Skip Navigation | HOME | UK Indymedia | Editorial Guidelines | Mission Statement | About Us | Contact | Help | Support Us

manchester Indymedia

Spodden Valley asbestos- a ‘hot potato’ that nobody wants to hold?

Save Spodden Valley | 11.10.2005 09:47 | Ecology | Health | Social Struggles | World

There is still confusion over which government and council agencies have powers and responsibilities over the site of what was the world’s largest asbestos textile factory. A consortium headed by Countryside Properties wants to build 600 homes and a children’s nursery there.

Was the public’s chance to question the council- ‘Gone in 60 seconds’...?

The HSE, Env. Agency or the Council don't seem to know where these bags went to
The HSE, Env. Agency or the Council don't seem to know where these bags went to


Paul Rowen MP has joined with councillors from all parties to ask a question about the Turners site at this Wednesday’s full council meeting.

The move was in response to the Save Spodden Valley campaign having this question blocked by the Borough Solicitor because it arrived by email 60 seconds after the deadline for the submission of public questions.

In a reply from the council emailed less than 6 minutes later, it was explained that the Borough Solicitor had considered the matter and ruled that the question couldn’t be accepted.

Jason Addy, Co-ordinator of the Save Spodden Valley campaign was surprised at the speed of the council decision:

“I feel honoured that the SSV campaign’s question could be read, processed, judged by the Borough Solicitor and a rejection message sent back all in under 6 minutes. That is remarkable service- I wish my glass recycling bin could receive the same attention!”

However, regarding the Council’s decision, Jason Addy was philosophical:
“I make no excuses- if the council’s rules are strict about the 12.00 deadline and the email didn't reach the council until 12.01 then that is my fault.
“I understand how difficult this can be for council officers- it can be a tough call for them- if they are seen to be showing favour to one group then others may have legitimate reasons for complaint.
“All we have ever asked for is fairness in addressing all the issues relating to the re-development of what was the world’s largest asbestos factory. We expect the developers to be subject to the same strict rules and scrutiny as it appears the local community is subject to”.
The campaign group insist that the question to be asked at Wednesday’s meeting is not a criticism of the Council or its officers. Jason Addy explains:

“All we seek is clarification of who is responsible for what at the site. There needs to be evidence of joined-up thinking - action not mere words.

“Recently, the Health and Safety Executive have issue a press release, the Environment Agency have attended a meeting and the Council’s Environmental Health Department have commented at the last Township meeting- the individual messages given out are confusing-

“It appears that the HSE point to the Environment Agency and the Council for some of the answers. The Environment Agency then point to the HSE and the Council. But the Council say that they have no involvement in the ongoing work on the site.

“There remains concern that, 18 months on, there appears to be no effective environmental policing of the site. The developers appear to have avoided a criminal prosecution over the destruction of the woodlands because of a lack of communication between the various government agencies. There can be no such failure in communication about asbestos and contamination”.

In his recent ‘apology’, Countryside Properties (Northern) MD Ian Kelley said that his company would not exercise their option to purchase the former asbestos factory site unless and until it had been fully remediated to the satisfaction of The Environment Agency, the Health & Safety Executive and Rochdale Borough Council.

………………………………………………………………………

Here is the question to be asked at this Wednesday’s Borough Council meeting:

“Matters of health and safety, for the whole Borough, arising the former Turner Brother's Asbestos factory site is a long standing issue that has received national and international attention. It has been the subject of a Maiden Speech and an adjournment debate in Parliament. It is a matter that has cross-party support in council, and both the Westminster and European Parliaments.

A multi-agency group, of various statutory bodies that may have
responsibilities for the site, has been established and has met several times: Last month the HSE gave a summary of is powers and
responsibilities. Last week the Environment Agency has did the same.

Please could Rochdale Council make a full statement as to its
powers and responsibilities over the Former TBA site.

Please note that this question is NOT meant in any way to be a criticism of our Council or its officers- the issue of enforcement, regulation and scrutiny is a complex matter and one that may require additional funds from central government and European sources”.

