Woodland Saved Around Former Asbestos Factory

Woodland

Save Spodden Valley campaigners welcome Rochdale Council’s decision to protect woodland around the former Turner Brothers Asbestos factory site.

A meeting of the Rochdale Township Planning Subcommittee has just confirmed a permanent Tree Preservation Order for the surrounding woodland.

“This is a great example of how ‘people power’ can make a real difference for a community” says Group spokesman Jason Addy, “Hats off to those hundreds of people who took the time and effort to phone, email and write to the Council. Thanks also for all the hard work put in by our Councillors, MPs, wildlife and public health experts that were shocked by the destruction caused by Treelink and MMC Developments earlier this year.”

Local residents were shocked by events this May. Almost a mile of security fencing was placed around the former asbestos factory site, then at dawn on Saturday 15th May dozens of forestry workers, accompanied by plain clothed security guards felled hundreds of trees.

Steve Marsden from Treelink Ltd told local residents after tree felling had started, that the new owners had “Big Plans” and a “major national house builder” was interested in building an “Urban Village” at the former asbestos factory site. Local residents were reassured that “only bushes and scrub” were to be removed. They were shocked to see hundreds of mature trees felled that day.

It was suggested to local residents that if they made a fuss, then the newowner was prepared to spend “tens of thousands of pounds” to fight Tree Preservation Order then “chop everything down”.

Graham Crawford, one of the witnesses to these threats said:

“This was probably said in the heat of the moment, yet it was still a chilling threat to hear when accompanied by the sound of dozens of chainsaws”.

Roger Chadwick welcomed the Council’s protection of the Spodden Valley’s Woodland:

“What happened in May of this year was outright corporate vandalism. It is encouraging to see this Town makes a stand against intimidation and bullying.”

Su Wilson sees this decision as a positive move: “The Council’s blueprint for the area sees this site as the gateway to Healey Dell. As the leaves now fall from the trees, it is comforting to know that our wildlife can hibernate in peace and many birds will be can return to nest in the Spring.”

Hilda Palmer of Greater Manchester Hazards Centre sees the decision to save the woodland as “potentially vital for public health”. She explains: “ I have attended public meetings were older residents recall asbestos fibres hanging from trees around the factory. Tree roots can help stabilise soil that may have asbestos fallout dust in it. There is a strong likelihood that asbestos waste is also dumped under parts of this woodland”.

Penalties for breaching a Tree Preservation Order are severe:

Lopping, topping or causing damage to a tree carries up to a £2,500 fine per offence. Felling protected trees without permission can attract unlimited fines. Prosecutions in the past have calculated the potential increase in land value caused by unlawful activity. In 1991 a property company was made to pay £50,000 for deliberately felling 25 protected trees.