No answers to questions about former Turner Brothers Asbestos site

Photo: Carl Faulkner

The former Turner Brothers Asbestos factory in Spodden Valley

Anger and frustration were expressed by residents at the latest Spotland and Falinge Forum meeting on 13 July as many questions about the former Turner Brothers Asbestos site (TBA) remained unanswered.

Residents asked questions about the survey results in addition to seeking answers about air tests, illegal dumping of rubbish and theft of metal from the site.

Resident Mick Coats said: “A report submitted by council officers, who are in contact with representatives of the owners, could give no dates as to when information on the issues raised would be available. The two ward councillors were also unable to present the forum with specific information requested or if, and when, it would be forthcoming.

“A specific issue raised was the public harm caused by the stripping of metal on site. The point was also made that it was the council who were responsible for air testing and could, and should, make the results available to residents.”

Following the meeting, two residents have been in contact with Rochdale MP Tony Lloyd and a reminder sent to the Environment Agency with respect to a complaint made in May concerning the illegal dumping of rubbish.

https://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/109096/illegally-dumped-waste-at-former-turner-brothers-asbestos-site-eight-months-ago-still-hasn%E2%80%99t-been-removed

The derelict factory in Spodden Valley that was once home to the world’s largest asbestos textile factory has been plagued by a number of issues in recent months. Fly-tipping, leaking water pipes, mysterious noises, and the safety of the bore holes left behind after the four-month long geophysical survey of the site are just several concerns that have reported by Rochdale Online:

• https://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/109567/mystery-over-tyres-dumped-on-asbestos-factory-land

• https://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/109886/concern-over-pipe-leaking-at-former-turner-brothers-asbestos-site

• https://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/129/letters-to-the-editor/109746/letter-noises-at-former-turner-brothers-asbestos-site

• https://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/109606/children-playing-with-ground-testing-bore-holes-at-turner-brothers-asbestos-sparks-safety-concerns

The land survey, conducted by environmental consultants RSK (on behalf of the landowners, Renshaw Properties) began in November last year before its completion in March. A published report detailing the full findings of the investigation has been pledged, but- four months later- no date has yet been provided.

• https://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/108605/investigation-at-former-turner-brothers-asbestos-site-complete

The former TBA site was sold in 2004 to a Jersey based company. According to Land Registry files, ownership was later transferred to another offshore company, Renshaw Properties based in the British Virgin Islands (BVI), a tax haven, normally outside the jurisdiction of English courts. BVI company law currently does not require the names of directors and shareholders to be published.

Background

In December 2004 a planning application was submitted for over 600 houses and a children's nursery to be built on the former TBA site. With this application was a report from a business called Design Planning Partnership (DPP), which stated, at paragraph 5.30 of the Environmental Statement (non-technical summary), “of particular note is the absence of any asbestos contamination”.

Controversy raged and over 1,000 individual letters of objection were lodged with Rochdale Planning Department. Many expressed concerns about the methods and findings of the consultants employed to advise on contamination.

In 2005, another firm of environmental specialists – Encia Consulting Ltd - was employed by the developers. Encia conducted further tests that supported the planning application and a view that asbestos contamination did not appear to be a big issue for areas of the site where permission to build houses and apartments was being sought.

Since their confident reports about the former TBA site for the planning application that was finally refused in January 2011, both DPP and Encia Consulting Ltd went into administration.

In 2013, soil tests on the TBA site confirmed asbestos contamination in most of the test holes dug and United Utilities asbestos air testing detected elevated levels of asbestos fibres in the air.

Nicola Rogers, Rochdale Borough Council public protection service manager, said: “Since works on the site began the council has answered hundreds of questions from residents living near to the site, responded to over 30 media enquiries and forwarded numerous complaints to the site owners’ representatives for resolving, including illegal rubbish dumping, alleged trespassing and safety concerns.

"There is 24 hour security in place at both sides of the site and the site owners have addressed recent concerns from residents by improving fencing and signage upon our request.

"The results from our air monitoring programme are currently being collated and a full report will be made available to the public as soon as possible, this is likely to be late August to early September.

"The results from the recent ground investigation are also all being compiled and we are awaiting a release date from the site owners’ representatives. Once this is available it will be shared with the public.

"In regards to the illegal waste dumping on site the Environmental Agency’s investigation is ongoing.”

Rochdale Online News Archives

There are over 250 articles dating back to 2005 relating to the former asbestos factory site and the Save Spodden Valley campaign in the Rochdale Online news archives.

To read them click the link below:

• http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/news-archives?type=News&searchtype=Phrase&Criteria=spodden+valley