Spodden Valley asbestos questions: Danczuk disappoints

Exposed asbestos in the Spodden Valley

A constituent living beside the former Turner Brothers Asbestos (TBA) site has been left angry and disappointed by Rochdale MP Simon Danczuk. Despite repeated emails to the MP asking simple but specific questions, Mr Danczuk has failed to answer.

Mr Danczuk's website boasted in early March this year that he had held a “productive meeting” with the leader of Rochdale Borough Council, Councillor Richard Farnell, and a government minister to clear up the toxic legacy of what had been the world's largest asbestos textile factory.

Mr Danczuk's published words were clear: “Between myself, Councillor Farnell and the Minister we now have a team which is determined to solve this problem and in total agreement over what needs to be done.”

However, since this proud claim, that was also used in political leaflets for the council elections, Mr Danczuk has appeared silent on the matter. Nothing else about the TBA site appeared on his website or Twitter feed.

Almost a month ago, the Council distributed a glossy brochure to some local residents living beside the former asbestos factory site. The contact details printed were for a mysterious Rochdale Council email address with no officers listed. As a result, a local resident wrote an urgent email on 23 September to Mr Danczuk asking for simple answers.

Days later there was no reply. Despite three further emails to the MP's constituency office, the only reply was from a Harry Hodgeson, on 29 September, giving an embarrassed apology for the delay and promising the MP would “get back” to him. Over two weeks later, there has been silence from Mr Danczuk.

Despite Mr Danczuk's suspension from the Labour Party, he remains close to certain local Labour politicians of influence - Council Leader Richard Farnell and Deputy Leader Allen Brett, previously Mr Danczuk's election agent, appear to remain supportive of the disgraced MP despite the shocking revelations of his private life. However, the same level of support may not be found at grass roots level within the local Labour Party.

One disgruntled member summed up the situation: “Perhaps if the toxic Turner Brothers Asbestos site had young women and alcohol on tap then Mr Danczuk would be there like a rat up a drainpipe to do 'selfies' and cram his Twitter feed with celebrity drivel.

“Rochdale deserves much better than this disgraceful neglect. This is a serious issue. Countless people have killed by cancer and terminal disease as a result of Turner Brothers' asbestos, yet there has been a shocking silence recently from the town's MP.

“Just what is going on?”