Inquiry head appointed in Wear Valley asbestos case

Published on 30 Nov 2007

An inquiry into how the presence of asbestos was ignored at a council-run leisure centre has appointed a former council boss to lead the investigation, reports The Northern Echo.

Peter Kemp, former chief executive of Durhum Council, will head the inquiry into why reports detailing the presence of asbestos were not acted on by Wear Valley Council.

Staff were allowed to work unprotected at the Woodhouse Close Leisure Complex for five years, despite council chiefs being aware that potentially harmful asbestos was present. Wear Valley Council has been fined £18000 for the offence and there are fears that staff may make further claims in the future.

A spokeswoman for Wear Valley said:

"The council has agreed to an inquiry into the events which led to the prosecution of the council by the Health and Safety Executive for asbestos related offences.
"Peter Kemp has extensive local government experience at a senior level.
"He is a retired local authority Chief Executive and a former adviser to the Association of District Councils and the Local Government Association.
"He has recent experience in chairing a Local Authority Improvement Board and numerous other public sector projects."

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