Browse Sections

• Education
• Special reports

Akso asbestos fears

22/12/2007

THE firm hoping to build more than 160 homes on the site of a former chemical works has sought to quell concerns about its proposals.

Bosses at Woodford Land say they are ‘very confident’ measures they intend to put in place will protect the public from asbestos contamination on the former Akzo Nobel plant in Littleborough.

The company has applied for outline planning permission to build 164 homes, a pub/restaurant, hotel and retail units at the Hollingworth Road site.

But the proposals have sparked protests from residents, who fear measures to decontaminate the land don’t go far enough.

Speaking a public meeting called by MP Paul Rowen to discuss the concerns, Dave Rix, managing director of Woodford Remediation, said any contaminated soil which could not be treated would be taken away to a hazardous waste tip with the rest being buried under a capping layer of soil and stone.

Woodford’s assurances were backed up by Rochdale Council’s contaminated land officer Mark Brown.

He said: "We are looking for a full remediation strategy which will detail how the problems will be addressed and I do not see any fundamental reason why that cannot be achieved."

Roger Chadwick, chairman of the Spotland Area Forum, is involved with the campaign against plans to build on the former Turner Brothers asbestos factory.

He said: "The Turner Brothers reports said there was a low level of asbestos on that site then we had the Atkins report which said it was one of the most contaminated sites in the UK. I say the Akzo site is highly contaminated and needs sorting out."

The planning application is expected to go before committee next month.