August 31st, 2005

UK property developers have twice failed to inform residents about the presence of asbestos in a former factory. The factory has been earmarked for the development of new properties, but recent tests carried out confirmed that the levels of asbestos were way above the set limits. In fact, two tests showed that the asbestos levels found were 23 and 13 times higher than the safety limit set by the Health and Safety Executive.

The site based in Manchester has been earmarked for the development of over 600 homes but the development company MMC failed to notify residents about the fact that asbestos had been found at the site. The site on which the houses are planned was once the location of one of the largest asbestos factories in the world, hence the discovery of the high asbestos levels has not come as a total shock.

An analyst for the development company had actually attended a public meeting to inform residents that no asbestos had been found in the larger rubble in the area. However, the spokesperson did not inform residents that asbestos had actually been found in soil samples and in finer rubble.

A local residents’ group spokesperson stated: "Quite simply I suggest this is a willful omission. This could be a heavily contaminated site and the people of Rochdale deserve the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth."