By Julian Whittle

Last updated 19:01, Monday, 21 July 2008

An official investigation has cleared Carlisle Housing Association of flouting rules on handling asbestos.

Complaint: Willie Whalen, of Ucatt, protests outside Carlisle Housing Association offices

Carlisle City Council launched a probe in response to claims by Ucatt union official William Whalen, who produced a lump of asbestos at a council meeting this week.

He said it had been removed from one of the association’s homes on a shovel, thrown into a wagon and dumped.

But now Councillor Ray Bloxham, the environmental portfolio holder, says those claims are unfounded.

He said: “The Health and Safety Executive told us they were aware of Mr Whalen’s allegations, had investigated them and that Carlisle Housing Association do have a safe method of removal.

“They could find no evidence of danger to anyone.”

But Mr Whalen told the News & Star that the Health and Safety Executive’s inquiry related to an earlier complaint, before the latest evidence came to light.

He said: “I’ve not spoken to anyone there since we got hold of this. Mr Bloxham has been given wrong information.”

The Health and Safety Executive says it is satisfied with Carlisle Housing Association’s procedures.

A spokesman said: “We are happy that nobody has been exposed in any way.”

The housing association manages 6,140 former council homes that transferred from the city council in 2002.

It has written to tenants to reassure them that its methods of working are safe.

Managing director Patrick Leonard welcomed the Health and Safety Executive’s statement and accused Mr Whalen of scaremongering.

He said: “Health and safety is of utmost importance to us.

“We are pleased that recent advice from the Health and Safety Executive has confirmed that compliance with our operating procedures should ensure that the risks from asbestos materials are appropriately controlled.”

Asbestos was widely used for insulation until the 1970s.

Its dust causes an aggressive and always fatal form of lung cancer, mesothelioma, which can appear decades later.

Because of the health risks, there are strict rules on how asbestos is handled and removed from buildings.