International experts and campaigners visit Spodden Valley asbestos site

International delegation at former TBA site in the Spodden Valley

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Local and international asbestos issues have been discussed at a conference organised by the Greater Manchester Asbestos Victim Support (GMAVSG).

International experts and campaigners from Japan, Australia, France, Italy, Spain and Belgium participated.

Rochdale resident Vivienne Swain opened the conference with her personal account of mesothelioma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer caused by asbestos exposure.

Spodden Valley campaigner Jason Addy gave a presentation on environmental asbestos exposure. He also gave an historic overview of the Turner Brothers Asbestos site and its legacy of contamination.

The event culminated in a visit by the international delegation to the controversial and derelict asbestos factory site in the Spodden Valley.

Mr Addy commented on the successful meeting, saying: "It was an honour and a privilege to meet Vivienne at the Manchester conference and hear her personal account of her cancer journey.

“Mesothelioma is a cruel disease and only known cause is exposure to asbestos. Vivienne's story brought it home to us all just how important it is to ensure future generations of Rochdalians are protected from the threat of asbestos in our environment.

"The history and legacy of the past products, corporate decisions made, and waste dumping on the Turner Brother Asbestos site should never be forgotten, lest history repeats itself.”

He added: "People must be put before profit."

Conference organiser Graham Dring of GMAVSG reflected on the visit: "Our international guests wanted to see the former Turner Brothers Asbestos site for themselves. To them this is ‘asbestos ground zero’, where the asbestos industry, deaths and questionable tactics to promote the deadly mineral first began.

"This truly is a site of international significance. Asbestos disease campaigners and experts from around the world have been following the Save Spodden Valley campaign for 13 years.

"Asbestos cancer has been identified in many communities worldwide that have lived beside asbestos factories. It is important that the tragedies of the past are not repeated on the future.

"Environmental exposure to asbestos is a huge concern. As such, this visit to the Spodden Valley demonstrated international solidarity with the people of Rochdale to ensure the former TBA site is treated with upmost respect."