A petition objecting to an asbestos depot has been handed to Medway Council.

Eight-year-old Ben Atkins presented the papers to Robin Cooper, director of regeneration at Medway Council.

The Lordswood Against Asbestos Action Group were joined by Chatham MP Tracey Crouch and councillors David Wildey (Con), Alan Jarrett (Con) and Vince Maple (Lab), who are backing their fight, at the council offices.

A total of 1,200 signatures have been collected opposing the application for a waste transfer station in North Dane Way, Lordswood.

The plans were withdrawn earlier this year after more than 1,000 protests, but have since been re-submitted so protesters have had to lodge their views with Medway Council again.

Asbestos First, run by Debbie and David Hales, wants up to 70 tonnes of waste asbestos to be transferred at the site each week.

The former grit depot, which houses Asbestos First’s offices, can take vans containing the material but workers are not allowed to remove it.

Mrs Hales told a meeting earlier this year that the system would allow builders facing high disposal fees to off-load small amounts of asbestos. It would then be taken to bigger tips and reduce fly-tipping. Mrs Hales added that all waste would be double-bagged and stored in locked skips.

The council has received 308 letters of objection. The application is likely to be heard at a committee meeting on September 11 but could be delayed until October if councillors request a site visit.