THE former Exxon site at Bowling is polluted with enough toxic levels of asbestos to make it unsafe for use, a report has revealed.

Details emerged as oil giant Esso applied to voluntarily clean up the land once used by its subsidiaries.

As well as asbestos there are high levels of lead, arsenic, mercury and other chemicals.

But the “human health risk report” states the pollutants are below maximum “safe for use” levels.

The surprise application from Esso comes months ahead of any potential deal to sell the land to the West Dunbartonshire Council (WDC) to allow a massive City Deal regeneration, including a new retail park and road to Dumbarton.

Esso said they were “fully committed” to remediating the site.

Leven councillor Jim Bollan, a vocal critic of the confidentiality deal between the oil firm and WDC ahead of any possible purchase of the land, said the site should be decontaminated, not remediated.

Cllr Bollan said: “The council should insist Esso pay for full decontamination of this site to make it safe before another penny of public money is spent, not the limited remediation Esso are planning, which leaves all the toxic materials on site.

“More than £3 million of council money has already been spent on this highly risky project. Even Esso’s own consultants in their ‘human health risk report” have confirmed the site is unfit for the intended end use.

“Lead, benzenes, mercury, copper, cadmium, zinc and 25 other contaminates have been found on site.

“The most worrying is asbestos which has been found in 25 samples. One asbestos fibre ingested can be fatal.

“This site is a toxic time bomb and we have a responsibility to ensure it is completely safe before we even consider purchasing it from Esso who must think Christmas has come early with WDC considering taking it off their hands.”

He added: “This detailed damning information, which the planning application has forced into the public domain, is welcome but should have been shared with the public much earlier.

“There remains in place a confidentiality clause which demonstrates we are not being given the full facts.”

Esso previously remediated the Eastfield part of the Bowling site in 2014, in agreement with the council and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa).

Mark McIlfatrick, project manager of UK environmental services at Esso, said: “We are pleased to confirm submission of the planning application which follows thorough and extensive studies carried out at the site as well as consulting with the public.

“We are fully committed to remediating the site to the relevant standards agreed with Sepa and WDC as part of the proposed sale and future use envisioned by the sale to WDC.

“As such, We will continue to work closely with both parties to ensure the most appropriate remedial strategy for the remainder of the site is developed.”