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Residents fear that wildlife will get the chop

Bethan Dorsett
21/ 5/2004

ENRAGED homeowners are calling for action against developers, who chopped down dozens of trees near a former asbestos factory.

An investigation has been launched after men armed with chainsaws started work at the former Turner's site, off Rooley Moor Road, Spotland.

It sparked fierce protests from residents who claim the move has endangered local wildlife, including badgers, owls and foxes.

They fear the work may unsettle asbestos deposits that could be in the ground.

Resident Jason Addy has announced the launch of the Save Spodden Valley action group, which meets this Tuesday at Spotland Methodist Church (7.30pm).

Mr Addy, of Rooley Moor Road added: "We welcome responsible development of the site, which will be a great asset to the community."

"But we were horrified to see whole rows of trees being felled and have expressed concerns about the wildlife."

Joanne Bottomley, of Dell Side Way, was upset to see a patch of ground the size of a football pitch covered in tree stumps.

She said: "It was completely out of the blue and I am thoroughly disgusted."

The council's land use team is seeking an urgent meeting with developers to discuss concerns.

The trees are not under council protection, but the Forestry Commission is also examining whether the developers had a sufficient licence for the work.

But environmental health officers say they will not be taking enforcement action over asbestos but will continue to monitor the situation.

The site is now owned by MMC Developments Limited & Rathbone Jersey Limited.

An MMC spokesman said: "The former TBA site in its heyday employed many thousands of people."

"As a consequence of manufacturing decline and the contaminated condition of areas of the site, just a few hundred jobs remain."

"This massive site is therefore regarded as 'a problem site.'"

"Any successful regeneration must find alternative uses and following discussions with the council, the site was defined as an 'area of opportunity' for a mixed use 'urban village' type development, comprising primarily employment and residential development supported by an appropriate level of ancillary uses."

"This will be supported by an environmental impact statement."

"MMC is a local developer responsible for the sympathetic council-backed regeneration of other sites within the borough, and has commenced some clearance works involving the felling of trees which are not protected by tree preservation orders."

"Protected trees have been and will continue to be protected and some fencing works have already been carried out to protect key areas."

"The development proposal will include a number of areas of public recreational land and extensive areas of new planting, serving prospective site residents and workers, plus residents living in the locality."

"The new scheme will be an exciting, high quality, sustainable development, which will clearly be a vast improvement in environmental, visual and amenity terms over current conditions, and will significantly benefit the local area and create many new jobs."