BREAKING NEWS: Arun cancels crucial leisure meeting over asbestos concerns

ARUN District Council has cancelled tonight’s pivotal leisure meeting (Wednesday, March 20), after the shock discovery of what could be asbestos in the council chamber.

By Tom Cotterill

Published 20th Mar 2013, 12:16 BST

The debate, which was set to kick off at 6pm this evening, at the Civic Centre, in Maltravers Road, Littlehampton, has been pulled due to mounting “health and safety” concerns.

A spokeswoman for the council said that tests had so far proved inconclusive but, due to the age of the building, there was the possibility the substance could be asbestos.

Nigel Lynn, Arun’s chief executive, said: “Work was being done to improve the sound system when the issue arose late on Tuesday evening (March 19).

“We don’t know yet what it is but we have taken the decision to cancel tonight’s meeting while we await the results of the tests that are being carried out.”

The meeting has not yet been rescheduled.

For the full story, see tomorrow’s paper (Thursday, March 21).