By Phil Coleman

Last updated 09:23, Saturday, 26 July 2008

HOUSING CHIEFS were today urged to warn Carlisle residents living in ex-council homes that they may have asbestos.

Wary: Dawn and Mark Porteous at their home in Brackenridge, Carlisle, which has asbestos inside and out

Residents spoke out after hearing that as many as 10,000 former council houses may have undetected asbestos in them.

The News & Star spoke to people living on Brackenridge, in the St Anne’s area of Carlisle.

Carlisle Housing Association last year removed asbestos from homes in the area, but the service did not include homes which have been bought under Right to Buy legislation.

The association has written to tenants to reassure them but several residents who have bought their home agreed that CHA should also alert owner-occupiers in the area to the risk.

Doris Turner, 77, who has lived in her house on Brackenridge since 1964, recalled how her husband had died of a lung condition called pulmonary fibrosis, possibly linked to asbestos.

“People should be told about it,” she said. “They should write to people who have bought these houses.

“My son-in-law is a plumber and he spotted cupboards in our upstairs back bedroom with asbestos in them. He was trained and knew what to do with it.”

Although there was no link to the asbestos and her husband’s death, Doris added: “I wouldn’t wish a condition like that on my worst enemy.”

Neighbour Dawn Porteous, who lives with her husband Mark, and 16-year-old son Stuart, said she has asbestos in her house, on the stair panel and in a cupboard. “People have a right to know about it,” she said.

“The asbestos on the stair panel is wallpapered, but personally I’d like it to be removed.”

Many roof soffit boards are made of asbestos and garden sheds in the area have asbestos roofs, including Dawn’s and the one in the rear garden of the house owned by joiner Caven Poland, 28.

He said: “I recognised the asbestos in the house because of my job, but they should have said ‘this is asbestos’, because people might start pulling it apart, leaving the dust flying about.”

The issue was highlighted this week as bosses at CHA, which now owns the homes, confirmed that its officials have not routinely warned tenants in the past that there may be asbestos in their homes. One tenants’ group this week estimated that as many as 10,000 former council houses in the city may have undetected asbestos.

There are fears that DIY enthusiasts may have unwittingly exposed themselves to asbestos dust while working on their homes.

Legislation designed to protect tradesmen when working on buildings where the material is present apply only to public buildings and not private dwellings.

The issue came to a head after several joiners employed by the association refused to handle asbestos, with backing from the construction workers union UCATT.

They say only specialist companies should be allowed to do the work.

One union official said the law should now be changed so that both tenants and people who have bought former council houses should have the same degree of protection as that given to tradesmen working on public buildings.

In that case, all asbestos has to be surveyed and the details logged on a register so the risk is not hidden.

UCATT’s Cumbria regional secretary John Scott, who has worked with asbestos support groups, said: “We understand the legislation but we don’t necessarily agree with it.

“Tenants and people living in former council houses should have a right to know what asbestos might be there and where it is.

“It’s not good enough to say we need an asbestos register for public buildings and not one for former council houses. There should be detailed inspections and a public register for these properties.”

Mr Scott – who suffers from an asbestos-related lung condition himself – said CHA should now write to tenants and those living in former council houses in Carlisle to alert them to the asbestos danger.

CHA said it is removing asbestos from the homes it owns as part of a rolling programme. With backing from the Health & Safety Executive, the association insists its workmen are operating within safety guidelines.

A spokeswoman added: “Following recent allegations regarding asbestos, CHA is keen to allay any fears.

“It is important that people are aware that even if asbestos is present, unless it is damaged, removed or disturbed, it will not cause any harm.

“CHA has written to tenants to reassure them, and added a link on its website to give further information about asbestos. In addition, The Riverside Group, to which Carlisle Housing Association belongs, is currently producing a leaflet to send to tenants nationwide to give advice and guidance on this matter.”

CHA will deal with the issue on an individual basis and wants anyone with concerns about asbestos to contact officers on 0800 169 3245.

The association took over the running of 7,197 council houses from Carlisle City Council in 2002 and currently owns 6,140.

PColeman@cngroup.co.uk