River Spodden clean up

A burnt out car of the banks of the River Spodden

A huge operation to remove burned out cars from the River Spodden has been carried out.
 
Ten car shells were removed from beneath the cliff next to Lenny barn and Falinge Park School. It appears that these cars had been stolen, driven onto Lenny Barn then driven over the cliff into the river Spodden below.
 
This is an issue that has been raised by the 'Spodden Gorge' group. Spotland Area Forum chairman Roger Chadwick and the Save Spodden valley (SSV) campaign have been in contact with Spotland Ward Councillors.
 
SSV co-ordinator Jason Addy explains: "This is the type of mindless environmental vandalism that we aim to 'design out' with improvement projects to the lower Spodden valley.
 
"We are working with the Spodden Gorge group with several council departments on issues of security and 'green access' issues such as footpath and bridleway, disability rights of way enforcement, forestry and countryside management.
 
"Falinge Park school appear supportive of our moves to improve the lower Spodden valley.
 
"Suggestions have been made to improve security and to curtail off-road motorcycles and stolen cars from certain access points. This could cut crime, vandalism and flytipping.
 
"One suggestion has been to place a line of stone blocks on the western perimeter of Lenny Barn- although we won't be asking for stone from Ding Quarry! There appear to be sound geologicial reasons to suggest much of the stone from Ding is not of a quality that is commercially viable. There are alreadt excellent sources of good quality stone in the area from active quarries that have valid permissions running to the middle of this century.
 
"Hasn't Rochdale sacrificed enough to the bulldozer? We have permitted a through mixed use for Borough - industrial, renewable energy and brownfield regeneration of many areas - as such we righly value our need for safe ammenity land and wildlife habitat promotion and conservation.       

"We, as a community, are taking action to ensure safe access through the Spodden Valley - all the way from Rochdale Town centre to the South Pennine Moors. We are linking our efforts with other communities who benefit from other greenspace corridors that lead to our South Pennine moorlands. These include the Naden and Ashworth valleys".