Why did it take so long to remove asbestos?

Asbestos Claims A TOWN councillor has expressed his relief that a pile of potentially dangerous asbestos will be removed from the former Buckingham Town Football Club grounds. But Councillor Robin Stuchbury said he was surprised the job hadn’t been done sooner. He told the Advertiser he had brought the matter to the attention of AVDC director Tracey Aldworth prior to the summer holidays, because of fears children could come into contact with it when playing on the disused football field. According to Buckingham Town Council, the asbestos panels were taken down when the football clubhouse roof was replaced some time ago and have remained on the site ever since. Mr Stuchbury said: “In the days of the football club, it was a secure site because there were people there 24/7 to carry out the business of the club. “Now it’s an abandoned field in the middle of Buckingham with nothing but a five-bar gate between them and the public. “I was originally made aware of it by members of the public living in my ward.” And he dismissed an AVDC statement last week that said: “Currently we believe there is no risk to the public as the material is on private property on a secure site.” But when Advertiser photographer Jake McNulty visited the site yesterday, the gate was open, with a notice indicating it is only locked between 5.30pm and 8.30am. Mr Stuchbury said: “It’s about as secure as an open field and it’s adjacent to residential homes.” An AVDC spokesman told the Advertiser: “The owner has just returned from his holiday and has informed the environmental health team that he intends to get the asbestos removed as soon as possible within the coming week. “The environmental health team will be checking that the removal is carried out by a licensed contractor.” “The car park is used by the Ford garage, who control access. “It is locked each night and opened at 8.30am.” Nobody from the landowners, Sherm, was available for comment. source: buckinghamtoday.co.uk