By Julian Whittle

Last updated 13:06, Wednesday, 16 July 2008

An official investigation will be launched today into claims that Carlisle Housing Association has flouted rules on handling deadly asbestos.

William Whalen

The allegations were highlighted in dramatic fashion when Carlisle City Council met last night.

Ucatt union official William Whalen was there to present a petition calling for Carlisle Housing Association to be wound up and its 6,140 homes handed back to the council.

He produced a lump of asbestos, safely wrapped, and brandished it at councillors. Mr Whalen said: “This is asbestos taken from one of the houses. It was swept up with a shovel, thrown onto a flat wagon and taken to a dump.

“If that’s not dangerous, I don’t know what is.

“It shows the [lack of] care this housing association has for its employees and the people of this city.”

The claim brought an immediate response from Councillor Ray Bloxham, the environmental portfolio holder.

To applause from Carlisle Housing workers in the public gallery, he promised to instigate an inquiry.

“This is a very serious accusation,” he said. “Tomorrow morning, I will ask our environmental officers to investigate.”

Asbestos dust causes an aggressive form of cancer, mesothelioma, which can appear decades later. There are now strict rules on the way asbestos is handled and removed from buildings.

But Mr Whalen failed to persuade councillors to reverse the transfer of council houses to Carlisle Housing Association that took place in 2002.

He said the housing association had lost the confidence of tenants and its staff. “They are not accountable to anyone, not even this council,” Mr Whalen added.

“Tenants have no confidence in the management.

“We have no respect, no trust, no belief and no confidence. It’s right and proper this council asks to take back the housing stock.”

Councillors voted to take no action after receiving a report from development director Catherine Elliot, saying legal, financial and contractual issues would make the reversal of the housing transfer “non feasible”.

Mr Whalen now plans to raise the issue at the autumn Labour Party conference.

He said: “I will be asking Gordon Brown to investigate this housing association.”