Oxford.Angle : Forum

Asbestos. The dealy legacy

Posted By: Jason Davis
Date: 23 Feb 2006 at 16:13

In July 2003, Oxford City Council contractors removed windows from our Council property with full knowledge that asbestos was present. From the minutes of a meeting held in January 2003, council safety officers agreed to train the contractors to identify (survey) and handle asbestos, of which neither was licensed to do.

Accoding to a report to the Health and Safety Executive, the contactors identified the asbestos 1 week after it was removed. The City Council took another 3 weeks to write a letter and send it to the residents. It stated Asbestos MAY have been present. 1 day later another letter arrived stating Asbestos WAS present. It is very suspect and strange that it took 3 weeks to react, but only one day to identify that it was indeed asbestos. The letters were signed, 'In Absence' of Neil Gibson (Strategic Director) by Cathy Clarke.

The City Council asked for 3 days to compile a report. 3 days later, no report arrived and we were still living in fine dust and fragments of asbestos inside and outside our home. I called BBC south and Cantral news as I believed Councillors were dragging their feet and keeping quiet about the issue. I believe the delays were to make sure the HSE would not investigate (which they claim is their excuse for not investigating) and to let any ACM dust settle. Air tests were carried out and found to be negligable. Surface tests were carried out at the same time. The reports took 3 months for me to obtain, but showed asbestos fibres on picture frames, door frames and in the corners of rooms. In total disregard to this information, the council STILL calls the cleanup that took place 5 weeks later a 'precautionary measure.'

TV crews arrived and filmed me with the fragments and dust in our home, then went to see Valleriew Smith, who was at the time Head of Housing for Oxford. She claimed in that interview that 'the asbestos had been removed safely and we were at no risk.' I have since been told that she was told to say this, and she is not responsible for what she said... What a load of rubbish. I confronted Andrew Smith about this and he claims his 'wife is the most honest person he knows.' That is not saying much considering he deals with politicians and is indeed one himself. I suppose he couldn't say that about Tony Blair!

What ensued has been a battle for a little recognition, and an attempt to have these conspiring individuals disciplined for their inactions, mistakes and truth avoidance, which has been proven to a degree by the Local Government Ombudsman finding the Oxford City Council guity of maladministration.

Michael Newman the City Council Sekretariat Manager 'apologised for the inconvenience we were caused.' I told him he could shove his apology.

If you believe the City Council cares for your health, think about how they may have affected yours by not letting you know about Asbestos in YOUR home. Contractors, their own builders and surveyors, the health of your family and children and grandchildren.

We, as customers, deserve better by far. We, as tax payers, deserve a standard of behaviour from OUR Councillors and Council managers which is not being met with the current staff.

I demand better treatment and satisfaction for the money I pay in my council taxes. And I demand that people are held responsible for their work, mistakes and any rubbish they state in the public forums of news and print media.

A previous topic of mine concerning this issue was deleted by the admin, without comment or reason. I can only assume that newsquest has an interest in keeping a good status quo with our local government. I have asked newsquest on more than one occasion to write about the fact that Vallerie Smith made those comments in the news and they have denied that it is an important part of the issue.

I'd like to put that to the public in this forum, and get their views. If this is deleted again, I will post it again, and again...

Index

Messages In This Thread

© 2000 - 2024 — local.angle group, All rights reserved.