Clean-ups planned at two Plymouth beaches after asbestos is found
Teats Hill and Clovelly Bay will stay open, with no access restrictions
Regular clean-ups are to be carried out at two Plymouth beaches to remove any material that may contain asbestos.
Plymouth City Council is taking the precautionary measure at Teats Hill and Clovelly Bay.
It follows the discovery of asbestos-containing material in one of several samples taken from each site.
There are no access restrictions at either beach.
What the tests found
The sampling was part of a series of tests at 10 areas of publicly accessible foreshore around the waterfront.
The tests were commissioned by the council after positive tests for asbestos on the foreshore at Mount Batten during the summer.
At Teats Hill beach, off Artillery Place, cement containing chrysotile (white) asbestos was found in one of 14 ground samples.
At one of two areas of foreshore at Clovelly Bay in Turnchapel, one of five samples showed cement containing chrysotile asbestos.
Health risk
The council said pieces of concrete containing asbestos on the beaches pose a low risk to public health.
It said asbestos only becomes a risk to long-term health if loose fibres become airborne and are inhaled.
Air quality tests at both Teats Hill and Clovelly Bay have not identified any airborne asbestos fibres.
Public health officers assessed the risk in consultation with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).
They determined there is currently a low risk to health at the sites, but that regular clean-ups should be carried out as a preventative measure.
The council said this will reduce the risk of asbestos-containing materials breaking up over time and releasing fibres into the sand.
Mount Batten
The clean-ups are in line with the approach previously taken at Mount Batten, where regular beach picks have taken place since asbestos was first identified there in 2019.
The council is in the process of commissioning specialist consultants to carry out further investigations at Mount Batten.
Their job will be to determine the source of the contamination and recommend options to make the beach safe to open.
The council said it anticipates the specialist investigations will be under way before the end of next month, with recommendations to the council in early spring.
MP reaction
Luke Pollard, MP for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport, commented on the announcement.
He said: "This is a very serious situation that clearly extends far beyond Mount Batten."
He said: "Although testing has not identified airborne asbestos fibres in these areas, I want to be clear that beach concrete containing asbestos must be removed safely and promptly. I advise residents and visitors to follow Plymouth City Council's guidance."
He said: "I'm in regular contact with the Council. I have let them know that I expect them to be fully transparent with test results and to reach a swift resolution to the problem, working with landowners."