Wednesday, 6 June 2007

Council to remove asbestos in west Limerick site

LIMERICK County Council engineering staff were still finalising plans yesterday for the removal of tons of asbestos-contaminated rubble from a site in Rathkeale.

Council spokesman Eugene Griffin said the council expects a report, possiblytoday, on the way to proceed.

Following the demolition of the old People’s Bakery building in the centre of the town a week ago, the council was alerted by locals that it had an asbestos roof.

The council immediately informed the Health and Safety Authority who sent inspectors to the site.

The authority said it had not been given advance notice that a building with asbestos was to be demolished, as is provided in law.

Developers have to give 28 days’ notice to enable the authority to approve the contractor engaged to carry out the work.

There are also stringent regulations with regard to the manner in which the work is carried out and the removal of rubble from the site for safe disposal.

A spokesman for the council hit out at the manner in which an earth-moving machine arrived on site and, effectively, created a contaminated site byknocking the building.

The site is located at Well Lane, just off the main street. Deputy Dan Neville has called for aninvestigation into the matter.

Two units of the Co Limerick fire brigade spent a number of days at the site hosing the rubble to prevent asbestos-contaminated dust rising into the air.

Irish Examiner

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