Asbestos-contaminated soil, a legacy of one British town’s former railroad industry, should be reason enough not to build a new housing development there, says one British citizen who is concerned about asbestos exposure.

According to an article in the Northwest Evening Mail, officials in the town of Barrow plan to allow the building of 650 homes – dubbed Marina Village – on a plot of land that was once occupied by the town’s steam engine sheds and locomotive repair shops. Asbestos was used to lag the boilers of the locomotives maintained there for many decades.

John Horne, a Barrow citizen and railroad historian, says he fears it could be dangerous to build houses at the site without first spending vast amounts to remove asbestos material. More than 30 years ago, says Horne, the local football and rugby clubs wanted to build a combined stadium there but changed their minds after discovering the toxic mineral in the soil.

“Barrow Council at that time suggested that it was the ideal place for them,” Horne said.

“But before Barrow rugby club jumped in with both feet they had soil analysis done and in his report the soil analyst said; ‘keep off, the ground is contaminated with asbestos.’ This put a quick stop to the combined pitch.”

Mr. Horne said after the site was earmarked for a big Marina Village, he hoped someone knowledgeable about the problem would speak out about the danger, but, he says, no one has done so. He wants the asbestos fears investigated so that houses are not built on contaminated land, he told the media.

Horne says he’s spoken to local council members, who’ve denied the presence of asbestos. “[Councillor Bob Maltman] made inquiries and then said he was told there was no asbestos in there, but I am led to believe that asbestos stays in the ground for 100 years,” Horne pointed out. “I am not an expert but I don’t think you should build houses on contaminated land. I would like someone independent to look into this and assure me that it is safe to build there.”

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