Asbestos fears at old Parkside School

Charlotte Cross - 28/08/2009 - The Bromsgrove Standard

ASBESTOS removal at the old Parkside School site will finally get underway, it was announced this week.

And, despite having the entire summer holiday to do the five-week long task, contractors will enter the school on Tuesday (September 1), just a week before students start their new school year.

A source close to the two schools, who did not wish to be named, said: "The county council has had seven weeks to get that asbestos out, and yet they choose the week before the children start school again to actually get it underway.

"There is a tremendous amount of children passing through the school gates, and the works vehicle gates have been set up right next to them - the county council is putting them all in danger."

However the county councillor for the area, Kit Taylor, said when he went to property services to express his irritation they had waited until the beginning of term to do it, they assured him there was nothing to worry about.

"They assured me the removal process is completely safe - the air surrounding the work is usually actually cleaner than the normal air people breathe," he added.

"They explained that summer is the busiest time for asbestos removers, and this was the only time they could get the contractors in - they will be working with the headteachers of the schools to work out a traffic schedule and ensure everything is done to keep the children as safe as possible."

A Worcestershire County Council spokesperson said: "The nature of asbestos removal work is specialised and our commitment to appointing contractors who have been audited to high standards means we have to be flexible with timescales.

"In this case, the works at the school site will begin on September 1 and continue into a short amount of the school term.

"As is standard practice, during this period the work site will be isolated from the public, and when term starts, the building's occupants, and health and safety precautions followed at all times. "