At last! Relief at Wolverhampton asbestos clean-up after 11-year wait

An investigation of 270 homes on the Farndale Estate, Whitmore Reans, was launched in October 2009 and unacceptable levels of asbestos, mercury or lead were found at 84 homes.

Four empty homes were previously condemned after the discovery of carbon disulphide.

Wolverhampton Council has spent several years trying to determine who is legally obliged to pay for the clean-up work at the site of the former Courtaulds textiles factory.

Bosses said it is now carrying out it its legal responsibility to ensure the work is done.

Councillor Roger Lawrence, council leader, said: "This has been a long, drawn-out legal process for the long-suffering residents on the estate and I am delighted that they finally have some light at the end of the tunnel.

"I have shared their frustrations about how long the process has taken, but the diligence and determination of our environmental health officers has got us to the point where funding has been secured and we expect clean-up work on the estate to start later this year.

"I will be working to ensure things are progressed as soon as the process of appointing a contractor allows."

Letters have been sent out by the council this week to residents likely to be affected, informing them the tendering process is now underway.

Anna Spinks, the service lead for environmental protection, said the work would involve digging out soil in rear and front gardens and replacing it with fresh soil.

She added there was no intention to remove anyone from their homes, although some disruption would be inevitable.

The council was unable to confirm the value of the contract for the work.

Mrs Spinks, said: "We are now in a different phase, which we hope is the final phase. We are at the point of clean-up now."