A PRINCETOWN man has claimed West Devon Borough Council has put children at risk by refusing to assist in moving asbestos on the border between a path and his garden, close to Princetown Primary School.

However, the borough council says the responsibility for disposal of asbestos material lies with the householder, not the local authority, but it has tried to make practical suggestions on how the material could be disposed of.

Toby Rickard is upset he has been told to remove the asbestos himself, despite not having any transport to take it away.

Mr Rickard who lives in Bellever Close, Princetown, says he discovered the asbestos on the border between his garden and a path used by children as a shortcut to the school, and it has now been left piled in the garden for several months.

Mr Rickard is angry the council has not helped him to remove the asbestos which he says could be damaging his health.

?I would like the council to arrange for me to be taken for free asbestos-testing,? he said.

He said it was impractical for him to handle and dispose of the asbestos himself as he is on incapacity benefits and does not have a car.

He said council officers had told him the cement-sheeting type of asbestos he had found was the least dangerous type, but it crumbled and broke off easily and particles were being spread around the path and his garden.

Nick Payne, borough council head of environmental services said: ?We have attempted to give Mr Rickard practical advice about how to deal with this material and appropriate points of disposal, and while I understand the particular difficulties that have been identified, we made suggestions about getting round this lack of transport.

?We have dealt with his enquiry in line with other enquiries on removal of asbestos which we receive from time to time,? he said.

Mr Payne said he understood the asbestos was now covered, and as such the danger of wind-blown material causing a danger to public health was ?very unlikely?.

?He has drawn attention to a situation that is a concern, but providing he follows basic precautions the potential for contamination is very low, though it is material that needs to be treated with respect,? he said.

Mr Payne said the borough council had no legal obligation to dispose of asbestos which is discovered on private property and said the responsibility for its safe disposal fell onto the householder.

Mr Payne said the two nearest available sites that were able to take asbestos material were Combebow landfill site at Bridestowe and Chelson Meadow, Plymouth and he hoped Mr Rickard would be able to make alternative arrangements to get round the problem of not having a car.