Liverpool Council has spent tens of thousands of pounds to rid St John’s Market of “high risk” asbestos.
Details made public about contracts awarded by the local authority show that following a routine inspection in March of this year, “high risk” minerals were located within the popular city shopping centre. In a statement, Liverpool Council confirmed these were in non-public areas of the market.
As a result, the city is spending around £39,000 to make the area safe.
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According to the register of tenders awarded, terms were handed out to Speke-based Asbestos Control and Treatment Ltd in May, following an inspection two months previously. The assessment found “several areas” had asbestos in need of removal in the building.
The contract, worth £23,700, was awarded on May 12, with a further tender for £14,000 handed out on June 20. The removal of the asbestos in the historic market is being taken in a two-phase approach, with the second stage due to begin in due course, following permission from the Health and Safety Executive.
It is expected the work will take up to four weeks to complete, with the funds coming from the city’s maintenance budget. The new St John’s was built in 1969 and officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II in 1971.
Built as the shopping centre's ventilation shaft, its iconic beacon was awarded Grade II listed status by Historic England in 2020, with particular praise being given to its "space age" design.
Earlier this year, it was revealed how 123 public buildings across Liverpool were found to contain asbestos. A Freedom of Information request revealed sites included the fibres were found in the Cunard Building, Liverpool Town Hall, council sports facilities, schools and a number of libraries.
Asbestos can be found in any building built before 2000, used for strengthening construction as well as for insulation, roofing and fireproofing. However, according to the HSE it kills 5,000 people a year.
When materials containing asbestos are disturbed, fibres release into the air and can cause serious diseases if they are inhaled. The diseases won't affect people immediately, but once diagnosed they can be too late to treat. Approximately 20 tradespeople die each week as a result of past exposure.
In March, Liverpool Council confirmed that two asbestos removals had taken place in the past five years, alongside 179 asbestos surveys. St John’s Market was not among that list.
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