COUNCIL officers are appealing for help in tracking down those responsible for dumping potentially dangerous asbestos in a car park at Cowling.

A number of sheets of the material were found in the Pinnacle Car Park in Buck Stone Lane on Monday, August 6 and will require specialist removal.

Paul Ellis, Craven District Council’s director of services, said the council was appealing directly to people, in the hope someone must have seen something to help officers track down those responsible.

“We would like residents to think about where this could have come from. Have they had any asbestos removed recently, did they pay someone to dispose of the asbestos - If so, did the person they pay supply them with proof of disposal,” he said.

“If anyone recognises the waste, I would ask them to get in touch with us to help prevent this happening again.”

Asbestos may be harmful if broken up, and if the fibres are disturbed, so people are being warned to steer clear of the area until it is all removed. The council’s waste management team is arranging for the specialist, and expensive, removal as soon as possible.

Mr Ellis added: “Asbestos is a dangerous material and must be disposed of correctly. Fly-tipping this material is extremely irresponsible.”

People removing asbestos from their homes can take it to the household waste recycling centre, off the A59, Harrogate Road, Skipton. It does however, need to be double wrapped in thick plastic before being taken to the site.

Those who prefer to have the material removed by a contractor are advised to check the company is registered to carry waste by checking the Environmental Agency’s public register and also ask to see the asbestos licence, allowing them to handle the material and to dispose of it at a registered site.

To view the public register online, go to: environment.data.gov.uk/public-register, and to check if the contractor has a licence, go to: webcommunities.hse.gov.uk/connect.ti/asbestos.licensing

Penalties for environmental crimes can vary but do include fines of up to £50,000 and or up to a year in prison.

Anybody with any information about the fly-tipped asbestos is asked to contact Craven District Council’s Cleaner Neighbourhoods Team on 01756 700600.