Brentford locals fear asbestos demolition danger
An official complaint has been lodged over demolition work that locals say led to asbestos clouds spreading to a busy high street.
Residents in Brentford, Middlesex, said the demolition of the warehouses in Commerce Road was inappropriate for the hazardous nature of the material involved.
Michael Bonin and Alistair Reid, who own a boat on the adjacent River Brent, said they were skeptical that enough had been done to contain the asbestos fibres which, as well as being carcinogenic, cause a variety of respiratory ailments.
They have lodged complaints with Hounslow Council and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
Mr Reid, a construction industry veteran, said "If you want to demolish [asbestos cement roofing sheets] you have to take down the roof by hand and double bag it and dispose of it as hazardous waste.
“But they were just demolishing the building willy-nilly."
Mr Bonin said: “Dismantling was conducted on a windy day and damping was inadequate to prevent dust being spread. Neighbours were not kept informed about what was going on and the lorries taking the waste away were not securely sheeted over to prevent drying out of the waste.”
An HSE representative played down fears and insisted the work caused “no health risk to the public”.
Mr Reid and Mr Bonin have been offered an alternative mooring for their boat by British Waterways while the work is underway.
