Abestos site - planning application fifth anniversary

Save Spodden Valley supporters outside Rochdale Planning Department and a cake with 5 candles on it

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This week is the FIFTH birthday of the controversial planning application for hundreds of homes and a children's nursery on the former site of Turner Brother Asbestos - the world's first then largest asbestos textile factory in the world.

As reported by Rochdale Online, back in December 2004 the documents submitted with the planning application stated: "Of particular note is the absence of any asbestos contamination" [para 5.30 DPP report]

Over a thousand individual letters of objection were lodged with Rochdale Council planning department who put the application on hold in mid 2005.

Five years on, Westminster and EU parliamentarians have criticised the application. Save Spodden Valley (SSV) supporters have met the Prime Minister and have had worldwide support and recognition for the international asbestos memorial opposite Rochdale Town Hall.

SSV spokesman Jason Addy said: "We are still waiting for answers from questions and information requests made in 2005. A request made almost 2 weeks ago under the Environmental Information Regulations hasn't email received an email of acknowledgement.

"Mr Rawlinson's letter to the Homes and Communities Agency, recently reported by Rochdale Online, raises more questions that the people of Rochdale deserve an answer to."

In the letter on public file Mr Rawlinson states:

"I have agreed to hold this application open until a replacement application can be submitted and determined following which the current scheme will be withdrawn..."

Mr Addy says: "This is an incredible position. A plannng application that has already broken some records is to be withdrawn but only when a replacement has been drafted and determined?

"We are to take advice on the legality of this position.

"After 5 years we remain determined to ensure the people of Rochdale get the full facts so that future generations can be kept safe."