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Demolition and
Local Councils
Calls to the Lead Advisory Service indicate that many
Councils are not meeting their responsibilities to ensure lead-safe demolitions.
Over 1996, the Lead Advisory Service received 110 calls
where ‘demolition’ was the prime focus of the call. Of these calls, almost half
(51) specifically raised dealings with their local Council. A further 20% raised issues
related to the direct responsibilities of local government, although at the time they had
not thought to contact their Council.
While lead in dust can be a problem, it’s the lead in
fine dust, the lead you can’t see, which can be absorbed following inhalation. Calls
to LAS indicate that many people only realise the potential lead poisoning risks related
to demolitions, both domestic and industrial, and for workers and others in the area, well
after the process has begun and some irreversible damage may already have occurred.
Clearly, too many people still think anyone can knock down
a wall or two … after all it’s my house, building, property. Too many people
demolish without a care for the health of anyone – themselves, their neighbours or
the neighbourhood. But the news is not all gloomy. Some Councils are taking the initiative
to seek advice regarding their obligations, with the result that a number of local
Councils have or are developing lead safe demolition guidelines for their area.
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