Who would have realised that the developers were such idealists by their actions to date?

I wonder how many of the company directors would actually raise their families in homes on the site and if they would allow their children to live and play in the area while the land is being 'cleansed'?

   Dear Sirs,

Having read many articles over many months surrounding the former TBA site and following up from your recent piece in Wednesday's Observer, I'd like to add my twopeneth to the 'debate' if I may.

I'm somewhat at a loss to understand Jason Addy's objection to the site being developed. Surely a site cleared of the asbestos contamination is better than one left alone or am I missing something?

Save Spodden Valley is the campaign Mr Addy is running but save it from what exactly? It has been an industrial site for many years and there are still some businesses operating in the area. It isn't a beauty spot, nor in my lifetime has it ever been so. I played in the 'Spod' as a child, among the bubbling blue froth in the lifeless river and the stench of pollution that oozed from the bubbles. Thankfully all that is gone now and the river has fish instead of old rusting shopping trolleys.

Lets go the whole hog and clean up the surrounding area, build houses to finance the clear up. It seems like a no-brainer to me or as I said before - am I missing something?

   I have to see MMC's perspective on this, they themselves did not cause the contamination. However, the efforts (sometimes premature and apparently illegal in the case of some trees) to develop the site have given reason for that contamination to be disturbed and as a result, the public have a right to be concerned.

I'm sure in time, Rochdale will be the proud recipients of more needless industrial units, office space and homes in a not too appealling part of town.

I'd rather see the site properly capped and used for recreation and as a tribute for those who were affected by the work they did in the factories over the years.

   Oh boo hoo, blame Jason Addy! The whole idea was to make a quick buck with this land. We should be proud we have people like Jason in the town, prepared to stand up, inform and organize.