Work is underway to finally clear asbestos from a Liverpool special school 11 years after it opened to pupils. Almost £4m is being spent by the city council to remove fibres from the grounds at Redbridge and Bank View School in Fazakerley.
Three years ago, it was revealed how remnants of asbestos were uncovered on the playing fields at the Long Lane site. It has been open to students since 2015.
Clearance work begins
Work began earlier this week to dig up and carefully remove the fibres, with specialist teams seen on site. It is thought £3.8m is needed to fully complete the work.
City council members agreed a way forward on how best to remove the materials in February last year after 18 further months of indecision. A planning application was submitted retrospectively after terms were agreed for the construction of both sites in December 2013 following the cancellation of Liverpool’s Building Schools for the Future capital programme three years previous.
Contamination details
Work is ongoing now to ensure it is complete before the autumn term begins. Asbestos was found to have been present for at least five years when football pitch improvements took place in 2018.
Liverpool Council officials confirmed the presence of contamination remains on site, which has been open to students since 2015. In 2013, the schools were given outline permission but were ultimately built not in compliance with the decision notices and conditions.
A “portion” of cemented asbestos up to 60cm was found on the site below a layer of topsoil. Remediation of the site will include the removal of top soil across all soft landscaped areas of the entire school site and the replacement of this with clean, imported top soil.
Cost and liability
Sources have confirmed to the ECHO that 80% of the money allocated for the project is for the direct cost of the remediation of the land with the other 20% to be spent on improvement works that will be required.
The original contractor did not discharge its duty relating to the remediation, leaving taxpayers to foot the now costly bill. The ECHO understands the council is seeking to resolve ultimate liability with the other parties.
Last year, councillors were critical of the length of time it had taken to deal with the fibres and expressed fears it could put pupils’ health at risk. Cllr Julie Fadden said as a result of the materials being found in the surface around young children, “their lives have been put in danger.”
Alongside the asbestos removal, improvements will be made to the existing play area as well as treatment of Japanese knotweed.
