Concerned parents protest against Spodden Valley Plans

Date published: 07/02/2005

Local Parents concerned about recent events in the Spodden Valley have organised a protest. Dozens of children will be leading people from all generations to Rochdale Planning Department on Tuesday 8 February at 11.30am.

Some wearing masks, others in fancy dress, the young protesters will be handing in letters of objection to Rochdale Council about plans to build 650 homes and a children's nursery on the site of what was the World's largest asbestos textile factory. Many children have drawn their own posters.

A post lady will also be carrying a bulging mail sack to the Planning Department- hundreds of objection letters are expected to be sent.

The children will also be carrying pots with young broadleaf trees. Last year, the new owners of the former asbestos factory site, MMC Developments Ltd / Rathbone Jersey Ltd cleared felled acres of broadleaf woodland in a weekend. This was during nesting season. The site is the gateway to Healey Dell nature reserve. National house building firm Countryside Properties have applied to build homes and a neighbourhood centre (including Children's nursery) on the destroyed woodland sites.