Park remains closed after moles dig up asbestos

Up to £600,000 may need to be spent to make a playing field safe to reopen after asbestos was dug up by moles.

The Valley Playing Field in Chalford, Gloucestershire, was levelled in the 1940s using asbestos-cement materials.

But according to the parish and district councils, the site has been closed for nearly a year after recent mole activity disturbed the buried asbestos and brought it to the surface.

Andrew Morris-Wyatt, from Chalford Parish Council, said the cost of removing the topsoil was "obviously a huge amount of money" for a parish council and further tests are being carried out to assess the potential risks.

The 1.25 acre playing field, which is next to the River Frome, was left to the parish in the 1920s.

The park boasts a zip-wire, climbing equipment and all-weather table tennis table.

Morris-Wyatt, said it was in 1946 it was decided to level the site using asbestos-cement materials.

"At that point, nobody understood the potential for asbestos fibres to cause cancer," he said.

"It was topped off with topsoil. [And] as long as it remains beneath the surface then it's regarded as being very low risk," he added.

But with increasing mole activity over the last few years, fragments of asbestos cement have been brought to the surface with the potential risk of "exposure to airborne asbestos fibres as the soil dries out".

Out of 30 locations sampled, asbestos was found in 23.

Morris-Wyatt said a conclusion of its first report found there was a risk to health.

"A specialist consultant, took 20 further samples for two further tests around the dustiness of the samples and the respiratory impact of them. Those tests should be completed in the next couple of weeks."

The decision on whether the site should be "determined as contaminated land" falls to Stroud District Council who said it would continue to provide updates as relevant information is provided.

"We are committed to a further public meeting as the earliest opportunity," a council spokesperson added.

They also thanked residents and users of the park for their patience "while the investigation continues".

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