12:10pm Saturday 20th March 2010
SWINDON Council says the demolition of Headlands School remains on track despite the discovery of asbestos in its foundations.
Work to pull down the buildings on the site in Headlands Grove, Stratton, began in mid January following the school’s move to the new £34m state-of-the-art Swindon Academy building on Beech Avenue, Pinehurst, in December.
Asbestos is a naturally occurring fibrous material that has been a popular building material since the 1950s. It is used as an insulator, has good fire protection properties and protects against corrosion.
However, the material is a hidden killer which if damaged or disturbed can cause asbestos-related lung cancer, mesothelioma – known as asbestosis – a slow-developing disease which when eventually diagnosed can be too far developed to treat.
The council said although it had encountered more asbestos than was expected it had not disrupted work and the project was still set to finish on schedule by the end of May.
A council spokesman said: “Like nearly all buildings from the 1950s and 60s asbestos was used in its construction.
“It is being completely removed by specialist contractors from all areas before they are demolished, and none will be left at the site either above or below ground once the work is finished. Buildings due for demolition are surveyed to assess the location and amount of asbestos that might be present.
“Sometimes more can be found during the removal process, which at Headlands was in the foundations, but this has not affected the timescale for the work and it will be finished on time.”
In October last year Swindon Council released a list of buildings where asbestos was still believed to be lurking.
The Broadgreen Community Centre, Broome Manor Golf complex, the David Murray John Tower, the Link Centre, Kingsdown Crematorium, The Steam Museum and Wat Tyler House are a few of the buildings named.
Schools named include Wroughton Junior and Infants schools, Drove Primary School and Rodbourne Cheney Primary School.
The Wyvern theatre was closed for a year in September 2006 after asbestos was discovered in its roof void.
The total refurbishment and removal of asbestos from the theatre cost more than £1.3m.
l The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) recommends manageable asbestos should be left where it is unless necessary to remove it.
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