Airborne asbestos test results at Turner Brothers Asbestos ‘expected late August’

Exposed asbestos in Spodden Valley in 2005

Rochdale Borough Council has confirmed the results of their airborne monitoring test at the former Turner Brothers Asbestos site in the Spodden Valley are expected in around six weeks.

A spokesperson for the Council said: “The council commissioned monitoring of airborne asbestos fibres around the perimeter of the site. The council expects to receive the final report late August/early September. This written report, when received by the Council, will be made available to the public.

“The site owner commissioned an intrusive site survey undertaken by their contractor, RSK. The site owner’s representatives have indicated that they will share the survey results with the council. The results, when received by the council will be made available to the public. The site owner’s representatives have not provided a timeframe when the results will be provided to the council.”

The full report will be published in line with data protection rules, redacting any personal details of individuals.

The Council also requested an update from the Environment Agency, regarding prosecution of the owners for illegal dumping of rubbish on site.

The Council spokesperson confirmed: “The Environment Agency (EA) have informed that they have a duty to investigate all avenues of enquiry. Unless new avenues of enquiry come to light, the EA have indicated that they are coming to the end of their investigation.

“The owners have not informed the Council when they will remove this rubbish.”

The Council also confirmed it has had no direct contact with the owners, only their representatives and contractor. This year, council officers have also made contact in relation to residents’ concerns about fly-tipping, people inside the buildings and broken bore-hole coverings on site.