A HAMPSHIRE MP has tabled a House of Commons motion calling for a housing association to act now to end the nightmare for residents in the centre of an asbestos scare.

MP Sandra Gidley, pictured, has branded Testway Housing ‘disgraceful’ after a Daily Echo investigation revealed it has still to remove asbestos from 60 homes in Allan Grove and Chambers Avenue in Romsey.

It comes as the health and Safety Executive has revealed it will carry out an investigation into the alert in Romsey.

Concerned residents face weeks of worry and upheaval in the lead up to Christmas after their possessions, contaminated with the deadly fibres, were slung into a skip when they were told chunks of asbestos were in their airing cupboards and lofts.

One man Terry Barr, 42, of Allan Grove, was forced to live in a caravan on his driveway for five months after his home was sealed off and he claimed £40,000 worth of contaminated possessions were chucked.

The local Liberal Democrat MP tabled a motion that the Commons: “condemns the action of Testway Housing in Hampshire, in failing to remove asbestos from as many as 60 homes in Romsey before a promised deadline; notes with concern reports that internal fans within the affected loft spaces are dispersing asbestos fibres around the houses; notes with concern the detrimental impact of asbestos upon human health; and calls upon Testway Housing to take appropriate action to remove all remaining asbestos from the affected properties immediately.”

The MP has also written to the Housing Association’s chief executive.

She said: “Testway Housing should be ashamed that they have not acted over something so serious. Their behaviour is nothing short of disgraceful.

“Many families are now living in fear, and have lost many of their treasured belongings. They do not even know if they will be compensated.”

Testway Housing said they have finished the reports on all homes except one and they have now made a decision to remove most of the asbestos in one go.

Julian Paine, Testway’s operations director, said: “Our main focus now is making sure that residents know exactly what’s happened, and why, and what’s going to happen next.

“We want them to feel more reassured about their safety.”