Decision pending on Liverpool school site after asbestos find. Officials aim to reassure worried parents on health risk.
Asbestos was found at the school site, near Redbridge and Bank View School. The discovery happened in June 2023, eight years after the schools opened. Officials said the risk was low, but committee members were not happy.
They deferred a planning application, wanting to visit the site. Politicians will visit next week to decide how to fix the problem. Terms for building were agreed in 2013, following cuts to a building program.
The council confirmed contamination is present. The schools have been open since 2015. Asbestos was there for at least five years before pitch work in 2018.
The schools got permission in 2013 but were not built exactly as planned. Asbestos was found under topsoil there, and some pieces were quite large. Fixing the site involves removing the topsoil and replacing it with clean topsoil.
Councillors worry about the children’s health; one even said lives were endangered. Councillor Nick Small wants to reassure families, saying experts assessed the site. The asbestos is solid and under soil, and no fibers are released into the air. The risk is low, they said.
The school checks the site often, looking for any visible changes. The area is closed off and kids cannot go there. The remediation plan is approved and includes draining the pitches. Small wants to reassure parents and staff, believing the site is safe.
They plan to solve the issue. Committee members will visit the school. They will then decide at the Town Hall.