Some photographs from the first anniversary of the destruction of
woodlands in the Spodden Valley.

One year on...
Thank you to everyone throughout Rochdale, the UK and all over the world for
their help and support over the past 12 months. There may be a long way
still to go !

Over 60 people came to the Spodden Valley on Sunday 15th May to mark a year
to the day when woodlands were destroyed in the Spodden Valley. The wanton
destruction of wildlife habitats galvanised a whole community into action.

If the developers could do so much damage from dawn in one weekend- what
else were they capable of on the site of the world's largest asbestos
textile factory.

As always, the protest was restrained and dignified. We spent a moment to
remember all the victims of asbestos related disease.

People were shocked and disgusted to see the huge scars in the valley where
the woodlands once stood on Woodlands Rd and Spodden Road.

Japanese knotweed is now encroaching along the bare land where the trees
once stood. Worryingly, this is within metres of an old pit shaft where
waste from the asbestos factory is reported to have been dumped over many
years.

A security guard said that the developers did not want anything tying onto
the 'temporary' security fences. Are Countryside Properties and MMC
Developments embarrassed by children's drawings of destroyed wildlife
habitats and of tiny purple 'forget-me-knot' ribbons to honour the memories
of those killed by their work and asbestos disease?

Countryside Properties suggest this is an 'emotive issue' as if common
sense, hard facts and the truth are somehow diminished by heartfelt human
emotions.

The next day (Monday 16th May 2005) saw an incredible turn of events in the
Spodden Valley...

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