Asbestos removal 'waste of money'

Asbestos removal from homes branded a waste of money.

An expert on asbestos in house building has told a council they are wasting money removing the material from homes.

Milton Keynes has started a £1million scheme to remove asbestos from 20 per cent of its housing stock.

John Bridle, who has saved other local authorities millions of pounds when faced with similar problems, has criticised the project.

"There are much more cost efficient ways of dealing with the problem but my advice has been turned down," he said.

Cheaper solution sought

The expert runs a consultancy in Wales and was approached by Don Hoyle, chairman of Milton Keynes' housing overview committee who was seeking a much cheaper solution.

Mr Hoyle said: "Under the present scheme we are removing asbestos from homes considered most at risk.

"The rest will be monitored and asbestos will only be removed, if or when, the material becomes dangerous.

"But John Bridle believes 90 per cent of our costs could be saved."