Concern over tests being conducted at former Turner Brothers Asbestos site

Local residents have raised concerns over tests that are being conducted at the former Turner Brothers Asbestos site in Spodden Valley.

http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/104992/ground-investigation-to-be-undertaken-at-former-turner-brothers-asbestos-site

Delwyn Bale said: "Whilst walking my dog down Dell Road on Monday to the junction of Woodlands Road where the stones are, I noticed the work on testing the site has started. I took some pictures.

"This test site is less than 15 metres to the road and only approximately 25 metres to the grounds of my property.

"The gentleman saw me taking the pictures and walked over, he was in full hazard gear with a face mask. He said he was an analyst. He told me they were drilling in places where historically asbestos had been found to see if it is still present, if it's not present, where's it gone? Surely, if it's gone without being physically removed it completes the source-pathway-receptor which is needed to classify the land as a special site?

"I asked him why wasn't the drill covered by a tent, he said it's not needed as the ground is sodden, I asked why he was wearing a face mask, he said because he was working so close to the drill. The face mask is for airborne particles, surely if it's a concern for him and properties are so close it's also a concern for the residents?

"In one of the pictures you can see him jet washing himself off actually on Woodlands Road, I'm not an expert but surely washing contaminants onto a road where the general population walk is not good practice?"

Rochdale Online asked the Council for answers to Mr Bale's questions and received the following response:

• Why wasn't the drill covered by a tent?

"It was not necessary for the drilling to be covered by a tent, the ground was still sodden from previous rainfall and the sampling material is immediately bagged as it is brought to the surface. There are air monitoring instruments immediately next to the drilling hole and surrounding it which will provide information on whether any fibres are being released in which case the analyst can take the appropriate precautions."

• Why he was wearing a face mask, surely if it's a concern for him it's also a concern for the residents?

"The drillers, engineer and analyst work immediately next to the drill therefore due to the close proximity and repetition of this activity day in day out during their working hours they need to take extra precautions."

• Why was he jet washing himself off on Woodlands Road, and washing contaminants onto a road where the general population walk?

"The material that was being washed away had not come from the sampling drilling, as explained in the first question it is immediately bagged therefore no additional precautions were necessary."