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Full statements from both MDs


21/ 9/2005

THE managing directors of the site owners and the site developers have released statements to the Observer …

Michael Drogan, managing director of MMC Estates, landowner of the TBA site, said:

"We would like to apologise to local residents for the confusion and concern our actions have caused since our purchase of the site in 2004. We recognise that this has brought about a sense of mistrust and has undermined our ability to work with the community.

"We are addressing this and plan to communicate more openly and regularly in future.

"Following the completion of technical investigations, which have now been published, we recognise that there is significant asbestos contamination in areas of the woodland area and have evidence of pockets of contamination in other parts of the site.

"We are now working with our specialist consultants, Encia, to prepare a remediation strategy - that is, a programme to 'make safe' the asbestos onsite.

"Encia have supplied Rochdale Council and their consultants with their initial findings and we look forward to working with them to develop the appropriate strategy."

Ian Kelley, managing director of Countryside Properties (Northern), said:

"Following further investigations, we recognise that there has been miscommunication surrounding the levels of asbestos contamination across the site for which we would like to apologise.

"Concerns about health, safety and the future are very real and we must be sure to clearly address them. We are determined to ensure that we communicate openly and clearly with local residents about the future of Spodden Valley and the Turner Brothers site.

"Countryside Properties has always maintained that we will not exercise our option to purchase the site unless and until the site has been fully remediated to the satisfaction of the Environment Agency, the Health and Safety Executive and Rochdale Council and planning consent has been obtained.

"We do sincerely believe that remediation of the site is the best way forward for the community and there is no question that this sort of industrial site should be redeveloped."


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Most recent 2 of 3 user comments

    MMC and Countryside Properties say they are now going to listen to local people, but will they act on information given to them. Residents told them of the asbestos on site, but they constantly denied that asbestos was a problem. Why should our lives and future health be in the hands of developers who have deliberately covered up the truth from residents? The council should be protecting the people of Rochdale. Knowing its past history, this site should never have been put forward as suitable for housing. The developers were going to crash on and build on this land. Who would be left with the problem if some poor soul buying their dream home then develops asbestosis? Will MMC and Countryside Properties still be around to compensate the victims. Sylvia Conway
Sylvia Conway, rochdale
29/09/2005 at 12:04
   SAVE SPODDEN VALLEY STATEMENT IN FULL: We welcome the developers' apparent acknowledgment of past wrong doing- but actions do speak louder than words - and the past 18 months have seen some very questionable activity from them, including: the destruction of woodlands and wildlife habitats; the public denial of exposed asbestos on the site; the 'e-jacking' of campaign website names; the omission of positive asbestos test results to councillors- to name but a few. The statement from the Meredith Thomas public relations company regrets past 'miscommunication' about asbestos contamination - unfortunately this site may require the scrutiny of medical doctors rather than spin doctors. The international significance of the Spodden Valley is now being recognised. We must have a full, independent investigation of all the facts and issues raised. That is why we are calling on the Office of Deputy Prime Minister for an Inquiry. The Save Spodden Valley campaign seeks a positive and permanent solution to contamination. Future generations of Rochdalians could pay the ultimate price if this is not done properly. Safe remediation is a legal requirement, not a 'favour' to the town in return for building hundreds of houses. For the developers to say the only way to clean up the site is by allowing 600+ homes to be built is tantamount to blackmail. The developers' 'mistake in communication' is minor when compared to the potential damage to public health if mistakes are made and contamination is released from the Spodden Valley. One further cancer death caused by asbestos from that site is one too many. Safety before profit - is that too much to ask?
Jason Addy, Save Spodden Valley
26/09/2005 at 18:29
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