SSV critical of asbestos site activity update

SSV critical of asbestos site actvity update

The Save Spodden Valley (SSV) campaign has responded with criticism to the latest site activity report released by MMC Estates concerning the former TBA/Federal Mogul site.

Jason Addy,  SSV coordinator said: ldquo;The email about the proposed work was sent by MMC at 6.02 pm. This was AFTER some of the fencing work had already been completed. The public notice board still hasn’t been updated.

“The landowners’ additional references to #39;further measures' to #39;more clearly distinguish between the public right of way' may sound rather innocent until put into context:

“Rochdale Online has repeatedly reported about this northern area (off Woodlands Road). Campaigners have expressed profound health and safety concerns about this area for almost three years. This is the area that a Countryside Properties Director in January 2005 stated, on national radio, that local people were wrong to say there was exposed asbestos yet internal MMC correspondence from 10 September 2004 confirmed multiple areas of exposed asbestos.

“These concerns were vindicated by the independent Atkins Report commissioned by Rochdale Council. This desk study confirmed the potential for tens of thousands of tonnes of dumped asbestos. There was specific mention that the area off Woodlands Road contains dumped asbestos waste up to four metres deep.

“For over two years, Save Spodden Valley campaigners have asked for simple, common sense, temporary measures regarding the areas where the known large-scale asbestos dumps are:

1. Ring-fence the dump sites.

2. Place appropriate warning signs that describe the hazard. After all, this is a legal requirement.

“Rochdale Council officers have been putting reasonable requests to the landowners for many months. Although RMBC officers have had the patience of Job, comments made at public meetings by senior Planning officers and the email trail from Telegraph House suggest frustrations about the landowners’ inaction.

“If, after almost three years, basic health and safety measures, with appropriate fencing and correct signage, are still not satisfied then it may not bode well for the future permanent and safe remediation of the entire site.”