Home / Business and Economy / Asbestos Fears: Council Buildings Face Half-Million Pound Cleanup
Asbestos Fears: Council Buildings Face Half-Million Pound Cleanup
9 Jun
Summary
- Council buildings require £500,000 contingency funding for asbestos issues.
- Health and Safety Executive issued improvement notice for Whitehaven Civic Hall.
- Council has until July 24 to fix asbestos contraventions identified by HSE.
Cumberland Council is seeking £500,000 in contingency funding to address serious asbestos concerns found in eight of its buildings. Inspections by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) revealed significant issues, leading to an improvement notice for Whitehaven Civic Hall on April 20. The HSE also identified "other contraventions" at various council properties.
The council has until July 24 to comply with the HSE's requirements. Failure to do so could result in prosecution. The enforcement notice specifically highlighted the council's lack of an adequate written plan for managing asbestos risks at Whitehaven Civic Hall, which was recently closed temporarily for separate safety improvements.
Inspections covered buildings like Netherhall School in Maryport, Carlisle's civic centre, and the Helena Thompson Museum in Workington. While the HSE issued a Notice of Contravention for other sites, details remain undisclosed due to financial exemptions. The HSE's action marks the beginning of formal enforcement, and the council anticipates incurring 'fee for intervention' charges for the time spent by the HSE addressing these matters.
