News Article 15 | News archives | Back to latest NEWS |
'CHILDREN ASK COUNTRYSIDE PROPERTIES TO REPAIR
WOODLAND DAMAGE AT ASBESTOS FACTORY SITE'
7th March 2005
Local children and parents are calling on Countryside Properties to repair damage
to destroyed woodlands in the Spodden Valley as a gesture of goodwill to
Rochdale’s youngest citizens.
The children have offered small potted saplings to the major national house building
company to help replant the damaged valley.
Parents remain saddened by the woodland damage and claim that their children will
be senior citizens before the woodlands could have the chance to recover fully.
The children are to go to the Town Hall from 6pm Wednesday 16th March.
The canteen of the Town Hall has been made available for the young demonstrators
to gather, draw posters and write letters. They intend to welcome visitors to a large
public meeting to be held at 7pm in the Great Hall. Greater Manchester Hazards
Centre have organised the evening to discuss Asbestos in Rochdale–
past, present and future. Dr Geoff Tweedale author of "Magic Mineral-Killer Dust –
Turner & Newall and the Asbestos Hazard" will be guest of honour. At the start of
the meeting, 11 year old Laura Livsey, accompanied by many young protesters,
will voice concerns about wildlife and asbestos.
Kate Lawrence is co-ordinating ideas for children’s costumes for the night
and can be
contacted on 01706 359156.
Countryside Properties strongly deny any involvement in the destruction of woodlands
in the Spodden Valley by Treelink Ltd on the weekend of May 15th/16th 2004.
view http://www.spodden-valley.co.uk/beforeandafter.htm
-these can be sent as high-resolution photographs on request.
However, Mr Simpson revealed at a recent meeting with Councillors that
Countryside
Properties had been involved with the controversial former asbestos factory site
for "about a year".
This admission by Countryside Properties confirms that what was previously known
and suspected about the last 10 month’s events at the former asbestos factory site in
the Spodden Valley:
An official Land Registration document confirms that Countryside Residential
(North West) Ltd entered into an Option Agreement on 16th March 2004 and was
registered as a Beneficiary to the land on 23rd April 2004. Countryside Residential
(North West) changed its name to Countryside Properties (Northern) Ltd
on 30th April 2004.
On the morning of 15th May as the woodlands were being felled, Steve Marsden
of
Treelink Ltd told local people that "a national house builder" had "big plans for
an urban village" on the site.
Several weeks after the woodland was destroyed, Save Spodden Valley campaigners
were told that a Forestry Commission Officer had visited the site and met with an
environmental consultant reporting to Countryside Properties.
In summer 2004 it was suggested that Forestry Commission Officers would not be
making a measured survey of the cleared-felled woodland sites because of concerns
about asbestos contamination of the disturbed soil.
The cleared site includes a capped coal mine where former TBA Health and Safety
Officer Abdul Chowdry described on national radio as a place where the asbestos
factory dumped many tonnes of industrial waste.
In late November, the Forestry Commission told Save Spodden Valley Campaigners
that there was to be no criminal prosecution for unlicenced felling under the 1967
Forestry Act because of ‘lack of evidence’. It was also suggested that a prosecution
may be ‘futile’ because the former wooded areas were due to be developed. This
information was given 4 weeks before a planning application was submitted.
A Freedom of Information Act request for all documents relating to destruction of
woodlands in the Spodden Valley has been made.
The planning application jointly sought by Countryside Properties (Northern) Ltd,
MMC Developments Ltd and Rathbone Jersey Ltd has plans for building on
the destroyed woodlands:
"Plot 5" (Woodlands Rd) is described as 1.2 hectares of valley floor where over
30 detached 2/3 storey houses are proposed.
"Plot 14" (Spod Rd) has proposals for a "Neighbourhood Centre" including a children’s
nursery at the site where an embankment of mature woodland was destroyed.
In its 2004 Environmental, Social and Ethical Review (page 8), Countryside Properties
states that it has never been prosecuted for environmental malpractice.
Jason Addy of Save Spodden Valley supports local children’s pleas for Countryside
Properties to restore the woodlands around the former asbestos factory site:
"Many people may be cynical about Countryside Properties’ denials about being
involved in the destruction of the woodlands in May 2004. Whether they were involved
back then or not- we still face the fact that their planning application wants to profit from
this environmental damage.
A commitment by Countryside Properties to replant the woodlands would be seen as a
positive move forward and a small step to rebuild shattered public confidence in a
company that claims so many green credentials".
BBC Radio 4’s You and Yours Programme is returning to the Spodden Valley this
Thursday at 12.00pm. This is a follow up after Ian Simpson of Countryside Properties
stated that local people were wrong to say that there was exposed asbestos in
woodland close to where the company wish to build homes. The BBC’s John Thorne
recently visited the site to see the asbestos decontamination unit and speak to local
people and asbestos removal workers at the controversial woodland.
Countryside Properties have now acknowledged that there are asbestos dumps in
the north of the site.
Hilda Palmer- Greater Manchester Hazards Campaign- 0161 953 4037.
........................................................................................................................................................................................
STATEMENT ENDS.