Save Spodden Valley
- e-mail: SaveSpoddenValley@hotmail.com
- Homepage: http://www.Spodden-Valley.co.uk

Download this article in pdf format >>

Email this article to someone >>

Submit an addition or make a quick comment on this article >>

Publish

Publish your news

Do you need help with publishing?

Kollektives

Birmingham
Cambridge
Liverpool
London
Oxford
Sheffield
South Coast
Wales
World

Other UK IMCs
Bristol/South West
London
Northern Indymedia
Scotland

Manchester Topics

Analysis
Animal Liberation
Anti-militarism
Anti-racism
Bio-technology
Climate Chaos
Culture
Ecology
Education
Energy Crisis
Free Spaces
Gender
Globalisation
Health
History
Indymedia
Iraq
Migration
Ocean Defence
Other Press
Palestine
Public sector cuts
Repression
Social Struggles
Technology
Terror War
Workers' Movements
Zapatista

Manchester Actions 2010

Flotilla to Gaza
Mayday 2010
Tar Sands

Manchester Actions 2009

COP15 Climate Summit 2009
G20 London Summit
Guantánamo
Indymedia Server Seizure
University Occupations for Gaza

Manchester Actions 2008

2008 Days Of Action For Autonomous Spaces
Campaign against Carmel-Agrexco
Climate Camp 2008
G8 Japan 2008
SHAC
Smash EDO
Stop Sequani Animal Testing
Stop the BNP's Red White and Blue festival

Manchester Actions 2007

Climate Camp 2007
DSEi 2007
G8 Germany 2007
Mayday 2007
No Border Camp 2007

Manchester Actions 2006

April 2006 No Borders Days of Action
Art and Activism Caravan 2006
Climate Camp 2006
Faslane
French CPE uprising 2006
G8 Russia 2006
Lebanon War 2006
March 18 Anti War Protest
Mayday 2006
Oaxaca Uprising
Refugee Week 2006
Rossport Solidarity
SOCPA
Transnational Day of Action Against Migration Controls
WSF 2006

Manchester Actions 2005

DSEi 2005
G8 2005
WTO Hong Kong 2005

Manchester Actions 2004

European Social Forum
FBI Server Seizure
May Day 2004
Venezuela

Manchester Actions 2003

Bush 2003
DSEi 2003
Evian G8
May Day 2003
No War F15
Saloniki Prisoner Support
Thessaloniki EU
WSIS 2003

Languages

english

IMCs


www.indymedia.org

Projects
print
radio
satellite tv
video

Africa

Europe
antwerpen
armenia
athens
austria
barcelona
belarus
belgium
belgrade
brussels
bulgaria
calabria
croatia
cyprus
emilia-romagna
estrecho / madiaq
galiza
germany
grenoble
hungary
ireland
istanbul
italy
la plana
liege
liguria
lille
linksunten
lombardia
madrid
malta
marseille
nantes
napoli
netherlands
northern england
nottingham imc
paris/île-de-france
patras
piemonte
poland
portugal
roma
romania
russia
sardegna
scotland
sverige
switzerland
torun
toscana
ukraine
united kingdom
valencia

Latin America
argentina
bolivia
chiapas
chile
chile sur
cmi brasil
cmi sucre
colombia
ecuador
mexico
peru
puerto rico
qollasuyu
rosario
santiago
tijuana
uruguay
valparaiso
venezuela

Oceania
aotearoa
brisbane
burma
darwin
jakarta
manila
melbourne
perth
qc
sydney

South Asia
india


United States
arizona
arkansas
asheville
atlanta
Austin
binghamton
boston
buffalo
chicago
cleveland
colorado
columbus
dc
hawaii
houston
hudson mohawk
kansas city
la
madison
maine
miami
michigan
milwaukee
minneapolis/st. paul
new hampshire
new jersey
new mexico
new orleans
north carolina
north texas
nyc
oklahoma
philadelphia
pittsburgh
portland
richmond
rochester
rogue valley
saint louis
san diego
san francisco
san francisco bay area
santa barbara
santa cruz, ca
sarasota
seattle
tampa bay
united states
urbana-champaign
vermont
western mass
worcester

West Asia
Armenia
Beirut
Israel
Palestine

Topics
biotech

Process
fbi/legal updates
mailing lists
process & imc docs
tech