School gets all clear after asbestos test
WOODLANDS Primary School was tested for asbestos during a scare near its site on The Crescent, it has been revealed.
Sample swabs from the school were among 90 taken for testing after the discovery of asbestos fibres during renovation work carried out at nearby flats.
The school has been given the all clear after the tests were carried out.
But 34 residents were yesterday still away from 28 flats after their buildings were evacuated. By Thursday afternoon 19 of the residents were with family and friends, 13 were at The Regent Hotel and two were in a special respite care centre due to their special needs
All the people involved, including those staying with relatives and friends, are receiving regular contact from specially-allocated Doncaster Council staff to ensure they are kept up to date with information and all their requirements are met.
Already one resident's 91st birthday has been marked by a party arranged by the council.
No date for the residents' return has yet been confirmed by the authority.
A council spokesman: "Everything possible is being done to get residents home as soon as possible and a special helpline has been set up on 01302 735688 for relatives, friends and the people involved.
"The council is pressing for laboratories to check the samples and get the results back as quickly as possible so if groups of flats are declared clear they can be re-occupied.''
Doncaster Council and St Leger Homes moved the residents out of the homes on The Crescent, Woodlands on Tuesday afternoon to enable thorough special cleaning of all the homes.
The Health and Safety Executive have visited the site and declared they are happy with all the procedures being undertaken by the council.
Asbestos was exposed when boards above two flats were damaged during replacement work being carried out by a contractor working for St. Leger Homes.
The council says only microscopic particles of brown and white asbestos have been found so far - not the more dangerous blue asbestos.
Doctors have told the council there is a low risk to public health.
READ MORE
Back to main news index.
Latest video reports
Traffic and travel information.
Check out the jams on Sheffield's traffic cameras.
Today's features.
Books of condolence.
Pictures.
More Barnsley news.
More Rotherham news.
More Doncaster news.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Sheffield
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 20 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: East
