIchael. “It’s lucky that none of us smoke. If its not coming from the petrol station where else could it be?”

The petrol there is stored in underground tanks which are supposed to be safe and secure.

Oil giant Exxon-Mobil owns the petrol station. It has strongly denied the tanks are leaky.

A spokeswoman said: “Pressure tests were carried out by a specialist contractor on the fuel storage tanks, which revealed them to be sound, with no leaks or holes through which any fuel could have escaped.

“The site was redeveloped in 2000, at which time new "double skin" tanks and pipe work were installed. Double skin tanks, which have a tank within a tank, were installed in 2000, so that if the first tank were to fail, the second tank would be able to contain the fuel.

Exxon-Mobil would not speculate on where else the fuel in the Michael’s garden could come from.

The mystery remains unsolved, and Enfield Council is now investigating.

Mrs Michael said: “I want them to get find out where that leakage is. Our neighbour moved out over this. It’s a slow process but we’re determined.”