POTENTIALLY lethal asbestos has been left dumped at a partially-derelict industrial site in Barrow which attracts antisocial behaviour and arson attacks.

More than a decade ago, plans were put forward to revitalise Barrow's redundant docklands into a marina village, holiday park and housing estate.

The area of Salthouse Mills was set to be transformed into 250 luxury homes and the site was snapped up by property developer Amstone for £1.35m when it was put on the market in 2007.

However, despite being earmarked in Barrow Borough Council's plan as an allocated site for future development of the town, the last nine years have seen little progress at Salthouse Mills, which has become a hotspot for anti-social behaviour and a drain on resources for Cumbria Fire and Rescue with crews being called out to deliberate fires on an increasingly regular basis.

Resident Patrick Tate regularly walks near the site and has this week taken photographs of what appears to be asbestos cement sheeting which has been dumped there.

While the asbestos should not pose a hazard if left untouched residents are being warned to stay away from the site and not to touch the asbestos.

Barrow Borough Council's environmental health department has been made aware of the hazard and has contacted Amstone.


The authority's principal environmental protection and licensing officer, Graham Barker, said the asbestos should be cleared this week.

"We are aware of the asbestos and we have been in touch with the owners," he said.

"We have served notice on them and they are going to address it by the end of the week."

Chartered surveyors Edwin Thompson, which has offices in Carlisle, Keswick and Windermere, is marketing the land at £1.6m.

Any sale is subject to an overage provision - requiring the owner to give 40 per cent of any increase in value, as a result of planning permission being obtained to develop the site, to former owner Robin Walmsley, whose father bought Salthouse Mills in 1972.