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[Statement: 1]
'HUNDREDS OF TREES STILL IN DANGER AROUND FORMER ASBESTOS FACTORY?'
16 November 2004
It appears hundreds of trees are still not protected at the former Turner Brothers
Asbestos factory site despite a recent Rochdale Council Order.
Save Spodden Valley campaigners together with local councillors have scrutinised
paperwork from the site’s Tree Preservation Order that was confirmed last month.
Local residents were assured that all the remaining trees around the former asbestos
factory site had been protected. However, the map issued with the Council Order clearly
shows a large area of woodland that is not included.
Councillors were not told this when they voted to protect the site’s trees last month.
Councillors from all parties are demanding that this is corrected and a full
explanation given.
Part of the former asbestos factory site has been allocated an ‘Area of Opportunity’ in
the draft Unitary Development Plan- the blueprint for planning in Rochdale for the next
decade. The threatened woodland forms about 10% this Area of Opportunity
Healey Councillor, Elwyn Watkins, who lives overlooking the site, inspected the
woodland last weekend and counted hundreds of trees that did not appear to be
protected. The area in question is over 100 metres in length and forms a triangle
tens of metres deep. The woodland comprises of mature broadleaf and evergreen
varieties.
“The woodland is clearly seen from many houses in the Healey Ward”
explained Cllr. Watkins.
“The Autumn colours of these trees have given a magnificent display” commented
Jason Addy who accompanied Cllr Watkins to the Shawclough part of the factory site.
“This woodland is also a valuable wildlife habitat”.
“not only do these hundreds of trees have a valuable visual amenity, they also
serve as a shield from any potential noise and dust that could be created by any
future development of the former asbestos factory site."
In a display of cross-party consensus, Local councillors who live close to the site have
also expressed their concerns about the site.
Conservative Councillor Wera Hobhouse voiced her strong reservations about the lack
of a ‘level playing field’ regarding decisions being made about the future of the
Rochdale asbestos factory site:
“I don’t doubt the professionalism and integrity of the Planning Officers but they
are clearly ‘pro-development’ and this sets the agenda. There has been no debate
about any potential development.”
Labour Councillor Tom Stott once worked at the asbestos factory and still lives nearby.
He stressed that “concerns for the site transcend party politics”.
Asbestos was processed at the Rochdale factory site for over 100 years. Company
documents from 1957 have recently come to light. They describe over 300 tonnes of
asbestos dust from the factory’s ventilation system being dumped each year. They
also mention tests conducted on the roof of the factory that measured asbestos dust
levels in excess of those in production area within the factory.
In talks with Rochdale’s MP Lorna Fitzsimons, Rochdale Council Chief Executive
Roger Ellis confirmed the need for “a greater environmental policing role regarding
activity at the former asbestos factory site”.
Planning Permission is due to be published by MMC Developments Ltd in the next
few days. Correspondence from Rochdale Council officers suggests that a national
house building company are involved in negotiations.
Group Spokesman Jason Addy also has strong concerns about the omitted woodland:
“I sincerely hope that this has just been an oversight during the Council’s swift
actions to preserve the Woodland in May.
Hundreds of letters by local people warned the Planning Department that this
woodland remained threatened, yet the Briefing Note given to Councillors last
month remained silent on this crucial point.
The Council has the power to remedy this mistake immediately by issuing a further
Tree Preservation Order..
The developers would be unwise if they started to fell this woodland. We have aerial
photographs from the 1940’s that identifies this part of the site as one where much
soil was disturbed- this strongly suggests industrial waste may be buried under this
woodland. We also know that this is also a habitat for protected species.
Although there is no precise definition of what an ‘Area of Opportunity’ is- we doubt
it means a carte blanche for wall to wall housing on the former asbestos factory site.
Let’s hope that this will also be an ‘Area of Opportunity’ for public health, wildlife and
common sense.”
Spodden Valley campaigners have handed a 5 page list of questions from local people
for Council officers to answer. The Group will address Township Councillors at the
Town Hall this Wednesday evening.
