A MAN told last night how he was living in fear for his life after a council knowingly allowed him and other employees to work with dangerous asbestos for five years.

Wear Valley District Council knew about the potentially-deadly asbestos in one of its leisure centres, but did nothing to remove it or warn staff of the danger.

Robert Batie, who worked at Woodhouse Close Leisure Complex, in Bishop Auckland, for 13 years, said last night: "This is an absolute scandal."

The authority has been fined £18,000 after admitting to six serious breaches of health and safety regulations - described by Government inspectors as some of the worst ever seen in the region.

Prolonged exposure to the toxic substance can lead to terminal illnesses including lung cancer and asbestosis - irreversible scarring to the lungs.

"To die of natural causes is one thing, but to know that it could have been prevented is appalling," said Robert Batie, who worked as a plant operator in the boiler room of the Woodhouse Close Leisure Complex.

"I am really worried. Nobody from the council has ever contacted me to warn me that I may have inhaled asbestos. I am just devastated."

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) first investigated the case in January last year when worker Jim Dawson made an official complaint. Mr Dawson discovered that the council had been warned in a report in 2001 about the presence of toxic asbestos in the boiler room he had been working in, but had ignored the information.

None of the senior officers in charge at the time appeared before magistrates at Darlington because they have since left their posts. The Northern Echo understands that one member of the directorate left the council in February last year, a month after HSE investigations started.

Inspectors said the health risk posed to the men who worked in the boiler room was significant.

Mr Batie, 56, who started work at the site in 1990 and was made redundant in 2003, said: "Nobody ever told me about any danger.

"When I left, I was told that there was no risk to my health, but they said they would keep me informed if anything was found.

"I was told I would have to go for a medical at some point, but I am still waiting for that.

"As well as us council staff, there were contractors in and out of the boiler room all the time. I have no idea how many people could have been affected."

Mr Batie, of West Road, Bishop Auckland, said he would seek legal advice after the council refused to answer his questions.

He said: "I am going to try to bring actions against the council and the directors who were there at the time. They may have left now, but they are responsible for this.

"I have phoned the council to ask to be brought up to date, but they will not tell me anything. I have to go through their solicitor instead. This is not right, any way you look at it."

In a statement at court this week, the council's solicitor said: "None of the current directorate at the council were in situ when these breaches occurred. There has been a complete change of directorate, management and responsibility."

The council has made no apology to staff. The £18,000 fine will be taken from the authority's budget, which is usually used to fund community improvement projects and public services.

Richard Bishop, the Health and Safety Executive inspector who led the investigation, said the council shelved the report in 2001 and had done nothing to treat the asbestos or protect staff.

He said: "It is the worst case I have had to investigate.

"The council failed in its duty to manage the asbestos. This case should serve as a warning, not only to local authorities, but to everyone responsible for carrying out or contracting maintenance work on buildings where asbestos could be present."

Tommy Taylor, the Liberal Democrat leader of the opposition at Wear Valley District Council, will call for the resignation of the authority's Labour leadership over the scandal.

He said: "This is absolutely deplorable. How can something like this be swept under the carpet?

"Staff would have been working in these conditions every day for who knows how long.

"How can a report like that stay on the shelf without any officers knowing about it?

"There are so many questions that need to be answered here.

"The leadership has had many opportunities to inform us about this court case, but they never have. We knew nothing about the investigation. This is very serious.

"It has cost the council £18,000 so far, but what is it going to cost in future? If somebody comes down with asbestosis or cancer, then they will surely put a claim in on the grounds of negligence."

Wear Valley District Council declined to comment last night.