Poison Paint Worry in Teddington

11.56.15am UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 28th Mar 2006

The cleaning and repainting of Teddington Lock Bridge has triggered an alarm that poisonous lead dust is being spread over passers by and river life because of lack of care in the sandblasting process.

Local residents have collected packets of sediment, possibly containing lead, which is being thrown up by failure to cover the bridge. There is a film of lead powder thrown over the river where swans are eating.

Vincent Cable MP has taken the matter up with the Council: "I am not in a position, myself, to say whether the dust is dangerous to people or animal life. But what makes me suspicious is that, apparently, the Council rejected a tender bid from another company which was proposing to cover the work area completely. If that is indeed the case the Council will have to explain why it is cutting corners."