Colwyn Bay pier: Asbestos 'could contaminate beach'
Concerns are increasing that asbestos from the derelict Grade II-listed Colwyn Bay pier in Wales could contaminate the beach.
Asbestos sheeting was used in the construction of the main pavilion in the 1930s and a report by Conwy council said the sheeting could break up if the pier was hit by bad weather and wants to dismantle it as soon as possible. However, the permission of the Welsh Government is required before work can start. The council also needs a marine licence from environment body Natural Resources Wales (NRW) and is concerned it may not get permission until after the bad winter weather has begun.
The pier, which has been closed since 2008, started to collapse in February. A storm caused further damage and sections of it had to be demolished as an emergency measure.
An internal council report, released to BBC Wales under the Freedom of Information Act, said: "The strong impression remains of a rapidly deteriorating structure.
"The external walls of the pavilion were in a very poor condition when the deck was accessed some three to four years ago. It is surprising that they have not yet failed under wind load.
"If the walls fail, then a dominant opening would form, significantly increasing the wind pressure within the pavilion, leading to a high risk of the asbestos cement sheets being lost from the structure."
Contact us to book your...
