Rochdale asbestos site fire: action promised by Government

Fire at former TBA asbestos factory

Action has been promised by the Government regarding the former TBA site fire and its aftermath.

Speaking in Parliament yeaterday, Rochdale's MP Simon Danczuk asked the folowing question to Leader of the House of Commons Andrew Lansley: "Early on 15 February, there was a major fire in Rochdale at what was the world’s biggest asbestos factory, the now derelict Turner Brothers mill. Firefighters spent five hours battling the blaze, and concerns have been raised that no air monitoring took place.

"Will the Government make a statement that promises the people of Rochdale that this matter will be investigated, that the site will be secured, and that all laws to protect our environment and public health will be fully enforced?"

Mr Lansley replied: "I confess that I was not aware of the circumstances that the Honourable Gentleman describes, but they are obviously very important for his constituency and beyond. I will therefore talk to colleagues at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in respect of the Environment Agency and colleagues at the Department for Work and Pensions in relation to the Health and Safety Executive to see whether they can respond to his points".

Meanwhile, Laurie Kazan Allen, editor of the British Asbestos newsletter, a publication that is distributed worldwide comments on the issues raised by the TBA fire: “I visited the Rochdale site a number of years ago. The size of the TBA site in combination with its extensive history as the location of asbestos processing operations should have resulted in the area receiving priority attention from local authorities, government and national agencies.

"That the buildings and land in Spodden Valley were left to fester year after year has created the potential for serious public health problems that demands immediate attention.”