Asbestos discovery delays demolition
Demolition contractors have had to swiftly revise their plans for the demolition of a building in the centre of Basingstoke, following the discovery of asbestos in parts of the building.
Loddon House was about to be demolished as part of the borough council redevelopment project for the centre of the town, when the discovery was made in columns and panels in the building. It has been estimated that the presence of the material could add as much as £370,000 to the £6 million cost of the redevelopment scheme, and delay it by as much as three months.
Councillor Ranil Jayawardena, the local council's cabinet member for finance and property, said that the discovery was a significant inconvenience, but work was already underway to accommodate the handling of it into the development plans.
"It was impossible for anyone to have detected the asbestos in the structure through the original surveys, and it was only when demolition started that it was found," he said. "The contractor has acted quickly in revising the plans to complete the demolition, ensuring there is no risk of public safety."
Council bosses have said that the material poses no risk to human health when it is removed, due to dust-suppression methods being used and strict guidelines on removing the asbestos from the site.