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[Statement: 2]
'INDEPENDANT TESTS CONFIRM “BROWN” ASBESTOS IN THE SPODDEN VALLEY'
Independent laboratory results have confirmed Save Spodden Valley’s fears about the
state of land surrounding the former Turner Brothers Asbestos (TBA) factory site
in Rochdale.
Amosite (Brown Asbestos) has been found in exposed tree roots within 10 metres of
a footpath, cycle path and bridleway. The nearest houses are less than 250 metres
from the exposed fibres.
Former TBA workers have suggested that this area on Woodlands Rd forms part of a
huge asbestos dump containing decades of waste. It recently confirmed that an old
coal mine was also used to dispose of waste from the asbestos factory . Other tips
are suspected throughout the 72 site. TBA processed asbestos for over 100 years.
The name “Amosite” is derived from the words “Asbestos Mines Of South Africa
– A.M.O.S.A.”. TBA’s parent company, Turner & Newall mined asbestos in South Africa,
Swaziland and the former Rhodesia.
Concerns were first raised in the Spodden Valley in May 2004 when new owners of
the site, MMC Developments Ltd, and contracting company Treelink Ltd, disturbed soil
and felled hundreds of trees.
The exposed asbestos fibres were found within 100 metres of this recent woodland
clearance.
Planning permission is imminent for an “Urban Village” for the 72 acre site, home to
what was the largest asbestos textile factory in the World.
A major national house building company has been linked to the future development.
Recent events at the site have caught international attention: Save Spodden Valley
members addressed the European Social Forum last month. Experts in asbestos
and the asbestos cancer mesothelioma have expressed their concerns from Europe,
America and Australasia. The matter is to be discussed at the Parliamentary Asbestos
sub-committee next week.
A history of the Rochdale Factory, Magic Mineral to Killer Dust by Dr Geoff Tweedale
suggests that TBA management in the 1950’s considered Brown Asbestos to be the
most lethal form of the cancer causing product. A memo from a TBA director describes
a “Battle Royal” with Sir Samuel Turner in order to stop the use of brown asbestos.
At a recent public meeting, former TBA Health & Safety manager Abdul Chowdry
described the felling of trees and disturbance of soil as “sheer madness”.
As one of only 12 Health & Safety Commissioners for the whole of the UK, Mr Chowdry
views the Rochdale site as internationally important. The Commissioner made the
following comments about the former asbestos factory site:
“With the potential amount of asbestos on that site, no development should be
built on this land.
Such a disproportionate amount may need spending on the site, there may be no
profit in developing it.
The potential asbestos contamination on that site may be beyond the remit of
Rochdale Council”
Information has been sent to Save Spodden Valley researches from Italy and Spain:
Medical papers published by European cancer specialists have highlighted the
dangers faced if asbestos fibres are released from the Rochdale site:
A case control study from an Italian asbestos factory showed that local people,
including children attending a nearby school had an increased risk of developing
the terminal asbestos cancer mesothelioma.
Magnani et al, Environ Health Perspect 109:915-919 (2001).
A Spanish study has concluded that there may be an increased risk of mesothelioma
for those living up to 2 kilometres (1.3 miles) from a source of airborne asbestos
fibres. It concludes that low-dose exposure carries a measurable risk.
Agudo et al, British Journal of Cancer (2000)83(1), 104-111.
Save Spodden Valley spokesman Jason Addy regards the latest news as “chilling”.
“These facts about environmental exposure to asbestos and the confirmation of
Amosite (Brown Asbestos) exposed to the air demand a full investigation.
We ask all those with responsibilities for the Spodden Valley to keep the people of
Rochdale safe”.
An urgent meeting is being organised by Rochdale Council with Save Spodden Valley
for early December. Also invited include: The Environment Agency, Public Health chiefs,
the Health Protection Agency, Health & Safety Executive, Forestry Commission and
Greater Manchester Police.
Concerned campaigners are to go to Rochdale Town Hall at 6.30pm
on Wednesday 17 November.
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STATEMENT ENDS.
