[mandycharlie]

There are a few sheds around me that have been owned for many years, (I think approx 40)  Sadly the owners are no longer able to look after their plots so have just recently left.  

But, the old sheds have asbestos roofs.  Apparently, I was usefully informed the other day that my area is known as the cancer ward as so many have perished or are perishing from cancer.  (always nice to know when your trying to improve your health that is  :shock: )

So, have you got any stories to tell about your allotment, how if at all they have dealt with this problem?  etc etc.

n.b. Its a privately owned allotment with a committee etc, not council run.

[muntjac]

but the commitee have to by law remove the hazard .so get onto them about it

[moz]

Im no expert but I have an asbestos roof on my garage and was told by the surveyor that it was only a problem if you smashed it up and caused fibres to fly about. I would leave big sheds alone like the ones you have  though unless it was going to get removed by a specialist.

Last summer a guy who lives along the road from us spent the whole afternoon pressure washing the lichen and moss off his asbestos garage roof ! I made sure I stayed indoors that day ! :shock:

Cheers,

[Shelle]

I agree that asbestos is only dangerous if disturbed.

We found out that in our house every ceiling has asbestos in it despite only being 15 years old.  Only came to light as our water tank in loft exploded and  thus the landing ceiling collapsed!  It had to be removed by a specialised firm (some 3 months later I might add leaving us with a gaping hole!).

they assured us that the remaining ceilings were perfectly safe provided we dont poke holes in etc.  We have to just monitor and ensure they stay in good condition.

[Haisuli]

Hello

We have a number of asbestos roofing sheets on our plot.

  We have mention the problem of asbestos to our Allotment
Society but they say it is up to allotment holders to bag up
and remove. How do we prove to them it is their responsibility ?

regards

[Yorkie]

Hi and welcome to the forums, you might want to pop over to the welcome part of the site and introduce yourself properly?

We've had lots of asbestos roofing bits on our site.  The council allotment officer arranged for it to be removed and disposed of; some tenants moved it to the collection point themselves, others waited for the firm to do it.  As long as the sheets aren't broken then there's no real danger from them.

Your question isn't necessarily simple.  Why do you assume your allotment society has the responsibility?  Is it a council site, or privately owned?  Or is it a self-managed site by the association?

If there is asbestos, depending on the type of it, often a registered waste contractor should be used to dispose of it.  I have a feeling that one particular type can be double bagged and taken to the tip by individuals but I could well be wrong - and obviously we don't know if your asbestsos comes within that potential class anyway.

I don't think it should be for individuals to remove the asbestos, it should be the landowner's responsibility - but this does get confusing when there's issues of self-management.

Is it worth talking to your council allotments officer, if you have one, or the environmental health people?

[home made pie]

About 8 years ago we pulled down an old garage, the roof was corrugated asbestos sheets, we bought some massive (I mean really massive) strong plastic sheets and we wrapped the roofing up into manageble sizes and taped it up with packing tape, if I remember correctly we dampened it down first to minimise dust, anyway it all went off to the tip, all above board, they new what it was.  It was no big deal in the end.  It's got to be dealt with eventually so long as its removed and bagged properly

[andreadon]

That's right - it's damped down so that the fibres/dust don't get too much.
They should wear masks too.

IMHO it's far safer to leave asbestos where it is.
Even professional removers will cause some of the dust to get in the air.
(although, they will be protected whilst working!)

[Eatyourgreens]

Back in the good old days.

If we couldn't find any chalk guess what we would often use 

As already stated, if it's not breaking up just leave it alone.


Bob

[RichardC]

Speaking with my Building Surveyors (hard)hat on and being qualified to remove asbestos (although I don't choose to do so) it has been correctly stated by others that asbestos cement roofing sheets are NOT a licenced material. Therefore, as long as they are double bagged and disposed of at a licenced disposal site, anyone can do the work, it doesn't need to be a licenced contractor.

As has also been said, if it is in good condition, it is best left where it is, as long as it is subject to regular inspection to ensure condition does not deteriorate.

As to whos liability it is to remove, in my understanding the bottom line is that the 'duty holder' would ultimately be whoever is responsible for the up-keep and maintenance of the building, not necessarily the owner. If it is a privately owned shed, even if on a council site, then the 'owner' would be liable. Even if it were a council owned shed, if the allotment lease put responsibility on the plot holder to repair / maintain the shed, it would be the plot holder who would be liable.

I would have to qualify this (I am a surveyor after all!) by saying that my knowledge is based on non-domestic (i.e. commercial) buildings. The rules on domestic dwellings are differant, but I don't know how an allotment shed would be classed.

Richard

[vegikev]

hi. if it were mine. i would firstly paint a  pva/water mix after rain. then paint it with an all weather paint. no risk to you and a perfectly good roof

[woodburner]

Many years ago, Dad made enquiries about disposing of some (10) asbestos sheets that he had to remove from a shed (roof) as it was leaking. The cost was prohibitive, (well into the four figures) so he stacked it vertically against the back of the shed.
A couple of years ago, as I was planning to keep chickens in that area, I made enquiries as to how to dispose of it and the cost,  it was a couple of hundreds, but I'd have to bag it up in double layers of plastic, and no more than two sheets per package, so, as I was in the process of moving house, it got left.
Finally got round to it last year, all I had to do was damp it down, so I lined the back of the car with polythene, to keep it both clean and dry, and took it all down to the nearest appropriate dump. Cost, including disposable goves and mask, but not including petrol, under £90.
I wonder if I had waited even longer if I could have got someone to take it away for free!         

[MOLUSC]

Wrexham and Flintshire council allow you to take asbestos to their amenity sites (or re-cycle centers).
They have skips just for asbestos.
Bag it up as previously described.....and there is no charge.

Its cheaper for the council to allow this method of disposal than having to collect it dumped at the side of the road by fly tippers.

Wrexham council allow you to take rubbish in a commercial van (they do sometimes check what you have got in the van to make sure you are only dumping domestic waste) and you can use the site as offten as you like.

My mate in Flintshire can only use his local site a few times a year and no commercial vans are allowed!!!!!!
You can take asbestos in a car or trailer but not a van!!!!
I bet they spend thousands a year collecting rubbish dumped by fly tippers.

[Joan Kennedy]

I've just taken on the job of association secretary - since last Monday.  (Our allotment site is self-managed, leased from the council.)  Today a fairly irate member asked me to have a look at some asbestos.  Basically a lot of corrugated asbestos concrete sheets - I didn't stay to count, but looked at least 10 - had been broken up and left at the bottom of the garden of an unoccupied house, right against the allotment site boundary.  Our irate member thinks this was done by another of our association members - someone who has amassed a huge amount of recycled materials on his plot.  I think irate member is right - but we've no proof.

I've had a plot for two years.  I took on the secretary role on the condition that we also had a committee.  The committee meets - coincidently - for the first time tomorrow evening.  When I got my plot I didn't receive or sign a tenancy agreement - I don't know of anyone else who's received one. 

Any words of advice from anyone who reads this before 4pm tomorrow (5th April) would be hugely appreciated!

In anticipation
Joan

[peterjf]

the asbestos roofs on newland hull are painted , suppose they are safe ?