Plymouth City Council is undertaking regular clean-ups at Teats Hill and Clovelly Bay foreshore areas as a precautionary measure. This action follows the identification of asbestos-containing material in samples taken from these sites.
The sampling was part of a broader series of tests commissioned by the council at 10 publicly accessible foreshore areas around the waterfront, prompted by earlier positive tests for asbestos at Mount Batten during the summer.
At Teats Hill beach, off Artillery Place, cement containing chrysotile (white) asbestos was found in one of 14 ground samples. At Clovelly Bay in Turnchapel, one of five samples taken from one of two designated areas showed the presence of cement containing chrysotile asbestos.
Public health officers, in consultation with the UKHSA, have assessed the risk and determined it to be low. Subsequent air quality tests at both locations have not identified any airborne asbestos fibres. However, regular clean-ups are being conducted to prevent the material from breaking down over time and releasing fibres.
There are no access restrictions to the sites. The clean-up approach mirrors that taken at Mount Batten since asbestos was first identified there in 2019. Specialist consultants are being commissioned to investigate the source of contamination at Mount Batten and recommend safety options, with investigations expected to begin before the end of next month and recommendations due in early spring.
