UK: University of Winchester student lied to about asbestos presence

University student lied to about asbestos presence

Winchester, Hampshire, UK - A university student is irritated to learn that school administrators lied to him about the presence of asbestos at a dormitory building.

After the University of Winchester student saw workers in white suits at the Parchment House dorm, he contacted news reporters to see if they could find out if it was related to asbestos. A spokesman for the university replied that contractors were taking precautions to ensure asbestos fibers would not be released as a result of the building's demolition, which is scheduled to take place soon.

The spokesman said there is no need for concern as the sheet asbestos at the dorm posed no threat unless damaged or disturbed.

The student said that last year when he and a friend, who was living at the dorm at the time, had asked an employee at the housing office if Parchment House contained any asbestos, they were told it was present. Upon seeing the men in white boiler suits and hearing the spokesman's announcement, the student said he's quite annoyed that he was lied to.

He said even if there was no need for concern over asbestos exposure, the person at the housing office should have told him and his friend that and should not have hidden the truth about the presence of asbestos.

The demolition of Parchment house is part of a project which includes the tearing down of another nearby dorm to clear way for the building of new residence halls. The project is expected to be completed before the university welcomes in new students in September 2009.

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