Legal Experts Welcome Council’s Commitment To Managing Material

Specialist asbestos lawyers have welcomed Shropshire Council’s reassurances on the importance of asbestos management in its public buildings, after new figures revealed the deadly material was present on a range of sites.

According to the figures published by the Shropshire Star, 391 sites including 175 schools, 13 libraries and 10 leisure centres are known to be home to asbestos, although the material is not deemed dangerous if it remains undisturbed.

In response to the figures, Shropshire Council revealed it had spent £174,423 on the management of the material, with the funds being used for inspections, record keeping and the safe removal of the material where necessary.

The local authority’s head of commercial services Steph Jackson added that the council takes its responsibilities regarding asbestos “extremely seriously”.

Reacting to the figures, Alida Coates, a Partner and specialist asbestos lawyer at Irwin Mitchell, said it was positive to see the council’s commitment to the issue.

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Expert Opinion

“Our work means we have seen a huge number of cases related to lives touched by the terrible legacy of asbestos. While the material is often associated with industrial environments, we also now see many instances where people have been exposed to the material in public buildings such as hospitals and schools. <br/> <br/>“While the scale of the presence of asbestos is significant, it is positive to note the council’s views on the matter and the fact that such detailed information exists regarding its presence. <br/> <br/>“Simply too many lives have been lost to asbestos, including instances which emerged after the dangers of the material were known. It is vital that councils use effective management processes and systems to ensure that it is always monitored and any potential risks acted upon.” Alida Coates - Partner