Oxford.Angle : Forum

Re: Asbestos. The dealy legacy

Posted By: Erc
Date: 24 Apr 2007 at 01:30

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...




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