Former Woolworths site in Castleton could be used for storing hazardous chemicals

Date published: 26 August 2015

The former Woolworths site on Royle Barn Road, Castleton, could be used for the storage of hazardous chemicals.

It is understood that a planning application lodged with Rochdale Council by North West Properties could see Tetrosyl, the largest manufacturer and supplier of car care products in Europe and the largest independent oil blender in the UK, use the premises to store chemicals.

Work being carried out at the former Woolworths site in Castleton

Residents in the immediate vicinity are concerned about the health and safety issues of storing hazardous chemicals in a built up residential area.

In an objection letter sent to Rochdale Council, Tom Brogan said: “At last night’s Castleton Forum meeting there was quite a lot of debate about the use of the former Woolworths site in Castleton with quite strong feelings against it becoming a distribution depot for Tetrosyl.

“Residents have now found out – almost by accident – that the new owners of the site want to rent it out to Tetrosyl for the storage and distribution of chemicals.”

Though the planning application has not yet been agreed by Rochdale Council, workmen have been on site for a number of weeks.

Work being carried out at the former Woolworths site in Castleton

Dave Jenkins who lives on Smalley Street said: “Work has been ongoing on the site for a while now and at the minute they have heavy machinery like steam rollers and diggers on site and when those machines go, my house shakes, so who is going to be liable for the damage?

“One of my neighbours asked me if I knew what was going on and I didn’t, so I told them I had no idea. Then we got a leaflet from the council last week despite there being stuff going on for a few weeks.”

The planning application, which was received by Rochdale Council on 3 July, proposes re-cladding and re-roofing of the existing buildings and increasing the roof height by three metres.

Work being carried out at the former Woolworths site in Castleton
These buildings back on to Smalley Street

Mr Jenkins added: “The site is right opposite my house and they are planning to extend the roof height, so if that goes ahead, for starters, the light will be blocked from my house.”

In 2011, outline planning permission was granted for a housing development plus a supermarket, and the site marketed with the benefit of that permission.

http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/43773/start-of-a-new-era-for-woolworths-site

However, no developer was forthcoming until North West Properties came forward but with a different plan for the use of the site.

Mr Jenkins added: “In 2011 there was an application for houses on the site and they did a presentation and told people about the plans and I remember speaking to someone from Rochdale Online and saying that this wouldn’t happen and it never did. Four years down the line, this is happening.”

The frontage on Smalley Street

It is understood Castleton councillors are aware of the planning application, and of its intended end use, and suggest residents opposed to the application should send letters detailing their objections (which must be on planning grounds) to the planning department at Rochdale Council.

Mark Robinson, Head of Planning at Rochdale Borough Council, said: “The council has received a planning application for external alterations to the main building on the site, including increasing its roof height. We are not aware of who the future occupier of the site will be, as this is not detailed in the planning application.

“The site has a long standing employment use and the reuse of the site for that purpose may not require a further planning application. The storage of chemicals is, however, separately controlled and may require further consent from the council or other relevant agencies.”

Tetrosyl, which announced in August 2014 the aquisition of Newgate House in Rochdale town centre as a new head office, did not respond to a request for comment.