Published: Wednesday, 3rd September, 2008 5:00pm

DEADLY DUST IN BINGO HALL

by Amanda Keenan

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An asbestos ridden Barrhead building is set to be demolished amid fears that locals are at risk from its deadly dust.

Construction workers discovered disrupted asbestos cement in the burnt-out bingo hall on Cross Arthurlie Street.

Outraged residents from the street are slamming East Renfrewshire Council for not alerting them to the risk of asbestos exposure in the contaminated building.

One furious local said: “I only found out the building had asbestos when I was talking to one of the workers.

“I think it is terrible that residents of the street have not been told that they are being put at risk from asbestos dust. Everyone knows how dangerous it is, yet it has taken the council 15 years to demolish the building.”

Council bosses have admitted that the building has asbestos and have officially labelled it as ‘condemned’.

The bingo hall was set alight by vandals three months ago and East Renfrewshire Council has hired specialist contractors to demolish the building.

A spokesman for the council said: “After the building was set alight it was discovered that there is asbestos cement on the roof.

“We have hired specialist contractors who deal with asbestos and will demolish the building. The workforce gave a complete statement to the council detailing exactly how they plan to remove the asbestos. Taking the building down is a difficult job because the bingo hall is large and we want to demolish the building with minimum disruption to residents off the street. The contractors are taking the building down in stages starting with the rear of the building then moving on to the front.

“The building does not pose any danger to residents of Cross Arthurlie Street.”

Experts warn that if asbestos fibres get into a victim’s lungs then there is a risk of that person contracting a potentially deadly disease called asbestosis.

A Health and Safety Executive leaflet cautions that: “Any building built or refurbished before 2000 is still likely to contain asbestos.

“Workers exposed to asbestos have an increased risk of developing lung cancer.”

The building was built in the 1930s as a cinema and became a bingo hall in the 1970s.