CHILDREN'S health in Beckenham is threatened by a rubbish tip "left to rot", a former councillor has claimed.

Ex-Tory councillor Rod Reed, 41, claims the Churchfields Road civic amenity site threatens the health of pupils at neighbouring Churchfields Primary School because of exposed asbestos fibres in the roofing and air pollution from uncovered waste.

He has accused Bromley Council of underfunding the site, built more than a century ago, and has contacted environmental group Friends of the Earth to see if legal action can be taken.

But Bromley Council stated the site poses no health risk and is inspected regularly.

Asbestos waste is not permitted at Churchfields and must be taken to Waldo Road or collected by the council.

But the roof, falling into disrepair, is made of cement-bonded asbestos, a common building material in the 1960s.

The holes leave fibres of asbestos exposed to the air.

Mr Reed said: "This site has been left to rot and the asbestos risk is outrageous. The council should demolish buildings with asbestos. As this substance is so dangerous the site is not licensed to handle it."

He added: "To have such a site next to a school could risk children's health.

"It is irresponsible in this day and age to have rubbish so close to a school without investing properly to minimise the effects of pollution."

Bromley Council environmental development manager Alistair Bailie said: "There are holes in the roof but the asbestos is still bonded with cement and is not being touched or moved.

"Over the next month, council staff will conduct a survey of the site to pick out improvements which need to be made when new contractor Onyx takes over the running of the site.

"The council is licensed to run this facility by the Environment Agency which places very strict regulations on what we can and can't do and if it thought there was any health risk we would have to remedy it."

September 12, 2001 9:48