Investigation at former Turner Brothers Asbestos site complete

Testing at the former Turner Brothers Asbestos site

The investigation at the former Turner Brothers Asbestos (TBA) site in Spodden Valley is now complete, four months after the surveying began in November.

Environmental consultants RSK conducted the geophysical survey on behalf of Renshaw Properties, the owners of the site, based in the British Virgin Islands.

A spokesperson for Rochdale Borough Council said: “The RSK investigation has now finished, however, they may come back to undertake further works and monitoring as required.

“The council’s air monitoring programme is due to finish this month. Reassurance air monitoring has been undertaken throughout the RSK investigation and the control limits put in place have not been breached. Taking this into account, as well as the control measures in place and the distance of the sampling locations from the public right of way, no risk was identified to the public using Woodlands Road.”

On Wednesday 15 February, workmen were spotted by local resident Delwyn Bale digging holes to the right of the footpath, around 50 metres down from the concrete bollards on Woodlands Road.

The council spokesperson said: “On the day the observations were made, two RSK engineers were undertaking a soil description and sampling exercise from the ground surface, whereby a small area of damp ground is visibly inspected.

“If asbestos is not present, as it was not in this case, a surface scrape of approximately 1kg of soil is taken for subsequent laboratory analysis. A detailed soil description in line with British Standards is noted on the electronic tablet to aid in the risk assessment at a later stage.

“Following sampling, the material is safely replaced on the surface.”

A spokesperson for the Save Spodden Valley campaign said: "The air and soil testing has been shrouded in mystery. Local people have suggested the Rochdale Council TBA Project Team has been little more than a ‘faceless public relations’ exercise to promote a ‘dodgy dossier’. That may be an unfair reaction, but perhaps understandable, given the lack of effective co-ordination and accountability from the anonymous offshore landowners and their consultants.

“There has been no requirement to allow the public to view the Method Statement of the testing or have prior disclosure of analysis techniques and results. This can create a ‘Kafka-esque nonsense’ where concerned people cannot check if the proposed systems of work are safe and reasonable.

“They also cannot even check if the work they have seen being done is actually what was proposed at all.

“The final insult is that the report is private property so local people have been told they have no right to see it unless it forms part of any future planning application - and even then, there may be no way of confirming that any submitted documentation hasn't been edited. Such secrecy does not help with public trust.

“We sincerely hope that this hasn't been yet another missed opportunity to ensure that all the facts are established about this site so that safe and accountable decisions can be made. The people of Rochdale deserve to be treated with respect. Too many have already died as a result of decisions and from products once made in the Spodden Valley".

A report detailing the full findings of the investigation will be published, but no date has been provided at the time of publication.