Material which could “potentially contain asbestos” has been found at a popular Kirkcaldy beach. Only last year Kirkcaldy Seafield won big at the Scottish Beach Awards by Keeping Scotland Beautiful. It was awarded based on three criteria: its local environmental quality, its access, facilities and safety and communities and heritage.
Some items which could contain the substance were discovered by locals across various points of the beach on a walk during the Christmas period. It’s understood that due to harsh winter weather, objects relating to constructions have become dislodged. Asbestos was a common material used for building from the late 19th century onwards. It carries significant health risks, including being a cause of lung cancer. Subsequently the use of it in buildings was completely banned in the UK in 1999. Despite this almost thirty year ban, in recent years the material has been discovered at beaches across the country as a result of earlier disposal.
Seafield is also a designated bathing water, which puts a legal requirement on local authorities to remedy pollution incidences where this poses a risk to health during the bathing season.
Fife Council’s manager for public and environmental protection Rob Bowditch confirmed that colleagues from Fife Coast and Countryside Trust had joined him in an inspection of the beach.
“There are no immediate safety concerns at Seafield Beach. A small number of items were found that could potentially contain asbestos. However, any asbestos present would be contained within materials and therefore would not present a significant risk to the public.
“Further inspections are planned to assess if any other action is needed.”
In an earlier statement, Fife Council’s head of protective services Nigel Kerr confirmed that due to recent storms there has been a lot of coastal movement in the area.
SEPA has declined to comment.
