SAVE THE SPOD !!

   well as i have not lived in rochdale for over 20 years, i cant have much off a say but i was born there and lived my first 25 years there and as a kid growing up healy dell was my play ground,made rafts on river cut through turners ,also went to shool over the dell from my home on ingslane. i also lived on daniel fold. anyway all i can say if healy dell is shut down what a sad thing for some people as it is a loveley place. thanks dave bamford

   The reasons given by MMC Estates, on Countryside properties website, for the road closure are bizarre - "unofficial land removal"? yet no evidence has been given to the Highways Department about such serious allegation.

-then BBC TV report that the amount in question was about a "shovelful"

The website also refers to "the high levels of rainfall we have been experiencing"

As preparations are made for hosepipe bans, has someone informed the Met Office of this weather phenomenon?

If the subject of asbestos contamination wasn't so very serious- the way that Countryside Properties and MMC Estates have been acting would be classed as a joke.

However, asbestos cancer is no laughing matter.

These comapnies should do some soul searching very quickly as well as looking into their moral responsibilities for a whole towns wellbeing.

   It is utterly ridiculous to suggest that local people are 'stealing' soil from the TBA site. A few weeks ago, we were accused of dumping asbestos on the site! It is only a matter of weeks since we were repeatedly told by MMC Developments and Countryside Properties that there was no asbestos on the site, now it appears that local people were correct all along, there is asbestos there. Closing the footpath for up to 18 months is nothing short of disgraceful. Being told that this is a health and safety issue is an insult. Surely if public health and safety was of such concern, then adequate safeguards would have been taken during the recent works on Woodlands Road. Do the developers think so little of local people that they seriously suggest that asbestos fibres will travel along the length of Woodlands Road, but that they will not spread in any other direction?

MMC and Countryside, you stand to make a vast profit from this development, it's time you stood up to your responsibilities.

   The council needs to act to deal with the illogical and inconsistent actions of MMC/Countrywide.

Any actions by MMC/Countryside need to be open to scrutiny by local people and to shut off such a large area when they have NO planning permission to build on the land is highly suspect.

Attending the Spotland forum the Thursday before the news of possible closure, no one from the planning department mentioned the closing off the area. This reinforces everyones' lack of confidence in the council and its' officers.

Perhaps we could have their reasons for keeping us in the dark and for them to agree to the closure.

   Who is going to monitor the disturbance to the asbestos on site and it's subsequent removal off site. Which of the 12 legitimate tips in the UK is the contractor going to use? There are huge costs involved in the safe and legal disposal of asbestos. Will the developers try to cut these costs by not owning up when they uncover asbestos waste during site clearance and excavation? There can be no room for doubt in this matter..........lives will be at risk. All for the sake of some people making an awful lot of money at our expense in the years ahead.

   The closure of the footpath is surely uneccesary.The developer should fence off their land and keep the right of way open. Very many people use this path every day to gain access to the nature reserve and the alternative suggested is a very long way round. The alternative along Spod Road and across to shawclough Road is just as near the site so how can it be any safer?

   i spent thirty years of my working life at T B A enjoyed it made lots of friends lots with the same service in as i had and some with more and still have some great nights out with lots of them most are now pensioners. i know one of my famely annd a few of my friendes died of asbestos related diseases i know the same applied in the cotton industrie and in coal mining . i do know asbestos is very very dangerous,i also know the top station as it was known.was were all the asbestos was deliverd befour going down to haritch mill. and it is realy good in my humble opineon that houses have already been built there. the asbestos as now been buried under tons of concrete and i ask you what is rong with trying to make the site clean and as much asbestos as possible removed. to who knows were? be cause you can not distroy it, thats why befour we found how dangerous it was it saved thousands of lives firemen ect. and not to forget how many lives it saved just becaus we had breaks on our vehicals. so please lets get some more under concrete. just one last comment lots of the protesters, were brought up on mony earned at T B A just like my five children was i know becaus i woked along side there mum and dads and eaven some of them are to be counted amongst the protesters

   What utter rubbish the developers are spouting! They disturbed the soil in the first place and any release of asbestos is down to them. The residents know the danger in the soil and would not not want to harm themselves. The developers have not even got planning permission to build so why are they intent on closing the road? One can only think it is so the residents can not see what they are doing?

   Regarding the closure of Woodland Road. How can Countryside Properties ask for a road closure when they haven't even got planning permission, and they don't expect a hearing for their planning application for at least another 6 months? This company has a knack of gaining planning permission across the UK on sensitive sites. They see what they want to see. For months they have dismissed reports of asbestos on TBA land while plans were drawn up. What have they now found that warrants closing this road for 18 months? The council, and planners seem to be bending over backwards to help Countryside Properties get their plans through. Local people will have to travel by car or take a bus to Healy Corner if they want to gain access to the Dell. To sum up, the developers have so far: * Destroyed 2 acres of woodland * Denied danger if the site is disturbed * Accused residents of putting asbestos on the land * Attempted the takeover of local website. * Refused independent testing of soil samples by local SSV group. Between the council, the planners and the developers we are all being taken for fools. If the situation is so bad that the only way into Healy Dell is to be closed for 18 months, then it is time to call in the government, it cannot be left with private developers and offshore accounts. CHESTY

   Countryside Properties application to close Woodland Road is suspect to say the least. What kind of work requires the road closed for 18 months? Taking samples and investigative work is not dangerous to the public if carried out correctly. In 1995 Wimpey Environmental Ltd. took 5 weeks to complete a site survey along Woodland Rd. with minimum disruption of the soil. They sampled 148 locations! Rochdale Council placed Countryside's planning application on hold until important issues are addressed. So this application to close the road is the wrong way around. You would normally get planning permission first, and then apply for road closure to carry out remedial work. What happens if planning permission is not granted in 6 months time? Will the road stay blocked for 18 months? In 1995 TBA was granted planning permission to close Woodland Road for motor traffic. This road into Healy Dell is now classed as a pathway. Too often a road is closed for a long period such as this, the time is then an extended, and the road is never reopened. Closing this road for 18 months could lead to permanent closure. Let's not forget the 200 trees destroyed on the side of this road. If this happened again and the roads were closed, residents would be barred from protesting. ps. Soil stealing - what sort of feeble excuse is that for closing a road, Come on you planners tell us the real reason

   Surely the more people looking the better?

   Public safety would be far better served by Countryside Properties if they put peoples lives first and walked away from this development NOW, before one more life is lost or one more family is ripped apart by asbestos. Yes they can close the road but we still know what is going on, reckless remediation. I have just returned home from a lung function test, routine and stress free you'd think. It takes on a whole new meaning when you've watched someone you love picking black pieces of the tongue off shortly before they die of Mesothelioma, just one more Turner Brothers statistic. Stop this NOW before it is too late.

   What a farse, this company are trying to lie and cheat the people of Rochdale. Get Real we are wise to your tricks, there are homes over looking this road, if we are stopped from walking, riding, cycling, etc., on this road we can still see what it is you are trying to hide.

   if the path is a danger to the pubblic, i cant think of a grater danger then built 650 homes and a children nursury on the site. this all idea is crazy.