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Residents not at risk from rubble

Tina Curran
24/11/2005

FEARS over the movement of contaminated rubble from a controversial asbestos site in Rochdale through Middleton have been met with assurances of safety.

Following a plea from Middleton's MP, Jim Dobbin, to the Prime Minister to find out what measures would be taken to make sure that the removal of the rubble was safe, the Environment Agency and Health and Safety Executive (HSE) issued a joint statement to alleviate fears.

The removal was expected to take place on Tuesday and yesterday (Wednesday), in which 3,500 tonnes of asbestos-contaminated material would be taken from Rochdale, through Middleton and into Bury where it would be dumped.

Asbestos, the killer dust which has caused the suffering of thousands of ex-workers, contains tiny light-weight microbes which cause extensive damage to the body.

At least 3,500 people in the UK die each year from mesothelioma and asbestos related lung cancer as a result of past exposure to asbestos.

The Environment Agency and HSE said it had worked together to make sure that when rubble was removed by, owners of the site, Federal Mogul from the ex-Turner and Newell site at Rooley Moor Road, it would be done in accordance with the relevant law so that the workers involved and local people would be safe.

Objections from Rochdale group, Save Spodden Valley, have focused on the lack of information about the levels of asbestos that the rubble contains and its potential affects on the surrounding community.

The rubble comes from buildings that were demolished a few years ago and subsequent testing has found it contains very low amounts of chrysotile asbestos, according to the HSE statement.

But Federal Mogul agreed to remove the asbestos-containing rubble as if it were hazardous waste to a permitted landfill site.

It was assured that the health risk to locals was very low and that the material had been safely disposed of in a specially prepared cell at the Bury site.

And HSE also promised to make a visit to the site while the rubble was removed to check that Federal Mogul used appropriate methods of work and that the release of asbestos fibre was minimised.


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Most recent 2 of 9 user comments

   Mr Addy, I stand by my previous post, that it is the proposal of 600+ new homes that is the beef of you and your army of campaigners. That much I do know. If, as your campaign says, the new properties would be such a health issue, surely it would be wiser to build the houses. After the negative publicity, nobody in their right mind will want to live in them, the result being Countryside Properties would be the main losers ??" IN THEIR POCKETS. Alternatively, is it the rumours that some of the new houses may be council owned properties, that is giving you and your nimbys ants in your pants?
Geoff Entwhistle, Rochdale
8/02/2006 at 17:19
   Mr Entwistle. You are entitled to your opinion but please do not attempt to peddle such unsubstantiated views as fact. -Who have you spoken to in the Save Spodden Valley campaign that has 'confided' to you that they are 'closet NIMBYs'.

NIMBY - "Not in My Backyard" The term of abuse used by property speculators and their ilk in vain attempts to make people look narrowminded.

This ain't leafy Hampshire Mr Entwistle- Our concerns are real and legitimate.

As a community, we have have lived with the asbestos factory 'in our backyards' for decades. We now live with an eyesore 'in our backyards'. We have the potential for tens of thousands of tonnes of dumped asbestos 'in our backyards'. Yet there have NEVER been calls made to have it removed. This asbestos needs to be undisturbed and encapulated in a safe and permanent way. Hardly NIMBYism.

The Spodden Valley issues concern the whole Borough- For instance: when asbestos factory rubble left the site and was driven through Heywood town centre - we were vocal- FOR THE PEOPLE OF HEYWOOD - hardly the work of NIMBY's.

Sticks and stones Mr Entwistle- obviously this health and safety campaign is upsetting you. The truth is coming out about the site and safe decisions will be made.

Petty name calling and unsustantiated allegations against a campaign that has widespread support won't wash.

Jason Addy, Rochdale
1/02/2006 at 08:40
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