Children playing with ground testing bore holes at Turner Brothers Asbestos sparks safety concerns

Damaged ground testing bore hole at Turner Brothers Asbestos

Concerns have been raised about the safety of the bore holes left at the former Turner Brothers Asbestos (TBA) site in Spodden Valley.

Local resident Kate Lawrence says during the Easter school holidays children were playing with the bore holes, ‘which look like it could release contaminated dust or even gases into the air’.

She said: “I have no idea how dangerous this is. It’s worrying that children are playing close by. The kids keep pulling the ‘long pipe’ out of the ground; it was fixed a few weeks back, but they have pulled it off again.”

“Since my last video and messages to the TBA Project team, I’ve heard work going on in the building every day. It’s strange how people have been allowed to access the building for years; it appears to be treated so differently from any other contaminated site.”

Ms Lawrence emailed MP Simon Danczuk, Councillor Cecile Biant, and the Environment Agency about her concerns of safety and security at the site, but at the time of publication, had not received any response to her queries.

She continued: “It’s such a worry when I see what’s being ignored down there. It’s really frustrating because I don’t know where to go for advice. I have nobody to ask what is going on.”

Nicola Rogers, Rochdale Borough Council public protection service manager, said: “The boreholes are on private land that the general public should not enter and secured with metal covers designed to prevent entry. We have contacted contractors to ask them to make sure they are secure and undamaged. The TBA project’s email address is still being monitored and concerns will be responded to.”

Simon Danczuk said: “If there is anything suspicious I am sure that it will be thoroughly investigated. The Local Authority and Environment Agency should contact the land owners if they refuse to address the problems at the site.”