FEARS over the movement of contaminated rubble from a controversial asbestos site in Rochdale through Middleton have been met with assurances of safety.
Following a plea from Middleton's MP, Jim Dobbin, to the Prime Minister to find out what measures would be taken to make sure that the removal of the rubble was safe, the Environment Agency and Health and Safety Executive (HSE) issued a joint statement to alleviate fears.
The removal was expected to take place on Tuesday and yesterday (Wednesday), in which 3,500 tonnes of asbestos-contaminated material would be taken from Rochdale, through Middleton and into Bury where it would be dumped.
Asbestos, the killer dust which has caused the suffering of thousands of ex-workers, contains tiny light-weight microbes which cause extensive damage to the body.
At least 3,500 people in the UK die each year from mesothelioma and asbestos related lung cancer as a result of past exposure to asbestos.
The Environment Agency and HSE said it had worked together to make sure that when rubble was removed by, owners of the site, Federal Mogul from the ex-Turner and Newell site at Rooley Moor Road, it would be done in accordance with the relevant law so that the workers involved and local people would be safe.
Objections from Rochdale group, Save Spodden Valley, have focused on the lack of information about the levels of asbestos that the rubble contains and its potential affects on the surrounding community.
The rubble comes from buildings that were demolished a few years ago and subsequent testing has found it contains very low amounts of chrysotile asbestos, according to the HSE statement.
But Federal Mogul agreed to remove the asbestos-containing rubble as if it were hazardous waste to a permitted landfill site.
It was assured that the health risk to locals was very low and that the material had been safely disposed of in a specially prepared cell at the Bury site.
And HSE also promised to make a visit to the site while the rubble was removed to check that Federal Mogul used appropriate methods of work and that the release of asbestos fibre was minimised.
Showing comments 1 to 9 and replies | View All
Pamela Davies, Rochdale (24/11/2005 at 12:15)
Countryside Properties have an option on the site if planning permission is granted to build over 600 homes and a children's nursery there- slap bang in the middle of what was the world's biggest asbestos textile factory.
The Guardian Media group should know this- because they recently took a large undisclosed sum in advertising from these property developers to distribute 50,000 glossy brochures claiming to be "Spodden Valley Regeneration - Community news. The Advertising Standards Agency are currently investigating allegations that the brochure contains misleading, untruthful and unsubstantiated claims. But if you Google "Countryside Properties" and "asbestos", or listen to BBC Radio 4 or read Private Eye magazine- you will find that the developers have been in a lot of bother over this for months.
Hilda Palmer, Manchester (24/11/2005 at 15:23)
Nigel Morrell, Norden (24/11/2005 at 19:21)
The reason that Jim Dobbin took the unusual step of raising the question with Tony Blair is because he shares the concerns of the Save Spodden Valley campaigners and a great number of his other constituents who have tried in vain for 18 months to gain answers from all Official Bodies concerned with the site that safe decisions will be made. The nett result of this effort is beaurocratic buck-passing and obfuscation which only reinforces the impression that few people in authority give a damn about one of the driving maxims of the portesters which is that one further death as a result of that site is a price to high to pay for development.
Jim Dobbin is to be highly applauded for his strenuous efforts to get proper answers and accountability on these vital questions of Public Health.
Christine, Rochdale (25/11/2005 at 00:15)
I had father who was a builder and worked with asbestos - in the days before it was realised what a problem it would be. His sudden death, a combination of heart, chest and cigaret smoking was a total shock. We have no way of knowing if the asbestos played a part in it.
I feel very sorry for the 600 families who could potentially buy a house in a high risk area with no knowledge of what used to be there. Certainly if I had know, I wold have looked elsewhere for a house!
pauline Bonney, eastbourne (25/11/2005 at 09:19)
sylvia conway, rochdale (27/11/2005 at 10:32)
MMC and Countryside Properties say they are now going to listen to local people, Residents told them again and again of the asbestos on site, but they constantly denied that asbestos was a problem. Why should our lives and future health be in the hands of developers who have deliberately covered up the truth from residents?
Knowing its past history, this site should never have been put forward as suitable for housing. The developers were going to crash on and build on this land. Who would be left with the problem if some poor soul buying their dream home then develops asbestosis? Will MMC and Countryside Properties still be around to compensate the victims.
Sylvia Conway
Geoff Entwhistle, Rochdale (26/01/2006 at 20:15)
It is not all about asbestos because I have had privy conversations with Save Spodden Valley campaigners and they have said as much.
Jason Addy, Rochdale (01/02/2006 at 08:40)
You are entitled to your opinion but please do not attempt to peddle such unsubstantiated views as fact.
-Who have you spoken to in the Save Spodden Valley campaign that has 'confided' to you that they are 'closet NIMBYs'.
NIMBY - "Not in My Backyard" The term of abuse used by property speculators and their ilk in vain attempts to make people look narrowminded.
This ain't leafy Hampshire Mr Entwistle- Our concerns are real and legitimate.
As a community, we have have lived with the asbestos factory 'in our backyards' for decades. We now live with an eyesore 'in our backyards'. We have the potential for tens of thousands of tonnes of dumped asbestos 'in our backyards'. Yet there have NEVER been calls made to have it removed. This asbestos needs to be undisturbed and encapulated in a safe and permanent way. Hardly NIMBYism.
The Spodden Valley issues concern the whole Borough- For instance: when asbestos factory rubble left the site and was driven through Heywood town centre - we were vocal- FOR THE PEOPLE OF HEYWOOD - hardly the work of NIMBY's.
Sticks and stones Mr Entwistle- obviously this health and safety campaign is upsetting you. The truth is coming out about the site and safe decisions will be made.
Petty name calling and unsustantiated allegations against a campaign that has widespread support won't wash.
Geoff Entwhistle, Rochdale (08/02/2006 at 17:19)
If, as your campaign says, the new properties would be such a health issue, surely it would be wiser to build the houses. After the negative publicity, nobody in their right mind will want to live in them, the result being Countryside Properties would be the main losers ??" IN THEIR POCKETS.
Alternatively, is it the rumours that some of the new houses may be council owned properties, that is giving you and your nimbys ants in your pants?