Groups’ anger at ‘secret’ Turners meeting

Campaign groups have expressed their anger at being left out of a private meeting to discuss the future of the former Turner Brother’s site.

Government Minister Andrew Stunell MP visited Rochdale on 2 September where he met with Peter Rowlinson, Rochdale Council’s Head of Planning at the Spodden Valley location.

Mr Stunell had been invited to Rochdale by former MP Paul Rowen but no-one from the community or anyone involved with Save Spodden Valley or the TBA Working Party had been told of the visit.

Save Spodden Valley campaign co-ordinator Jason Addy said: “I am shocked and disturbed to hear of this apparently secret meeting.

“I can confirm that local residents, the Save Spodden Valley campaign, the Spotland and Falinge Area forum and TBA Working Party were kept completely in the dark about this meeting. An opportunity to discuss facts about very important local issues has been lost.

“I have contacted Mr Rowen to ask about last week's meeting but he has not answered my email or text message.”

Mr Rowen told Rochdale Online that the meeting was never intended to be a public meeting, it was held to enable Peter Rowlinson to ask the questions he wanted to ask.

William Hobhouse, Chairman of the TBA Working Party, added: “I find it very curious that no-one involved with the TBA issues from the community or the Working Party knew about this visit.

“Councillors and community campaigners have been working for 7 years to ensure the site is safe for future generations.

“That none of them knew about this visit is extraordinary and worrying. It is important to say that Paul Rowen was not speaking for them, or representing them in any way at this meeting.”

Peter Rowlinson, Director of Planning and Regulation at Rochdale Borough Council said: “It was a fact finding trip which involved a visit to the site. I provided an update on the current position and we discussed potential funding opportunities.”