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MP hits out at ‘ducking and diving’

Michael Byrne
1/ 7/2005

ROCHDALE MP Paul Rowen has accused developers who want to build 600 houses on the former Turner's site of 'downplaying' the problems on the site.

Mr Rowen made the accusations in a House of Commons debate about asbestos on Tuesday after results of Health and Safety Executive tests on building rubble carried out on the site in March were revealed.

Mr Rowen said: "The onus is placed on the developer of any proposed development to furnish evidence and for the local authority to challenge and check that evidence.

"That can present opportunities for unscrupulous developers to downplay the problems. That has happened with the Turner and Newall site.

"Of the eight samples tested, three confirmed the existence of asbestos of up to one per cent, which is 10 times higher than the proportion that waste is classed as special waste.

"Yet in its planning submission Countryside Properties stated: 'Of particular note is the absence of any asbestos contamination' and in a meeting with local councillors earlier this year a Countryside spokesman and his expert witness said that tests on the rubble had all been negative."

Mr Rowen was also concerned about the role of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), the Environment Agency, the public health inspector, the Primary Care Trust and Rochdale Council in dealing with such sites.

He said: "There is a lack of co-ordination and clear policies - indeed, there is a lack of officer time - for dealing with a developer who is clearly ducking and diving and being less than honest about the problems on that site.

"A local authority planning officer who expressed his concerns about the development told me that the main way in which such developers can act is through gaps between HSE powers when works are undertaken and the local authority's powers through the planning system. Between the two there is a black hole of dealing with the problems at the TBA site."

Another local MP, Jim Dobbin, said: "The former Turner and Newall site has highlighted a massive deficit in health and safety regulations that is specific to the removal of asbestos. Development of the site should be postponed until a genuinely independent and reliable group of experts deems it to be safe."

Jim Fitzpatrick, a government minister, told Mr Rowen: "Planning permission will not be granted for the scheme unless all those involved in determining the application are completely satisfied about all aspects of the proposal, including the safety, human health and environmental issues it raises."

Mr Rowen has taken an aerial view of the site with campaigners from the Save Spodden Valley group.

Jason Addy, a group member, said: "We're very happy this issue has been raised in parliament. We're worried regulations regarding work on the site may not be strong enough and that the HSE can't be there to police it 24 hours per day.

"It's up to the people of Rochdale to make sure the decision makers have the information they need to deal with this. If things go wrong it will affect the whole town."

Ken Smith, from Rochdale Council's planning office, said: "When I referred to a black hole what I meant was there was no clarity over what powers existed for the council or the HSE to go onto the site and deal with problems that may come up, such as if asbestos became exposed."

Countryside Properties declined to comment.


| Submit CommentSubmit Comments | View CommentsView Comments(5)


Most recent 2 of 5 user comments

   What difference does it make if up to 1% asbestos is found in crushed rubble on the TBA Factory site? For MMC developments and Countryside Properties, it means paying to have this rubble removed to a landfill site as hazardous waste. If no asbestos was found they could sell or use the rubble as valuable hardcore. New laws starting on the 16th of this month state that asbestos waste containing over 0.1% is now classed as hazardous waste. Countryside Properties intend using 30,000 tons of infill from the demolition of the rest of the TBA site. This could result in the release of 300 tons of asbestos waste from the buildings alone. 2 million asbestos fibres can fit on a pin head. Sylvia Conway Rochdale
Sylvia Conway, rochdale
7/07/2005 at 22:43
   This fiasco has been going on for over a year now with a catalogue events that leaves Rochdale residents asking more questions with no answers. The whole point about the Turners site is that with it's history, comments from witnesses, the contamination already found, it's logical and sensible with health and safety in mind to assume that it there is large amounts of Asbestos contained in the site. No big deal this assumption, it's common sense and with the health implications probably the right one to start with. Hold on though, no notification of tree felling, denial of any Asbestos, then there is Asbestos, let's shut out the public, buy up web names, etc etc etc The latest I hear and have seen is rubble from the site being driven around the streets of Rochdale. To confirm my opening line, there seems to be no confirmation of exactly what amount of Asbestos there is in this rubble, it is there as confirmed by the HSE. The developers on the other hand say there is no trace and the HSE say there is!! What official body is investigating this and what are they doing to protect the public? From what I've read in the Observer and from past experiences with other issues on the site we are entering the "black hole" again i.e. we are on our own. How do I protect the health of my children in this impossible situation?
Dave Phillips, Rochdale
6/07/2005 at 09:32
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