The Clydebank Asbestos Group was officially formed in 1992 and this step consolidated work which had been ongoing in the area since the late 1980s. In the early days this group survived with access to only the most meagre resources. On one occasion in 1993 it was only a generous donation from the fabrication shop workers at John Browns Engineering which kept the group alive...

The Clydebank Asbestos Partnership - The Way Forward

The Clydebank Asbestos Partnership has met regularly since February 1998. The members of this Partnership are Greater Glasgow Health Board, West Dunbartonshire Council, Clydebank Health Issues Group and Clydebank Asbestos Group (pictured on right)

This Partnership have been extremely pro-active on asbestos issues in West Dunbartonshire since inauguration. This in turn has led to increased workload for the volunteer-based Clydebank Asbestos Group (CAG). The events and publicity generated by Partnership activity has increased the numbers of people who have contacted the CAG, sought support and advice or required information. A number of successful events and initiatives have been organised to assist the work of the Clydebank Asbestos Group.

The following events and initiatives are included in the work of the Partnership...

Asbestos Awareness Day

This event took place on 1st June 1998 in Abbotsford Church, Clydebank. More than 140 people attended this event at some point of the day. Local and national press, television and radio reported the event throughout. This coverage was very positive and a number of local asbestos sufferers and their carers were given advice and assistance as a direct consequence of the Asbestos Awareness Day

Chrysotile Ban

In June 1998 West Dunbartonshire Council (WDC) became the first local authority in the UK to support the call for a ban on Chrysotile (white asbestos). All elected members supported a resolution which called for a UK ban on the manufacture and use of asbestos. This followed on from the Asbestos Awareness Day and helped to sustain the momentum during the summer months. SUbsequently the area's asbestos problem gained a prominence and the workload of the support group was increased. It was also agreed, within the resolution, that West Dunbartonshire Council would convene a major conference to discuss all aspects of asbestos.

National Asbestos Conference

The National Asbestos Conference was organised to take place on 10th November 1998. This was a major undertaking supported by all members of the umbrella group. This conference was an overwhelming success with over 240 delegates and observers from all corners of the UK in attendance. Significant media coverage resulted in increased requests for advice and information from asbestos sufferers and their families. The national focus of this conference ensured that a number of these requests were from asbestos sufferers who lived outwith the immediate West Dunbartonshire area.

Publications Group

A sub-group of the umbrella organisation meets regularly to discuss various possible publications to assist the work of the Clydebank Asbestos Group. A poster and information leaflets have been produced for use throughout West Dunbartonshire. These are distributed to health centers, hospitals, Social Work & Housing offices and through trade unions. Three hundred posters and 2000 information leaflets are now in circulation. This additional publicity has increased awareness of the asbestos hazard in the local community.

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