A COMPANY boss in charge of the demolition of an old industrial site says there is no danger to the public after asbestos was found on site.

Work to take down the former cattle market buildings at Bingley Auction Mart in Keighley Road is taking place after permission was granted by Bradford Council.

The application to demolish the site, which has been largely vacant since the market moved out in 1995, was submitted by Elland-based Commercial Development Projects (CDP) last month.

The buildings is being demolished on safety grounds and no plans have yet been submitted to the Council for the future use of the site.

Demolition work started on April 24 and is due to be completed by May 19.

Bingley resident Mark Wells said he was concerned for the safety of people, particularly children, walking passed the site.

He said: “There are children walking passed that site twice a day. I know the company are trying their best. I am very concerned about asbestos being found there.”

Chris Delaney, director of Bridgeplan Limited, the firm appointed to carry out the demolition work, reassured residents who were concerned after asbestos was found in the building’s roof sheets.

He said: “There is asbestos on the site, the majority is very low risk. But there is no risk beyond the site perimeter.

“We are not going to put any of our workers or members of the public at risk. Any risk is restricted to our own personnel who are trained in health and safety and wear full safety equipment.

“We can fully understand the concerns of the public. We have full controls in place to protect members of the public. Full risk assessments have been carried out in order to remove any risk to members of the public from any exposure to asbestos.”

Mr Delaney added Bradford Council’s building control department and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) have both been notified of the firm’s asbestos removal plans.

A method statement, submitted by Bridgeplan to Bradford Council, states: “Non-licensed asbestos contaminated material (ACM) bonded asbestos cement is presumed to be present to the roofs and cladding.”

A Bradford Council spokesman said: “The building is being demolished by the site owners and the timing of the demolition is down to them.

“It is also the responsibility of the owner to ensure any asbestos is contained and removed safely.

“If anyone has any concerns they can contact the HSE.”

The former auction mart buildings had been badly damaged by vandals with parts daubed with graffiti. A fire took hold in one of the derelict buildings in September last year. It was believed to have been started deliberately by teenagers.

Plans to build a supermarket there were refused last year. Lidl and CDP had jointly applied to the Council to open a store with 140 parking spaces.

But the proposal was turned down by the Council’s regulations and appeals committee on the grounds that it would have an adverse impact on existing and committed investment in Bingley town centre.

Committee members also said the development would fail to make a “positive contribution to the area”.