Rochdale Council has had to spend up to £80,000

Date published: 30/11/2005

Rochdale Council has had to spend up to £80,000 to engage consultants to carry out an Environmental Impact Survey of the former TBA site, whilst the developer has paid only  £5,500 on their planning application, it has from the meeting Rochdale's MP, Paul Rowen, held meeting with Anna Bliss (Health and Safety Executive, Bill Darbyshire (Environment Agency) and Ken Smith (Head of Planning and Regulation, Rochdale Council) to discuss the major issues affecting the future of the former TBA site. 

The meeting followed a debate on contaminated brownfield sites, held in Westminster Hall last week, which was attended by MP's from all major parties, the Spodden Valley issue was one of the main topics of debate.

Paul Rowen said, "It is not the developers fault that their is such a difference in the amount paid.  I have written to Elliot Morley MP, the Minister for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs asking that current rules be changed so that Councils can claw money back in cases like the TBA site. At present a grant is only available if the area that the planning application is submitted for is derelict.  Yet it is vital that Rochdale Council get independent advice on issues like asbestos.  Had the developers initial submission been accepted at face value, problems with asbestos would never have dealt with satisfactorily."

There will be a public meeting, attended by Paul Rowen MP and other interested parties, at Rochdale Town Hall on 19 January.  The meeting will be a chance for local people to have their say following the publication of the Atkins Report.