Asbestos found dumped

DANGEROUS asbestos has been found dumped in a Suffolk road.

The asbestos, thought to have been removed from a roof, was left dumped in the road leading to Tattingstone, a notorious spot for flytippers.

Specialist workers wearing protective clothing will now be needed to remove the roof parts as asbestos poses such a health risk.

Babergh District Council will be responsible for ensuring the asbestos is safely cleared away.

Tiny fibres from the banned building material can be inhaled and stay dormant in the body for several years before developing into mesothelioma, a form of lung cancer.

The dangers of asbestos have been highlighted in The Evening Star's Silent Killer campaign. Thousands of former construction workers have died because of exposure to asbestos during their working lives and the number of deaths from mesothelioma is expected to continue rising.

Jonas Grist, a Babergh council technical officer said: "Babergh is aware of the dumping of asbestos roofing in a number of locations near Tattingstone, one of which makes the collection of the material very difficult indeed.

"We are working with a contractor to remove the waste and aim to complete the work as soon as possible."

The Evening Star has also battled against illegal fly-tippers through its Dump the Dumpers campaign. We have been fighting to stamp out illegal waste dumping since 2003 and have been calling for tough penalties for those who flout the law.

Mr Grist said Babergh council treats the dumping of asbestos seriously.

"The illegal dumping of any material is an anti-social act, the dumping of potentially dangerous substances doubly so.

"Babergh will be unstinting in its efforts to find the irresponsible individual or individuals who did this."

What can be done to stop these irresponsible dumpers? Write in to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk.