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Hundreds of thousands of children in the Black Country and Staffordshire attending schools that still have asbestos

Hundreds of thousands of children in the Black Country and Staffordshire are attending schools that still have asbestos in their structures – sparking fears they may be at risk.

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Some 86 per cent of schools still contain the substance, which can cause health problems if disturbed. A total of 69 of 76 schools in Wolverhampton have asbestos, compared to 101 of Dudley's 107, 370 of Staffordshire's 400 and 216 of Worcestershire's 243.

Campaigners Asbestos in Schools say 42,196 pupils in Walsall attend schools with asbestos, and 46,880 in Sandwell, although the number of schools was not available.

Glenthorne Primary School

Glenthorne Primary School in Great Wyrley had to close while decontamination took place in 2009.

And three years later Staffordshire County Council admitted liability over the incident.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive revealed shortcomings in dealing with asbestos both by the council and its contractors, Rugeley-based G Evans (Services) Ltd.

The firm was fined £8,000 and ordered to pay £4,000 costs at Stafford Crown Court in December 2012.

The company, based in Wheelhouse Road, admitted failing to ensure the safety of persons not in its employment and the safety of persons in employment, and was fined £10,000 and ordered to pay £5,000 costs.

Judge Mark Eades heard that the main people at risk from the asbestos were two workers from the firm. Risks to teachers and children in the school at the time were "difficult" to assess.

The court heard the exposure was brief and would not lead to any serious lung problems like asbestosis or cancer.

It happened in February 2009 during the removal of a long wall cupboard, which had to be sawn in half.

The work revealed a foil-lined backing board, which was wrongly identified as non-hazardous insulation material and put in a skip.

Mr Bernard Thorogood, representing the council, said the refurbishment of the nursery was a late addition to the work at the school and the authority accepted responsibility for the failing of a very senior employee.

Mr Stephen Cadwaladr, for the company, said only a small piece of asbestos had been sawn by hand and very few fibres had been released.

It is not the only school in the region to be at the centre of an asbestos scare.

Last year a small amount of asbestos was discovered in a heating supply pipe at Earls High School in Halesowen.

Three classrooms and a girls' toilet were sealed off while work was carried out to remove the material.

There are 344,886 pupils in the Black Country, Staffordshire and Worcestershire at schools with asbestos in total.

Asbestos was banned as a building material in 1999 but there is no legal requirement to remove it – and councils insist children are not at risk. If a person is exposed to asbestos dust during building work it could lead to health problems including mesothelioma, which can be fatal.

Campaigners say the Government should provide funding for schools to get rid of asbestos. But council chiefs say the cost of working on so many schools, and the disruption to teaching, means it is unlikely action will be taken in the near future.

Asbestos in Schools campaign leader Michael Lees's wife Gina was exposed to asbestos while working as a nursery teacher and died of mesothelioma at the age of 51.

The 67-year-old, from Devon, said: "We accept removing asbestos from all schools can only be done over a long period.

"We believe the Government should adopt long-term policies to eventually eradicate all asbestos from schools."

Councillor Ian Cooper, Dudley Council cabinet member for children's services, said: "Whilst we understand people's concerns about asbestos, particularly in schools, we would reassure them that we have a robust management programme for regulation and control."

Wolverhampton council spokesman Paul Brown said: "Most buildings of a certain age contain asbestos, and many of Wolverhampton's schools are no different.

"It's very important to stress that the presence of asbestos in buildings is not in itself a risk to health, as long as the asbestos is either not damaged or somewhere where it could easily be damaged."

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