When British Coal opened the Avenue Coking Works nearby, it used the lagoon area to treat waste liquid from the coking works. During this time, large amounts of coal tar sludge from the works settled in the lagoons. The Avenue Coking Works closed in 1993, and Derbyshire County Council took over the lagoons site later the same year.
The Avenue Coking Works, operated by British Coal, used a lagoon to treat wastewater from its coking operations.  After the works closed in 1993, Derbyshire County Council assumed responsibility for the lagoon site. A significant amount of coal tar sludge accumulated during this period.