Asbestos book launch tonight

The Turners site

Rochdale Town Hall will be the location for a book launch this evening (Tuesday 12 August).

Geoffrey Tweedale, known by many for his previous book "Magic Mineral - Killer Dust", has just co-written 'Defending the Indefensible' and the book will be launched at 7.30pm tonight.

The new book tells the story of the worldwide asbestos industries past, present and future.

For more than four years, Rochdale Online has followed the Save Spodden Valley campaign and the plight of asbestos victims in Greater Manchester.

The town is the birthplace of the modern asbestos industry and former headquarters of Turner & Newall (T&N) the world's largest asbestos factory.

Tonight, the Save Spodden Valley campaign say that shocking revelations will be made about the Rochdale asbestos factory.

Excerpts relating to Rochdale from Yorkshire TV's 1982 Award-winning documentary "Alice Fight For Life" will be shown.
According to campaigners new academic research of once-confidential T&N documents vidicates the television investigation of the asbestos industry.

"Defending the Indefensible" brings the story up to date through the meticulous use of archived company documents.

In Rochdale, the Spodden Valley site still faces plans to build more than 600 homes and a children's nursery. The plans remain on hold after Rochdale Council refused planning permission.

Campaign leader Jason Addy said: "Tonight's message in Rochdale will be clear. People must be put before profit. Too many of us know first-hand the dangers of asbestos. History must not repeat itself."