Bird's eye view of Spodden Valley/Turners factory site

Rochdale Online accompanied Rochdale’s MP, Paul Rowen, as he took a bird’s eye view of his constituency courtesy of Save Spodden Valley campaigners. The flight took in good views of Rochdale and especially the Spodden Valley, including the former Turners factory site, where there is controversy over plans to build over 600 homes and a children’s nursery on the site of what was the world’s biggest asbestos textile factory.The flight was two days before a Parliamentary debate on the controls for the safe removal of asbestos waste on landfill and derelict industrial sites.

Prior to the debate, called by Paul Rowen, the MP has been reviewing papers regarding the history of the site and the issues it raised about the regeneration of contaminated land.

After the flight, all on board were struck by how green much of the Spodden Valley is.

Pilot and local resident Dave Phillips commented:

“Spodden Valley is a gateway from the centre of Rochdale, past Spotland Bridge, through Healey Dell Nature Reserve an on to the West Pennine moors.”

“We had an opportunity to see the Spodden Valley in its entirety, from its source in the hills above Whitworth right through to where it meets the river Roch at Mitchell Hey”.

“The view of the former asbestos factory site nestled within the woodlands of the Spodden Valley was remarkable, seeing it from the air shows how important it was for Permanent Tree Preservation Orders to protect the whole site”

Also on the flight was campaign co-ordinator Jason Addy. He explained what could be seen in some of the photographs taken:

“As reported in Rochdale Online in March, Countryside Properties say they have dropped plans to build houses on Plot 5 of Woodlands Rd – this 2 acre section of woodland was felled on May 15th 2004 and the scar in the valley can be clearly seen for the air.”

“What also remains uncertain are the plans for Plot 14 beside Spod Rd - the area proposed for a children’s nursery and other ‘community facilities’. -  Although Countryside Properties’ suggest they do not propose development of the existing valley and the various wooded areas, the plans show Plot 14 to bewhere mature broadleaf woodland was felled on Saturday May 15th 2004-

“The aerial photographs taken show the hillside beside Breaufort Street where the dead remains of the felled trees reamin strew accros the embankment.  Are MMC Estates and Countryside Properties going to repair this damage?”

“What also becomes apparent from the air is just how close so many houses are to the site: From 1500 feet above the factory you can see the homes of probably over a quarter of a million people in Rochdale and beyond.  It is imperative that asbestos fibres are not disturbed and released into the air.”