Bird's Eye View shows more of Asbestos Site

Birds Eye View of Spodden Valley

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Save Spodden Valley campaigners took to the air last week to give Rochdale Online readers a birds-eye view of the controversial Turner Brothers Asbestos site where planning permission is being sought to build 650 homes and a children's nursery.

Local resident and campaigner, Dave Phillips, took local people - with their cameras, zoom lenses and camcorders- on an hour long flight to the site. Save Spodden Valley recently submitted a 47 page response to Countryside Properties PLC and MMC Development Ltd's planning application for the former asbestos factory site.

Jason Addy was one of the passengers amazed by the aerial views of our town:

"The view from1500 feet up gives a new insight to the published plans maps and diagrams. It brings new meaning to the planning phrase 'Greenspace
Corridor'".

"The Council's Unitary Development Plan clearly states that any future development of the former asbestos factory site should provide an opportunity to link all the woodlands and green spaces of the Spodden Valley together. These routes, away from motorised traffic, could be enjoyed by walkers, horse riders and cyclists".

"The aerial photographs show the Spodden Valley in full, from its source below Rooley Moor in Whitworth, through the Healey Dell Nature reserve, the Turners factory site and down to Spotland Bridge, where the River Spodden joins the Roch".

"The photographs show Spotland Bridge as the gateway to Healey Dell. This is a
a valley that whole community could enjoy and it should be a real asset to the town".

"Seeing the site from the air shows how this vision for the valley can be achieved; the factory is surrounded by broadleaf woodland, now fully protected by a permanent Tree Preservation Order. Currently there is poor access to the valley from parts of Shawclough, Brotherod, Falinge, Caldershaw and Elm Park: these areas are crying out for footpaths and cycleways".

Campaigners believe that the published outline planning application gives no guarantee that trees will not be felled. This is an important issue as campaigners believe asbestos was dumped around the huge factory for decades. Concerns have also been raised about asbestos dust fall-out: TBA documents confirm older residents' eye-witness accounts of fine dust being emitted from factory buildings. Many accounts of dust from the factory have been heard at recent public meetings. A  TBA document from 1957 indicates that asbestos dust levels measured from the factory roof were more than double those found in the production areas inside the factory. Abdul Chowdry, a former TBA Health & Safety officer has stated publicly that woodland was probably encouraged around the site for good reasons: He described the felling of woodland last May as "sheer madness". Su Wilson echoed Mr Chowdry's concerns:

"It is acknowledged that managed woodlands help to stabilise soil. Leaf fall creates more soil that may help to lock-in asbestos dust and fibres".

"The aerial photographs show just how close thousands of homes are to the asbestos factory site. Published research has identified increases in mesothelioma asbestos cancer rates up to 3 miles from sources of asbestos dust. Disturbing much of the Turners site may release asbestos fibres. It is important that all the facts about the former asbestos factory are known, so that safe decisions about its future can be made".

Spodden Valley campaigners are still awaiting permission for their own experts to have samples of soil from areas around the former asbestos factory site.

Further flights are planned to the site later in spring when the surrounding protected woodland comes into leaf.