[21
JUL 00] ASTLEYS NEWS
Astleys
Carries On Despite Blaze
Coventry's
oldest family firm have told customers that it is business as usual
following an arson attack at their city centre factory
The
fire is believed to have been started in a den made by children next
to the site in Gosford Street occupied by John Astley and Sons, who
supply tools, workwear and industrial consumables.
It
quickly spread to an outbuilding at 7.30pm on Wednesday, but was
brought under control in the early hours of this morning.
Directors
and staff, who spent much of the night on site with fire officers, are
still assessing the extent of the damage.
Jonathan
Astley, sales director of the company's Industrial Consumables
division, said:
"The
building housed several containers of swimming pool chemicals, which
were slightly damaged by the fire and have now been removed to be
safely dealt with.
“The
building itself has been completely destroyed and the debris will be
cleared as quickly as possible."
Mr
Astley said that early reports of asbestos and white spirit being
stored in the building were incorrect:
"No
asbestos materials were kept there, but the walls were constructed
from bonded cement sheets containing some low-grade asbestos fibre,
of a type widely used in workshops and garages.
“Environmental
health officers from the city council have now checked the
surrounding area thoroughly and we understand it has been given the
all-clear."
Contractors
specialising in asbestos removal have been cleaning up the small
amount of dust and debris deposited on nearby car parks.
Officers
from the Environment Agency also visited the site to ensure that no
chemicals had leaked into drains or watercourses.
Mick
Hyde, environmental protection team leader, said:
"To
the best of our knowledge, nothing has reached the river and the
chemical containers have now been removed for safe disposal."
Mr
Astley said the firm was trading as normal, serving local customers at
its sales counter in Gosford Street and handling orders from other
clients across the region.
He
added:
"We
have been doing business in Coventry since 1730 and survived the
destruction of our shop when the city was bombed, so this is no more
than a small setback."
SEE:
[20 JUL 00] ASBESTOS
FEAR AFTER FACTORY ARSON |
