ASBESTOS has been found in 305 homes in the Three Towns in a crisis potentially affecting over 600 houses across North Ayrshire and costing the council around £1.7million.

A total of 257 homes are affected in Saltcoats, 40 in Stevenston and eight in Ardrossan, according to figures obtained by the Herald from North Ayrshire Council.

Last week, the Herald reported that residents in Kilbirnie’s Fudstone area were informed they had asbestos in their lofts and that one resident was worried the problem could be widespread across North Ayrshire.

At the time North Ayrshire Council said that only a small number of properties – those built by Weir Construction in the 1950s – were affected within the locality but the Herald can exclusively reveal that there could be 614 affected homes.

In the Garnock Valley, 227 tenants have been notified about asbestos in their properties – 151 in Kilbirnie, 53 in Beith, and 23 in Dalry. There are 44 in Kilwinning, while Irvine has 38.

One of the affected tenants is Patrick Dorrain, a grandfather of five from Saltcoats. Patrick and his wife have lived in their home on Wheatley Road since it was built in the 1950s and brought up their four children there.

The 65-year-old said that the houses in his entire scheme are contaminated and that he is terrified that he and his family could develop deadly asbestosis.

He told the Herald: “Our kids grew up in this house and we’ve been going up and down the loft for donkeys. I’m really worried we could have asbestosis.

“They refurbished our roof last year – would that not make it airborne? I worry about our kids and our grandkids – the youngest is just newborn.

“We’ve been lifting things from the loft, like prams and clothes. My wife knitted jumpers and stuff for the kids that have been passed down to the grandkids and that was all kept up there. If that’s airborne up in our loft, then I don’t know.

“I’ve got hundreds of things up in the loft – photos, things you can’t put a price on. I think it’s terrible.

“Somebody is guilty of neglect here and I think it’s North Ayrshire Council.

“It seems that to them, it’s just another thing, just another job.

“The number of people that must have been going up and down their lofts for years without knowing is very worrying.

“I hope we don’t have asbestosis but I’m worried. There’s a test you can get to find out if you have it but if we do, it’s a bit late to do anything about it now.”

According to the council, Patrick was one of the first tenants to have his home inspected after the discovery of asbestos containing materials in nearby void properties.

All tenants living in Weir Construction homes have been notified and a programme of inspection and removal works is currently ongoing.

Weir Construction properties account for around five per cent of all North Ayrshire council houses.

The properties underwent roof replacements within the last few years, but tenants were only informed of the presence of asbestos from last July onwards.

A spokesman for North Ayrshire Council said that the refurbishment survey carried out to replace the roofs on Weir properties “would not have included this area in its scope of works”.

The spokesman added: “The project is ongoing. The total spend is estimated to be roughly £1.7million.

“There has been one family rehoused during this process. In all other cases, the survey, and where required, removal works has caused minimal disruption to households, and there has been no requirement to provide temporary accommodation.

“We expect to complete the work by the middle of this year. But this is dependent on tenants being available to allow us access to undertake the work in their houses.”

Patrick told the Herald that he knows a young mum from his neighbourhood who was rehoused after a hole was found in her loft and the asbestos became airborne in her home.

He said: “She’s got three kids. They could all have it – their whole family could become ill. It doesn’t bear thinking about. It’s frightening.

“She asked what would happen if years down the line they end up ill and she was just told: ‘We’ll deal with it then’ and that was it. It’s shocking.

“That girl got put out her house. She was given another house by the council but she didn’t get any of her stuff – it was all dumped.

“She wasn’t even allowed to pick up her mail.

“I don’t understand why because she’s already been exposed to it so what difference would it make now?”

Patrick said that he and his neighbours felt let down by North Ayrshire Council and believed that there has been a lack of communication from the authority over the issue.

The father-of-four has been in contact with Jim Montgomerie, Councillor for Saltcoats and Stevenston and Cabinet Member for Place, about his concerns.

Councillor Montgomerie said: “I made it clear to the council officers that if there was any evidence of asbestos in their properties it has to get dealt with asap. Get in there and deal with the situation.”

Robert Steel, Councillor for Kilwinning, added: “I’m sure the council will be following the correct procedures. Any residents who are worried should contact the council for advice.”