A HOUSING tenant has criticised City of York Council for not responding sooner to asbestos at his property.

Michael Morgan, of Gascoigne Walk, near Nunnery Lane, said the authority had been aware of the dangerous material falling from a communal area in his and other buildings since Christmas, but had still not removed it.

But City of York Council said random air-tests were carried out on a regular basis by asbestos analysts. It claimed there had been no risk to residents and repair work was being carried out.

Mr Morgan said: “We got a letter from the council on April 27 which told us not to worry about it, just to keep our windows closed.

“A council workman came round and threw it in a public bin, then sent Environmental Health people round, who packed the bin in plastic and took it away.”

Mr Morgan, who lives in a ground floor flat at the property, said the grass outside the property had not been cut for six weeks because the council was concerned about asbestos dust which may have settled in the grass.

He said: “We’ve heard nothing from the council to tell us they were running behind.

“We were told work was supposed to start here after soffits were removed at Paston Mount from May 30, and at Paston Walk on May 2, but the scaffolding still hasn’t even been put up.”

Sally Burns, the council’s director of communities and neighbour-hoods, said it was aware of the damage caused to the property by last winter’s weather, and had regularly checked the area for further problems.

She said: “Council surveyors visit the area every day to check that there has not been any further damage to the soffits. No asbestos has come loose for some time, but, on the occasions it had, it was safely removed by qualified contractors.

“Random air-tests are carried out on a regular basis and asbestos analysts confirm that there has been no risk to residents. It is hoped that contractors will start work to remove the damaged soffits as soon as possible.”