Shocking admission as Leader of Rochdale Council says he has “never heard of” asbestos contamination report

The two volume, 300 plus page, independent Atkins Global report

Members of the public who attended a Rochdale Township meeting were shocked to hear Councillor Richard Farnell, the Leader of the Council, say he had “never heard” of an important set of reports relating to the former Turner Brothers Asbestos (TBA) factory site. Yet the reports were commissioned and paid for by Rochdale Borough Council.

In 2005, consultants Atkins Global were given the task by the Council of reporting on the environmental and site assessments that accompanied a controversial planning application to build over 600 homes and a children's nursery in the Spodden Valley, site of the world's largest asbestos textile factory.

The shocking results of the two volume, 300 plus page, independent report made national news: BBC Radio Four's You and Yours program gave a damning account. Rochdale Online reported extensively about the Atkins Global report – these reports are still available to read in the RO archive.

There was a well-attended public protest outside Rochdale Town Hall demanding that the site owners pay back the money spent by the Council to commission the Atkins Report.

• http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/4176/asbestos-campaigners-went-bananas-at-the-town-hall

This was followed by the then Leader of Rochdale Council, Alan Taylor, making demands for those connected with the asbestos factory planning application to “cough up” £80,000 so that it could be returned to the public purse.

• http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/4085/council-leader-demands-tax-payers-money-back

Rochdale Online published links to the summaries of the Atkins Report for any member of the public to view:

• http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/4174/copies-of-the-atkins-report-summaries-on-rochdale-online

However, at a June meeting of Rochdale Township, the public gallery was aghast when Councillor Farnell said he had “never heard” of the report. He went on to suggest that some of those concerned about asbestos contamination were “playing a cat and mouse game”.

Councillor Farnell's behaviour and word's that evening prompted an official complaint that asked if he fell below the standard required of a holder of public office. Almost three months on and the Council has failed to rule on the complaint.

Councillor Farnell has denied saying he had “never heard” of the Atkins Global report.

In addition to being Leader of Rochdale Council, Councillor Farnell is also the cabinet member for regeneration, the same department that commissioned the 2006 Atkins Report.

Earlier this year, Councillor Farnell was also given responsibility for planning and housing within the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA).

Rochdale Online reported in March of a “productive meeting” Councillor Farnell and Simon Danczuk MP had with a government Minister in Westminster.

• http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/101496/simon-danczuk-and-richard-farnell-hold-%E2%80%9Cproductive%E2%80%9D-meeting-with-government-over-asbestos-site

Rochdale Council has commissioned air monitoring for the site, but there has been no official information given about testing methodologies and analytical techniques. How much this testing is costing and who is footing the bill remains unknown.

The Council is also involved with the commsioning of new ground contamination tests for the 72 acre former asbestos factory site. There is a 'TBA Project Team', apparently under the auspcies of Rochdale Council's Director of Public Health. However, despite members of the public asking questions, little is currently known about the extent of the Council's involvment with this. 

• http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/105178/spodden-valley-asbestos-controversy-the-mystery-deepens

Ownership of the former TBA site remains with a mysterious offshore company based in a tax haven. According to the UK Land Registry for land title GM647719, Renshaw Properties Ltd, based in the British Virgin Islands, took over legal ownership of the site in 2011. Prior holders of the freehold were Hawksford Jersey Ltd (formerly known as Rathbone Jersey Ltd) which acquired the controversial former asbestos factory site in 2004.