A BUILDER claims a Corwen estate is covered in asbestos but the council are 'laughing of' the problem and simply building over it rather than removing it from houses.
Michael Harding has lived on the Clawdd Poncen estate for seven years but it was only 15 months ago after he bought his house from the council that he discovered the extent of the problem.
Mr Harding, 46, said his concerns were raised again when he saw last week’s Free Press report about the Corwen Pavilion being closed after concerns over white asbestos.
"There are a couple of hundred houses on the estate half of them are owned by Tai Clwyd and half by Denbighshire County Council, the council ones definitely have white asbestos products in every one of the houses," said Mr Harding.
The father of three said there should have been some warning over the problem before he bought the 1960s council house.
Fifteen months ago the council went into the estate to modernise their houses.
Mr Harding said to keep up with the renovations around him he started work on his own property and discovered the asbestos.
"Asbestos vans turned up on the estate which is when I thought something was going on so I began to dig deeper.
"A big log of asbestos fell out of my chimney and I had to throw everything in the room away."
Mr Harding said all the chimneys have asbestos products in them.
"They put gas fires in and blocked the chimney rather than dealing with it,” he said.
Mr Harding said he has walked round the estate with a fellow builder and saw doors and roofs full of asbestos.
"There are a lot of children around here and I worry for the health of my own children, but I am a self employed single parent I can't afford to just up and move.
"I want solutions, I have a feeling it's all being brushed under the carpet.
"Ideally I would like the council to buy the house from me and give me my money back or foot the bill to completely sort the problem out."
Mr Harding claimed council housing officers have laughed off his concerns.
This week a Denbighshire County Council spokeswoman said: "Housing is currently running in year four of a five year refurbishment contract for social housing.
“As part of the pre-contract work, Type Two asbestos surveys have been conducted on a proportion of the houses in the council's housing portfolio (approx 20 per cent of each age and type of house) to assess the amount of asbestos and to ensure the asbestos is managed or removed prior to the kitchen, bathroom and electrical work being undertaken.
"Any issues concerning privately owned property is a matter for the owner to discuss with his conveyancing solicitor or building surveyor.
"As with any house purchase, it is up to the purchaser to obtain a suitable and sufficient survey in order to identify the risks associated with their new property.
"Corwen Pavilion has now reopened after tests carried out came back negative.
"The only asbestos found in the building is in the form of asbestos rope on the seals of the heating duct.
“This is classed as a very low risk to the public."