Progress on the publication of the Atkins TBA report

Head of Planning & Regulation, Ken Smith said, "The Council's consultants, Atkins, have finished their review of the planning application for the former Turner Brothers Asbestos works.  Atkins have submitted their work to the Council for review, and the Council is now checking to make sure that it satisfactorily fulfils the brief.

Copies of the draft report have been given to the Environment Agency, the Health and Safety Executive, the Primary Care Trust, and the Health Protection Agency. They will be advising the Council if there are any areas that they feel need clarification.  Atkins will then be required to issue a final report to the Council including a non-technical summary."  

The finished report will then be supplied to the site owners and developers and their consultants, and at the same time will be released as a public document.  A further press statement will be issued when the report is released, giving details of how the report can be inspected by members of the public."

Jason Addy, co-ordinator of the Save Spodden Valley campaign commented:

"We welcome the assurance given by Rochdale Council that campaigners and the public will receive this information at the same time as MMC Estates, Rathbone Jersey Ltd and Countryside Properties.

"The Atkins Report was originally due in October 2005 but additional work and reviews have been carried out by the Institute of Occupational Medicine in Edinburgh. Such important matters can't be rushed.  

"Given that the Atkins Report has taken 12 months to collate, we expect it to be very thorough. It would be welcomed if the report and non-technical summary could be made available electronically and made available via Rochdale Online.

"From Day One, our campaign has asked for all facts and decision making processes to be open and accountable so that the whole community can be involved.   

"As soon as the Save Spodden Valley campaign receives the report there are several organisations in the UK, Europe and North America who have volunteered their services to make contributions and recommendations for a permanent solution to contamination in the Spodden Valley."