Tony Blair questioned in Parliament about the Spodden Valley

Tony Blair in Parliament

Broadcast footage can be found at:
 
http://www.number-10.gov.uk/output/Page8530.asp

(The broadcast is 30 minutes long and the Spodden valley question is the last 1 minute 10 seconds of the broadcast - however, viewers can fast-forward 28 minutes 50 seconds to get to the question.)
 
The question was asked by Heywood and Middleton MP Jim Dobbin in response to concerns of the apparent lack of information relating to the unannounced plans to remove asbestos factory rubble from the Spodden Valley site last week (as reported at: spodden_news.asp?ID=1035 )
 
SSV co-orddinator Jason Addy praised the way that MPs from all parties have worked to get official answers about the Spodden Valley.
 
"We have had 18 months of controversy and there still doesn't appear to be 'joined-up thnking' between local, regional and national government departments."
 
"The is the danger that the apparent loopholes and flaws in the planning and health & safety systems could put the health of our town at risk"
 
"After months of persistent questioning the developers and landowners still havn't given straight answers to straight questions - before asbestos factory rubble was moved in October 2004- March 2005 (see spodden_news.asp?ID=555) was it tested for asbestos content- YES or NO?  
 
Where did this rubble go to?"
 
 
Other questions about the rubble following the developers published a controversial glossy brochure to 50,000 households are still being investigsted by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) - spodden_news.asp?ID=1041
 
Jason Addy comments: "Spodden Valley is now a matter for our Prime Minister. We await action from Number 10.
 
"A briefing document has been sent to Downing Street this afternnoon:

Spodden_Valley_briefing_doc_07_11_05.pdf
 
"Recent events strengthen our resolve for a full public inquiry by 'calling-in' this planning application".

-----------------------------------------------

The message emailed to the Prime Minister by Save Spodden Valley co-ordinator Jason Addy is reproduced below:

Prime Minister

Today a question was asked about asbestos by the member for Heywood and Middleton, Jim Dobbin MP.

The issues of asbestos from the Spodden Valley of Rochdale have been very controversial. They have been the subject of long-running investigations in the national media including BBC Radio 4's You and Yours programme and Private Eye magazine.

Our community has its own website describing some of the issues:

www.Spodden-Valley.co.uk

Please find a link to a briefing note our campaign prepared for local MPs of all parties.

Spodden_Valley_briefing_doc_07_11_05.pdf

We have had cross-party support for our campaign in both Westminster and Brussels.

This is to be welcomed because cancer that can be caused by asbestos does not discriminate on party lines.

Our community campaign is happy to co-operate with all government departments on this matter to ensure that safe decisions are made for the future of Spodden Valley.   

In 2005 exposure to asbestos is preventable: Too many people have already suffered because of asbestos from the Spodden Valley of Rochdale.

One further cancer death is one too many.

Regards

Jason Addy

(Tony Blair can be contacted by Rochdale Online readers at:  http://www.number-10.gov.uk/output/Page821.asp)