North West MEP gives frank opinions over former asbestos factory site

North West MEP Mr Dover

North West MEP Den Dover was recently interviewed by Allan Beswick on the  BBC GMR Breakfast Show. They spoke at length about many of the issues facing the controversial planning application to build over 600 homes and a children’s nursery on the site of what was once the world’s largest asbestos textile factory - Turner Brothers Asbestos - in the Spodden Valley.     

Mr Dover was frank when referring to contamination issues facing the former Turners site in the Spodden Valley: “Here we have life-threatening, cancer-generating asbestos waste of all sorts".

The MEP had praise for the local authority: “I’m delighted that Rochdale Council is having an independent check-study conducted by an eminent firm”.

“Inspections and technical studies need to be carried out in the interests of all people in the North West because we do not want asbestos contamination causing the deaths of residents on the site”.

Mr Dover, a former civil engineer chairs the EU Construction Forum that considers laws and best practice affecting building projects throughout Europe. The MEP gave an insight into how asbestos contamination may be tackled on site, without the need for transporting hundreds of wagons of asbestos waste on to roads in the North West. The MEP suggested: “It is possible to put asbestos, sometimes, into solid clay bunkers and completely seal it off, this is certainly a site of significance, the HSE and the Government needs to be assured that the whole site is decontaminated in line with the latest procedures and techniques “

BBC GMR ‘s Allan Beswick asked Mr Dover if he thought there would be a block on building work for the foreseeable future: “absolutely” replied the MEP, “These things are not short term”. Mr Dover then went on to give an example of the decontamination and development of a munitions factory when he was an MP for Chorley. He explained in that case it took 15-20 years before redevelopment started.

Turning to the Spodden Valley former asbestos factory site, Mr Dover observed: “We are looking at a very long time scale - At the very start… Rochdale Council – they are doing the right thing  by bringing in independent consultants - and the Government itself accept that special measures are needed here and that everything is gone through, and that no short cuts are made”.  

Mr Dover was willing to give the new landowners of the Turner’s site, MMC Developments Ltd, the benefit of the doubt regarding the ‘past actions’ MD Mike Drogan apologised for last week.

The MEP conceded: “This is a small-time operator who owns the site at the moment, although there is a nationally-known developer in line”.

“Frankly, small developers don’t realise the problems and may have not deliberately ‘glossed over’, but may not have been aware of the problems”

When assessing the issues of contamination of the Spodden Valley, the MEP was stark: “It is very significant, I cannot over-emphasise the difficulties here”.

When speaking of UK and European laws tackling contaminated land, the Mr Dover was optimistic yet realistic:  “Regulations over the last 10+ years have put procedures in place to make sure that technical reports are carried out, decontamination measures are put forward, they are fully costed before any real decision is made to go ahead”   

Jason Addy, co-ordinator of the Save Spodden Valley campaign reflected on recent events and comments from Brussels: “We at the Campaign thank all those North West MEPs from all parties who are taking the time and trouble to address the concerns raised by this planning application.

“The dangers of asbestos cross all party lines and we appreciate the united stand that our North West MEPs are taking for the health and safety of their constituents.

“I understand that a letter from all nine MEPs may be drafted in Strasbourg to ask the Office of Deputy Prime Minister to ‘Call-In’ the planning application for a Public Inquiry” 

“When we were in Brussels, Mr Dover set aside over two hours for a very in-depth meeting. His background as a civil engineer was immediately apparent with the depth of knowledge he displayed about European construction and contamination regulations and what is considered ‘best practice’. He had been following the news about Spodden Valley and was in command of the important issues it posed”.

“Mr Dover left Brussels and was at the Spodden Valley site early the following morning, that must be an indication of how seriously he views the issues”.