Confusion over Turner Brothers Asbestos site sub group being set up

Exposed asbestos in the Spodden Valley

Mick Coats, a campaigner for the Turner Brothers Asbestos site, understood that at a Rochdale Township Committee meeting in September, members of the committee decided to take action and set up a sub group to help with issues of the TBA site.

Mr Coats says the stance of the committee changed at a recent meeting and it was unclear whether or not a TBA sub group was to be set up.

He said: “It all changed in November and you could see that it changed. In September, from my recollection they were agreeing that setting up a sub group was the way forward but in November it changed and people didn’t seem bothered and didn’t want anything to do with it.”

At the minute, the TBA Working Party are currently responsible for issues to do with the site but it is understood that the party hasn’t met since March and the chairman no longer lives in Rochdale.

“I have had enough of it all now,” said Mick. “This has been going on for 10 years and even though it is a risk, it is not an immediate risk so the council aren’t bothered.”

Mark Widdup, Director of Economy and Environment at Rochdale Council, said: “In September, the Rochdale Township Committee requested that I submit a report at the next meeting. Part of this request was to look into the possibility of creating a small sub-group to lead on issues relating to the Turner Brothers site.

“I subsequently delivered my report on 5 November which stated that the TBA Working Party, which meets to discuss specific issues related to this site, is not clerked or serviced by officers of Rochdale Borough Council and that currently the group does not have a functioning constitution or terms of reference. Furthermore, the responsibility for the development of a constitution and terms rested with the group itself and not the council.”

Campaigners are now worried that without the support of the council and a dedicated group to help with specific issues related to the site, problems will continue to occur.

Mr Coats added: “We are heading to fire season soon and we don’t want another fire to occur. If the site was full of unexploded bombs or holes or whatever then they would be bothered and would want to do something about it but because it isn’t an immediate health risk, they aren’t bothered.”