Public meeting about Turner Brothers Asbestos 'has created more questions than answers', says Save Spodden Valley campaigner

Photo: Carl Faulkner

The former Turner Brothers Asbestos factory in Spodden Valley

Following on from the special Spotland and Falinge Area Forum meeting on 2 October, campaigners from Save Spodden Valley have said the air survey results have ‘created more questions than answers’.

The air survey testing was branded ‘a missed opportunity’ as it was revealed that the council-commissioned survey cost £26,000 of public money.

https://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/112863/councilcommissioned-air-survey-of-the-former-turner-brothers-asbestos-site-that-cost-%C2%A326000-of-public-money-is-a-missed-opportunity-say-save-spodden-valley-campaigners

https://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/112944/tony-lloyd-responds-to-turner-brothers-asbestos-air-survey-results

In response to MP Tony Lloyd's comments last week, Jason Addy of the Save Spodden Valley campaign said: “The presentation made at the meeting has created more questions than answers.

“The Bureau Veritas report mentioned wind direction but little else, in particular times, temperatures, humidity and precipitation.

“As previously mentioned, the reported results are meaningless if taken out of context. They certainly cannot characterise the site as ‘safe’ and posing ‘no significant risk to health’ as these readings at most are merely baseline measurements prior to any soil or building disturbance.

“I understand there is a photograph apparently showing RSK personnel conducting soil tests. It is not known if these people were wearing personal sampling equipment as all requests for information regarding sampling methodologies and Method Statements have been denied us by Rochdale Council.”

For over 12 years the Save Spodden Valley campaign has been working to secure a safe future for the site, once the site of the world's largest asbestos textile factory.

Mr Addy continued: “Scrutiny is ongoing of the Bureau Veritas report together with media statements by Rochdale Council and Public Health England. However, the immediate observations made by the experts we have contacted has us concerned.

“We stand by the testing and analysis methodology that we provided to Rochdale Council, for free, over 12 years ago. We believe that our proposed techniques may have been several hundred times more sensitive that that recently used.

“We stand by our initial thoughts that there has been a missed opportunity for robust facts to be established.

“We fear that this has been yet another missed opportunity for the people of Rochdale and, arguably, a waste of public money.”

He went on: “A growing concern is that this, and other site tests due to be reported, are in danger of being seen as a cynical exercise of policy-led evidence making in order to build houses on the site of what was the world's largest asbestos textile factory.

“A request was made to see the terms of reference for spending the £26,000 together with information regarding all correspondence between Rochdale Council - officers and councillors - and those acting for the site's landowners.

“All we have ever asked for are the facts about this site, backed up with robust science so that open and accountable decisions can be made for its safe future.”

The council-commissioned air survey of the former Turner Brothers Asbestos site in Spodden Valley cost £26,000, and identified the discovery of only one asbestos fibre containing amphibole (‘brown’ or ‘blue’ asbestos) from a sample taken at Harridge Avenue.

Amphibole asbestos consists of straight, thin, needle-like fibres that are not as flexible as chrysotile ('white'), a 'curly' form of the mineral, which is also the most common variety. The TBA factory primarily processed white asbestos.

Testing took place at various locations around the site on a monthly basis between August 2015 to March 2017 and was split into in two phases using two different types of analysis. 103 samples were taken in total.

https://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/112613/turner-brothers-asbestos-airborne-survey-results-just-one-asbestos-fibre-identified

Results of the geophysical land survey are still yet to be announced. The survey, which was carried out by environmental consultants RSK on behalf of the British Virgin Islands-based owners, began in November 2016. Expected to take place for three weeks, the survey went on for four months until it was completed in March this year.

A published report detailing the full findings of the investigation has been pledged, but - seven months later - no date has yet been provided.