St. David's residents are to demand Government check their water tanks to see if they have been contaminated as a result of the demolition of asbestos-riddled buildings in Southside.

And they will find out today if the Development Applications Board (DAB) has approved the application by Bermuda Housing Corporation (BHC) to build 20 affordable homes on the same site at Texas Road.

Last week the DAB heard objections from residents who feel it is unfair for BHC to build one fifth of its 100 affordable housing units in one place.

Residents are concerned that asbestos may have blown into their water tanks when contractors employed by local Progressive Labour Party MP Arthur Pitcher, who has the contract to build the houses, knocked down buildings on the site.

An environmental health officer ordered the workers to stop the demolition while a team of asbestos experts were brought in.

Texas Road resident Lawrence Fox told The Royal Gazette yesterday that he is in the process of finding out how many of his neighbours want to have their tanks tested.

The residents will then approach Environment Minister Arthur Hodgson to ask his department to carry out safety checks.

Mr. Lawrence said the residents are anxious that because the demolition took place in March, any asbestos which may have been released into their tanks may already have been consumed.

Health Minister Nelson Bascome told House of Assembly on Friday that he is conducting an investigation into the demolition to see if the law was broken.

Contractors need a permit from the Department of Health for demolishing buildings containing asbestos.

He said the asbestos contained in the demolished buildings was of the low risk "non-friable'' kind which, he said, posed little danger even if violently disturbed.

But he said the demolition should have been carried out in such a way that it posed no threat to the workers, who were not wearing masks, or to local residents.

Mr. Bascome said his officials will investigate the circumstances sorrounding the demolition, but stopped short of calls from the United Bermuda Party for an independent public inquiry.

Mr. Fox said: "We want the tanks checked because we still haven't had a clear answer about what the risk might be to our healths.

"Even if there was a low risk it still presents a threat. We have to be 100 percent sure there was no risk and we need a full independent inquiry. Even if it was a little threat, it is still a threat.

" We found out so late that there was a possibility of asbestos (escaping) and people have had rain. It may have been washed away or they have had deliveries of water.

"I know other people in St. David's are concerned about this because they have children. Several residents want their tanks checked and I am contacting others and we will be contacting Mr. Hodgson because his department should be responsible.

"If he won't do it he should be able to recommend to us someone who can do this.'' Meanwhile, BHC general manager Raymonde Dill yesterday refused to answer a series of questions sent by The Royal Gazette about the demolition and the awarding of the contract to Mr. Pitcher.

Mr. Dill said he was not allowed to give out information to the press which it had not yet given to Mr. Bascome's inquiry into the demolition.