Asbestos store decision protested

There has been opposition to the asbestos store

Campaigners have vowed to appeal against the approval of an asbestos storage facility in County Antrim.

Environment Minister Angela Smith said there were no environmental reasons to withhold permission for the facility at Crosshill Quarry in Crumlin.

Roisin Molloy, of Crumlin Against Asbestos, said the community was shocked by the minister's decision.

"Our voice as a community group and the health issues for us and our children have been ignored," she said.

The proposal will see double bagged asbestos being transported by the firm Eastwood Ltd from its removal site to Crosshill, where it will be stored in steel containers awaiting movement for final disposal.

Soil sampling by the Environment Heritage Service (EHS) indicated a very low presence of asbestos at one location of the quarry, presenting no significant risk, but the EHS has instructed the company to seal this part of the site.

'Not satisfactory'

Ms Molloy told BBC Radio Ulster on Thursday that they felt the minister had not adequately answered many of the questions they had submitted.

"We feel as a group that many of the questions have not been answered, many require much further clarification and many give information with absolutely no evidence to prove or support the answers," she said.

She said procedures for monitoring asbestos levels were not satisfactory.

"Under the proposals, this company will only require to measure airborne asbestos once every two months," she said.

"If you have a release of asbestos into the environment, and specifically at that site where there are air currents coming from the airport and where there can be quite poor weather conditions, this could be sufficient to disperse it further afield."

She said it was a "fact" that asbestos was harmful to human health, as it was classified as a group one carcinogen by the World Health Organisation.

Suzanne Eastwood, director of the firm behind the plans, said there was "no possibility" that particles could be released from the facility and that local people's fears were "not justified".

"The minister would not have made the decision if there was any risk to people because she is the health minister as well as the environment minister," she said.

I can assure you 100%, the people of Crumlin are not at risk Suzanne Eastwood Company director

Mrs Eastwood said the 34-acre site was not located in a built-up area and it "would be difficult to find a more appropriate place" for the facility.

"The whole process is carried out in a tented, enclosed area, which is tightly air monitored," she said.

"It is very scientific, in an enclosed area where you are only allowed to enter if you are licensed, trained and have had a full medical."

She said some of her family would be living near the facility, including her new grandchild.

"I can assure you 100%, the people of Crumlin are not at risk - we would not put any lives at risk especially children."

The minister said monitoring would ensure there was no danger to nearby residents, who had opposed the plan, "from water, land or air".

Ms Smith said residents' concerns were "understandable" but scientific investigations concluded there were no significant residual risks associated with the historical deposit of redundant railway carriages on the site.