Dale Farm asbestos find fuels concerns for health of evicted Travellers - Essex

From the Guardian

The full extent of asbestos contamination of the Dale Farm site in Essex has been revealed, fuelling concern that the health of Travellers evicted from the plot and of nearby residents has been harmed.

Two tonnes of waste, containing 13kg of asbestos cement, were identified and removed from the site near Basildon during a recent visit by environment health officers acting for the local council, a freedom of information request has revealed. Basildon borough council officials had earlier claimed that there was no "firm evidence" that asbestos or other contaminants that could affect health were on the site.

Travellers allege that the asbestos was released after the destruction of buildings on the site, from which 86 families were evicted in October 2011.

The FoI response reveals that at least six locations were contaminated with asbestos and that 88 fragments of asbestos cement were also collected by workers wearing protective suits. In addition, 13kg of cement fragments were removed when a building covered in asbestos sheeting was demolished.

Around 30 of the evicted families still live 100 yards away from the site, with up to 100 local families potentially affected by any contamination, according to Travellers' groups. Candy Sheridan, co-chairwoman of the Gypsy Council, says the council's clearance of the site after the mass evictions disturbed oil-based contaminants in the soil, from its former use as a car-breaker's yard, and asbestos.

Basildon council initially denied such accusations and said they were "not substantiated". The Environment Agency report that had been designed to settle the matter was due last autumn, but has yet to appear.

Travellers are suspicious as to why the council decided to remove asbestos after denying its existence.The council now says it has cleared "minimal shards" and, in doing so, is not admitting liability for any potential contamination.

The question of liability for the cleanup remains a live one, coming days after Travellers were billed £4.3m for the cost of evicting the 80 families.

David McPherson-Davis, the councillor for the area, said there was considerable concern among residents over potential asbestos contamination. He also wants to know why the Environment Agency report has been delayed. "There must be sizeable pollution there, and the EA and the government department it reports to is trying to decide who put it there and who is responsible for cleaning it up. Asbestos dust is potentially life-threatening. How far does the dust travel?"

Nigel Smith, the Labour group leader of Basildon council, added: "We are very concerned and quite angry that we have not seen this report as promised.

"Local settled people, Travellers and children who even play on or near the site are all entitled to know whether or not it is safe for the local community."

Tony Ball, the council leader, said: "We were aware that the site had been used previously as a scrapyard and there might have been stuff buried illegally. Asbestos is a concern, even if there is no danger to health, so to alleviate fears we removed it."

Sheridan, who has been carrying out a health audit of the Travellers living on the roadside, says some already have lung conditions and many of the children have breathing problems. "Over 98% of the children living roadside are using inhalers. Many are on antibiotics for chest infections or have had upset stomachs. To my knowledge this is not matched anywhere else in the country for similar aged children."