‘Disappointment’ as asbestos site's future remains unresolved

Exposed asbestos in the Spodden Valley

On the seventh anniversary of the formation of the Save Spodden Valley campaign, the future of the Turners Asbestos site still remains unresolved.

Plans to build on the former Turner Brothers Asbestos site were refused in January this year, because ‘the applicant has failed to demonstrate whether the whole site can be safely and adequately remediated to support its safe re-development and future occupation.’

The applicants, MMC, have the legal right to resubmit the planning application with additional information within 12 months, free of charge. So far they have not done this.
William Hobhouse, Chairman of the TBA Working Party said: “I am disappointed that no progress is being made to make the Turners site safe for future generations. We’ve been saying for years that a proper programme of asbestos testing needs to be carried out across the site. This is the one thing that MMC never do.”

Peter Rowlinson, Head of Planning and Regulation at Rochdale Borough Council said: “MMC can choose to submit a planning application at any time. They have the right to re-submit the original proposal for free within the next 12 months. This would however, have to contain the missing information before we would be able to accept it.”

It has also emerged that MMC Estates raised concerns about the mention of asbestos in the planning rejection documents.

SSV Campaign co-ordinator Jason Addy, said: “It is astonishing to learn that MMC complained about Rochdale Council mentioning asbestos in the official reasons for refusing the controversial planning application.

“The Turners site was the world's first, then largest, asbestos textile factory. Suggestions that any reference to asbestos be swept under the carpet beggars belief.

MMC Land and Regeneration Managing Director Mark Russell, said: “There are no grounds to claim that MMC will not be submitting a planning application. MMC has been absolutely clear about its intentions for the site. As its Managing Director I have offered no misinformation or any apologies for such.

“The issue of asbestos is being considered in great detail as it should be. ERM, on MMC’s behalf, has produced a detailed 'Scope of Further Ground Investigations', which has been agreed by Rochdale Borough Council, the Turner and Newall Working Party and the Save Spodden Valley group itself. This will compliment the existing environmental reports and allow the best strategy for a comprehensive and safe clean up to be identified.

“The adverse publicity which Mr Addy and Mr Hobhouse seek to create is inhibiting the willingness of funders to support 'Further Ground Investigations', so they are delaying the decontamination process which MMC is striving to achieve and increasing the danger presented by empty and derelict buildings to the public at large.

“Mr Addy’s Memorial Park proposal still requires a comprehensive and safe clean up, yet there is no public money available for such a proposal. The site would likely remain in its current dangerous state of disrepair for many years.

“MMC’s pragmatic mixed use development proposal would privately fund the comprehensive and safe clean up commencing next summer, subject to planning, and deliver good quality affordable family housing and wider community benefits.

“As one whose parents both worked on the site, I know that MMC’s proposal makes much greater sense to the silent majority of sensible Rochdalians.”