Council acts to further protect public from asbestos at the Aquadrome

As part of Three Rivers District Council’s commitment to properly manage the asbestos at the site and keeping its visitors safe, specialist contractors will be undertaking remediation works within the wet woodland – adjacent to the closed Woodland Walk - and at the picnic area behind the depot.

This will mean small parts of the two areas, not as a whole, will be permanently closed off to the public to safely enclose the high-risk and medium-risk asbestos containing materials in those areas.

Mobilisation works at the picnic area will begin on Monday 12 October and are expected to finish on Tuesday 10 November, subject to conditions and weather. Works within the wet woodland, which is closed to the public, will begin on Wednesday 11 November and are expected to finish early December. The dates may change and are subject to further asbestos being discovered, site conditions and adverse weather.

Throughout the duration of the fencing installations, in line with the council’s Asbestos Management Plan for the Aquadrome, a few parking bays near the picnic area will be required to be out of use to the public to accommodate the contractor’s work compound.

The access points to the picnic area will also be closed off to the public and there will be onsite signage advising visitors of the works and to not to enter the area.

Cllr Louise Price, Deputy Leader of Three Rivers District Council and Lead Member for Resources, Regeneration and Economic Development, said: “Public safety is our number one priority and, following extensive investigation works at these two areas, we are carrying out further remediation works by permanently fencing off small parts of the picnic area and the wet woodland to keep our visitors safe from the asbestos. I strongly urge everyone to please observe the signage and stay away from these areas to allow our contractors to undertake the remediation work safely under strict health and safety conditions.”

Cllr Stephen Giles-Medhurst OBE, Leader of Three Rivers District Council, added: “I must emphasise that the Rickmansworth Aquadrome remains a safe place to visit and enjoy as the council has an effective and robust plan to properly manage the asbestos at the site that our contractors will follow stringently as well as strict health and safety conditions.

“The Rickmansworth Aquadrome is going through a journey to ensure the site can continue to be enjoyed by residents and visitors for generations to come while being a home to unique wildlife. These works are essential to ensure we manage the site’s history so that its future is secured.

“We apologise for the inconvenience and thank everyone for their patience. Officers will continue to monitor the progress on site each week and will produce weekly updates here.”