The Local Council and Asbestos Complaint

Acidic_123

Hi everyone on MSE

I don't post on here much, more of a viewer... but am at a loss with my situation and thought that getting a broad array of opinions would be beneficial.

I will try to make the story short as can be so that it's not too much of a bore..

About a month ago I went round to the back of my house. There is a small car park for about 10 cars and about 15 garages in a row, belonging to the houses in the streetbacking onto it.. just to give an idea of layout.
These are garages from the 50s, roof is corrugated asbestos cement, the type you see everywhere.

As I work in the insurance industry and my husband is an asbestos analyst, we both happen to know that this material is absolutely fine as it is, unless disturbed or broken.

Well the garage on the entrance to the car park had obviously met the corner of the rubbish truck that morning and the corner of the roof had been smashed onto the ground, leaving debris.

I immediately emailed the council to tell them that asbestos waste was on a public path.
I stressed thus was no my garage, or my property but I felt I have a duty of care to report something I know is hazardous to health.

First of all they said "we will come to clear this up"
Then followed by saying "I can confirm there is no asbestos present"

...... There quite clearly is asbestos present, why dispute it?

I asked what they meant by no asbestos present and They then went on to say that there had been a survey conducted on these garages a while ago and no asbestos was found. After hearing that, although we were 100% sure already, My husband even took a sample to his lab to check and the results of couse were positive, but we needed to check.

Anyway, they booked an appointment of some sort to Come and clean it up a week later. Not ideal, but at least they were coming!

Then they didn't come. I couldn't believe it!?

I phoned the complaints department in the council to make an official complaint.
They said it should have been sorted out straight away and they were sorry and had 10 days to reply to their complaint in writing.

Then yesterday I got a letter saying my complaint was not upheld.
That they looked at MY OWN GARAGE and found it was privately owned and so it didn't fall under their responsibility.

So basically they haven't listened to a word I said about the fact that it was the debris I was worried about, not the garage! I do not even know whose garage it is, it is not mine... I don't care! But I do care that the council obviously think that leaving asbestos waste in a car park is ok. A car park where kids play and people walk to the cars daily.

This honestly makes me sick to the stomach. They are incompetent and have lied and just makes me think what else they lie about or are too stupid to know.
I know three people who have died by association with asbestos. And I work in an industry with insurance specifically against it. It's not a joke or something to roll your eyes at.

I feel like giving up now anyway. The debris is still there, crushed by cars and people's shoes. No doubt made its way into people's hallways.

What do you think?

pink_princess

Hi, you have posted in the wrong part of MSE, I'll PM a board guide for you to move it where somebody can help you. Good luck

Acidic_123

Thanks pink princess, I had no idea where to post this odd topic.. not anything to do with moneysaving

Oblivion

I hope you have taken some photos ... then a call to your local paper. Most local hacks would love to get their teeth into a story like this.

bap98189

Try to look at it from the other point of view. They have had a professional survey carried out and the results showed that there was no asbestos present. Which would you put more faith in: a survey conducted by a professional firm or the opinion of a random member of the public.

Acidic_123

Of course I see it from the other side - naturally as I'm very sensible and open minded... but I told them my husband had analysed it. In all honestly, they should see I'm not a random member of the public or I wouldn't even know what asbestos cement was in the first place or spent my time to phone up and report it so urgently.

I personally think they just said that they had a survey to get me off their back - as indeed if they have had a survey completed, then it is incorrect as it 100% contains asbestos and there is not one shred of doubt it is not. Anyone in any professional situation could see instantly what it is, it doesn't even need analysis it is so obvious ... even if they were a local cowboy company.. and if so, why are they using such a company to conduct surveys in the first place?!

I have all pictures related to this situation. Including a photo of the sample down a microscope, showing the shreds of asbestos sticking out of it :mad:

Errata

Can the general public walk into the car park and have a wander around if they want to? If so, contact HSE.

Acidic_123

Errata wrote: »

Can the general public walk into the car park and have a wander around if they want to? If so, contact HSE.

Yeah for sure - it's just a turning off the road that goes into the carpark. It's a public carpark.