Clean-up experts buy former Turners site New housing proposals could be back on table
ADERELICT site that was once home to the world’s largest asbestos firm is to be cleaned up following its purchase by a ‘specialist remediation company’.
The old Turner Brothers Asbestos factory, in Rochdale, has been bought by ESG Trading Limited - an outfit boasting ‘in-house experts, experienced at decontaminating and remediating complex brownfield sites’.
The 45-hectare site, off Spod Road, Spotland, has a long history of industrial use - including the manufacture of asbestos - dating right back to the 19th century.
Controversial plans to build 600 homes on the land were thrown out by Rochdale council in 2011, following a six year battle by campaigners who feared people’s health could be put at risk.
Planning permission was refused after MMC Estates failed to carry out a £500,000 investigation into contamination on the site.
But it would appear new housing proposals could soon be back on the table now the plot has changed hands.
Martin Greenwood, chairman at ESG, said: “The former Turner Brothers Asbestos site provides a potential opportunity to contribute to the future growth of Rochdale. But this can only be realised by a careful, considered and safe strategy to decontaminate, demolish and remediate the land.
“I am very aware of the sensitivities that have surrounded previous attempts to regenerate the site and my team are in ongoing discussions with Rochdale council, the Environment Agency and the Health and Safety Executive, to develop a remediation strategy that exceeds statutory requirements.”
Mr Greenwood added that residents may notice ‘increased activity’ across the site over the coming weeks.
“This vital survey work will inform the remediation strategy and has been agreed with regulators,” he said. “No remediation work will begin without all relevant approvals being in place.
“My team are also aware of the level of interest from the local community about the site.
“Whilst we do not have all of the answers at the moment, we look forward to introducing ourselves to local residents over the coming weeks and will take an open and transparent approach to information sharing.”
The news has already seen a plea for the new owners to be ‘responsible, open and transparent in their planning and actions’ from Norden councillor Peter Winkler.
However, posting on his Facebook page, the Conservative said the ‘signs were good’, given the firm’s commitment ‘to engage with the council, the environment agency and the public via local forums’.
A number of local residents, including Green Party campaigner Mick Coats, have previously called for the site to be turned into a country park.
But ESG’S reference to contributing to ‘future growth’ in the borough, suggests this is not in the firm’s plans.
Mr Coats said it remains his - and Rochdale Green Party’s - preferred option.
“It is because the cost of remediation we think would be totally prohibitive to anybody doing anything on it.
“But, again, we need more information.
“We are not saying we want this, that and the other but our preferred option has been the country park because that would benefit more residents and, secondly, we really don’t believe you could remediate it - you would have to spend millions.”
Mr Coats also called on the council to play its part in making sure residents are kept informed of any plans for the site.
“We are trying to be reasonable but when things come out of the blue like this it doesn’t give you confidence,” he said.
“There are a lot of questions and if they want to take people with them they need to involve people, consult people and ask their views
“We need more information and we need to be consulted - we live here.”
Councillor John Blundell, cabinet member for economy, has moved to reassure people that public safety will be the local authority’s top priority.
He said: “This site is not in the council’s land supply, the reason being it had a factory on it that made asbestos and has damaged the health of, and killed, lots of people in Rochdale.
“The council takes very seriously what goes on that site as the planning authority. What happens to the site, there are lots of different opinions on that. But ultimately it needs to be driven by people that know what they are talking about remediating asbestos.
“And before anything is done on the site - whether it’s a country park or land for housing - the site must be safe.”
Coun Blundell said that any planning application would be subject to the usual planning policies and procedures - including consultation - and that the authority would go ‘above and beyond’ when in comes to engaging with the public.
He added: “The council will act in a manner that means whatever happens the safety of the public will be the first priority.”
Residents and other interested parties can register to receive updates by visiting www.spoddenpark. com
The council also has a web page dedicated to the site, here: http://www. rochdale.gov.uk/pests-pollution-and-food/contaminated-land/pages/formerturner-brothers-asbestossite.aspx