Concern over development of former Havering College campus

Julie Green, 65, of Tring Gardens in Harold Hill, accused Havering Council and housing developer Bellway of exposing residents to harmful conditions from March to September 2023.

The 65-year-old, who has lived in the area for 40 years, showed The Recorder a 729-strong petition signed by residents calling for a public meeting to address concerns over the development of the former Havering College Quarles campus.

This comes after plans to replace the campus with 120 homes were approved in July 2021 and works began on July 4 in 2023.

Julie, who lives with her husband Peter, 72, claimed the level of dust was "unbelievable" from March 13 to September this year, a time in which the council failed to act, she alleges.

"It was thick, it was on the car, my windows, the shed, the barbecue," she said. "The dust was unbelievable."

RELATED NEWS: Construction to begin on former Harold Hill college site

Envirochem found asbestos dust on Julie's barbecue on June 23 in 2023 (Image: Julie Green)

In a letter seen by The Recorder, independent testing organisation Envirochem Analytical Laboratories sampled dust from Julie's home on June 15.

On June 23, the date the sample was analysed, Envirochem detected asbestos in her back garden on the barbecue of the "chrysotile" type - one classed as a human carcinogen.

But a spokesperson for Bellway London had said that the company put asbestos monitoring equipment in place throughout the demolition work and no asbestos was found.

Havering Council, in this joint venture with Bellway, also said that there have been no contamination issues at the site.

“We are confident that Bellway and Mercury Land Holdings [the council's building firm] have discharged their responsibilities fully throughout the now completed demolition phase of the development,” a council spokesperson added.

But Julie said that despite presenting evidence and her case to the council, including the petition, she feels she has been ignored.

The Harold Hill resident added that despite her petition being collected by councillor Paul McGeary, cabinet member for housing and property, she was "furious" to find it had not been presented.

"The full council meeting was on November 22," she said. "The petition was collected from me on November 17, all in good time.

"On the day of the meeting petitions were presented but ours was nowhere to be seen - I was furious".

The council said Julie's petition has now been scheduled to be handed in at a Full Council meeting on January 17 next year.

“We are in the process of arranging a meeting between residents and the contractors as requested in the petition,” a spokesperson added.

But for Julie, the move comes too late and she claimed it was not until after the demolition that the council acted, months after the problems began.

"The silence is deafening," Julie added.

A Havering Council spokesperson apologised that Julie felt there had been a lack of response, but said various councillors, including deputy mayor of Havering Patricia Brown, had been in contact.

“As the developer enters the construction phase next year, the planning authority will continue to work with Bellway, and other agencies, to continue to observe conditions which will deal with dust suppression and monitoring," the spokesperson added.

Bellway said that the demolition was complete and ground works are progressing.

“As a responsible housebuilder, we take the health and safety of all of our site staff, subcontractors and local residents extremely seriously," a spokesperson said.

The spokesperson added that the site and nearby area was free from contamination.

“Numerous independent bodies, including the Health and Safety Executive, have since inspected the site and surroundings and each have been satisfied that no contamination has occurred."