Asbestos was dumped in a Green Street Green road - and then left there for six days.

Residents of Old Hill, in Green Street Green, claim the toxic substance was abandoned in the middle of the road.

The road was coned off, but locals report that the hazardous material was not cleared until Wednesday after being abandoned last Thursday.

Victoria Willis, chairman of the Cudham Lane North Residents Association, said: "Someone dumped asbestos in the road and it’s taken until today [Wednesday] for a contractor to come and clear it up.

"People said they heard a big noise and saw it on the road. It was all across the road, big sheets of it.

"Obviously asbestos is very dangerous to the environment and people’s health."

Mrs Willis, who has two children, aged four and 12, said: "Very early Friday morning someone swept it all to the side of the road, but sweeping asbestos is very bad for your lungs.

"It’s worrying with all the particles flying in the area, people are breathing it in, and all the dog walkers are out and about. If someone’s got a lung condition, elderly or infirm it’s going to affect them."

After the dangerous material was dumped, she says someone came to close the road later that evening.

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She added: "The road was coned off but people were still driving along it. They were driving over it and breaking it up more. There was a road closed sign but people were taking no notice."

After phoning Bromley Council, she spoke to the Health and Safety Executive, left messages for the CEO of the council Doug Patterson, and phoned the Environment Agency.

Mrs Willis said: "We have chased and chased it with Bromley council who weren’t doing what they should be. It should be cleared within 24 or 48 hours the Environment Agency said.

"The council should have taken immediate action. I don’t know about the legal framework but certainly it should have been dealt with quicker.

"Six days is an awful long time; it’s a dangerous substance. It’s ridiculous. People have died from lung diseases after being exposed."

Asbestos is classed as hazardous waste, and those who transport it must register beforehand.

License to transport hazardous waste can cost £154, and there is a £5,000 fine for not registering.

Mrs Willis speculated over who the culprits were, saying: "They don’t want to have to pay the charges; they’re obviously not licensed to remove it and thought they’d save a buck by not disposing of it safely and just dumping it in the street.

"Whoever contracted them obviously didn’t check these people out. It could be naivety; it could be an old person who didn’t know you need a license.

"Or maybe they were doing work and found it, and rather than telling the person they just thought they’d dump it so they wouldn’t have to pay."

Bromley Council was contacted for a comment.

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