Renewed concern over testing at former Turner Brothers Asbestos site

Testing at the former Turner Brothers Asbestos site

Concern is once again being voiced regarding the 'secrecy' of tests being conducted at the controversial former Turner Brothers Asbestos site (TBA) in Spodden Valley.

Following a September drop-in session, a geophysical survey was due to commence in October for three weeks testing for slope stability, presence of asbestos in shallow and deep soil, sampling ground water and sampling surface water from the River Spodden where it enters and leaves the site, measuring for dust and fibres in the air, and, under industry requirements, checking for heavy metals, volatile organic compounds, semi-volatile organic compounds and oils.

The survey, on behalf of the British Virgin Islands-based owners, actually began in November 2016, and is still ongoing almost four months later.

On Wednesday 15 February, workmen spotted by local resident Delwyn Bale were wearing full protective clothing digging holes to the right of the footpath around 50 metres down from the concrete bollards on Woodlands Road.

Mr Bale said: “There were no warning signs and no road closures. Why?

“I asked why they were digging. They showed me the iPad where they were recording the colour of the soil, but also taking samples and placing them in the chill boxes.

“I asked if it was safe to the general public and they replied ‘yes’. They said they had to follow the methods statements, etc., but also said they had been in the woods to the right of the concrete bollards. They said in those areas they had not seen visible signs of asbestos.

“I asked if they had conducted any testing on the concrete chute which runs from the back of the houses on Dell Road down to Woodlands Road: they answered ‘no’. They were not even aware that this chute was historically used for rolling bales of raw asbestos down to Woodlands Road.

“A couple of weeks ago I was talking to a local gentleman who used to work in the maintenance department of the old factory. He told me that no testing had currently been done on the old Harridge Mill or the salt pits, where he knew asbestos was buried. He also knew several other areas where asbestos had been dumped.

“It begs the question why such people have not been consulted by either the council or the landowners. Surely, the knowledge of such people would be a benefit to this investigation?”

A spokesperson for the Save Spodden Valley campaign said: “In fairness to the contractors engaged in current testing, I understand they have been given specific co-ordinates to sample from. As such, they may not require any prior knowledge of the site prior to their testing.

“Surely the key matter to be addressed must be the apparent lack of transparency regarding method statements for sampling and analysis? This is particularly disappointing given the glossy brochure produced by Rochdale Council and the public meeting organised by unnamed officers last year.

“The way the 'drop-in' session at Spotland Methodist Church was organised didn't allow for a thorough and collective public scrutiny of the issues. Some suggested it smacked of spin and PR rather than public consultation.

“Local people who attended the drop-in session are working together to collect accounts of what was stated by the officers, statutory stakeholders and consultants making up the so-called ‘TBA Project Team’.

“The people of Rochdale deserve to know all the facts about the former TBA site so that safe and accountable decisions can be made about its future.”

The Greater Manchester Hazards Centre (GMHC) has been involved in the issues regarding asbestos and the former asbestos factory site in the Spodden Valley for over 11 years.

Hilda Palmer, co-ordinator of GMHC, said: “The issue about the testing is not necessarily with those carrying out [testing] who are following orders. The issue is, as it has always been for the last 13 years, issues of accountability and transparency by RMBC and the owners - and nothing much seems to have been learned.

“It is impossible to know exactly what is going on, and to assess the risks and dangers in the testing procedures and efficacy of the whole sampling and testing operation, as inadequate information has not been publicly provided.

“GMHC’s concern is that the whole matter of sampling and testing of the area and the methods to be used to protect the workers doing it, and also local people, has not been handled in an open and transparent way.

“The method statements and sampling and testing methods have not been openly explained. The recent ‘drop-in’ sessions at Spotland Methodist Church did not allow detailed questioning or proper scrutiny and were a disappointing exercise.

“Right from the beginning, GMHC and Save Spodden Valley argued for the gathering of information from experienced, local people about the use of the site, where asbestos was used, specifically contaminated areas, and where it was dumped. This huge repository of local knowledge was completely ignored.

“Local people have a right to know that the testing is being carried out safely, and are right to be very concerned about the process, the outcome and being kept in the dark. I am not sure how much further on we are nearly 13 years later.”

Nicola Rogers, Rochdale Borough Council’s public protection service manager, said: “The consultants conducting the investigation at the former TBA site have extensive experience and knowledge of the safety procedures required when working in these environments.

“Technicians working in this area are required to wear full protective clothing as a precaution because they undertake this type of work on a regular basis and could be in direct with potentially harmful substances over a long period of time. In this instance, the technicians were undertaking shallow surface soil samples, for a short time, in an area of private land which the public shouldn’t enter.

“When planning this investigation, the consultants also examined available historical records and other sources before positioning sampling points accordingly, although further work may be undertaken at a later stage.”

http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/106957/concerns-about-testing-at-the-former-turner-brothers-asbestos-site-reiterated