MP Simon Danczuk writes to Eric Pickles regarding Akzo Nobel site

The former Akzo Nobel site

Rochdale MP Simon Danczuk has asked Eric Pickles, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, to intervene in a row over plans to build 174 homes on the former Akzo Nobel site in Littleborough.

Mr Danczuk has written to Mr Pickles asking him to review Rochdale Council’s handling of plans for the site near to Hollingworth Lake and to consider taking the decision into his own hands.

Mr Danczuk has raised concerns over how the authority has dealt with the application and is questioning whether local people’s views have been
considered.

Speaking to Rochdale Online, Mr Danczuk said: “I have been in touch with the Department of Communities and Local Government in regards to the Akzo Nobel site. We have to wait for the committee to meet and make a decision and if they approve the decision then I will be asking the Department of Communities and Local Government to look into how that decision has been made and whether or not the local council has handled the situation correctly by addressing the local community and local residents.

“I don’t think the situation has been handled well and I don’t think the local community have been addressed regarding the issue. I speak to people in the community regularly and as an MP I think that is the right thing to do. There is also a lot of information on social media about the site and you have to gather your information from a variety of means and that is what I have done.”

It is understood that local resident Barry Cropper has also written to Mr Pickles asking him to consider calling in the decision – therefore taking it out of council control.

Mark Widdup, Rochdale Council Director of Economy and Environment, said: “We have been notified of a request made to the Secretary of State to call in the planning application for the Akzo Nobel site for his own determination.

"We have carefully considered this application following residents’ concerns and sought specialist advice where necessary which has led to a revised recommendation being made following receipt of additional information.

"Further planning conditions are being recommended, together with a legal agreement, to ensure that this development is in line with the local and national planning policies and relevant guidelines.”

The current application has received 58 letters of objection from local residents which raise concerns about issues such as pollution, asbestos and other harmful chemicals, old mine shafts on site, increased traffic and strain on local services.

The Pennines Township Planning Sub-Committee will meet tomorrow (Wednesday 14 January) evening regarding the plans at Number One Riverside, starting at 6:15pm.