Residents have alerted a housing association after demolition work began on garages which may contain asbestos.
People in Preston told the authorities after the metal doors were taken off the lock-ups and they were then left open, with old building materials in them, which could affect public liability insurance, the Liverpool Evening Post reported.
The locals said they were concerned that asbestos may have been kept in the garages, especially as children often run around in the area.
After the complaint was made, the Community Gateway Association sent workmen to clear the debris.
However, councillor Terry Cartwright told public liability insurance holders it should not have taken the organisation three days to take action.
"I can't understand why they have taken the doors off and left the garages as they did. There are always kids around there. It should have been fenced off," he told the newspaper.
Public liability insurance holders were recently informed that a bid to allow compensation for pleural plaques looks set to fail, after the Ministry of Justice delayed the decision.
The condition is caused by exposure to asbestos and the move would have allowed sufferers to sue for compensation.