By George Lythgoe

Copyright manchestereveningnews

The next steps in the story of ‘Rochdale’s Chernobyl’ are soon to be written following another update on the abandoned asbestos factory. The derelict ruin that sits on the side of the River Spodden was once the home of Turner Brothers factories. It has been abandoned since its closure amid the global asbestos scandal decades ago. In its heyday, the crumbling 75 acre site employed thousands of people in Rochdale . In recent months the new site owner, Spodden Park Ltd, have been battling against trespassers as well as trying to clean up the site. To see planning applications; traffic and road diversions and layout changes; and more, visit the Public Notices Portal HERE People known as ‘urban explorers’, who film themselves going into abandoned buildings and dangerous spots, have visited the site – showcasing the rubble and collapsed interior of the vast industrial complex on YouTube. The number of these intruders has decreased following the end of summer, the site owners have said. Despite this, they claim to be continually monitoring the site and fixing any perimeter breaches. The abandoned factory complex off Spod Road provides the ingredients of hazardous danger and eerie mystery in abundance – catnip for these urban explorers. The Manchester Evening News recently circumnavigated the site, spotting numerous gaps in the fencing . Bars on the high fence had been broken in three locations on the eastern edge of the site, which runs alongside a public footpath. One huge gap in the fence had been patched up. Once through there is clear access to the hazardous industrial area. The site owners have strongly urged the public not to enter the site due to a potential risk of asbestos exposure. The M.E.N also noticed rubbish dumped near the steps to the site from Rooley Moor Road. Spodden Park Ltd have said how they’re actively managing this ‘illegal fly-tipping’ to ensure the pedestrian footpath remains clear and pleasant for all. The eerie presence of the complex is only exacerbated by its history in asbestos manufacturing until the 1990s. Asbestos is a group of six naturally occurring, fibrous minerals that were once widely used in various products due to their resistance to heat, fire, and chemicals. The substance is now known to be a carcinogen, and exposure to asbestos fibres can lead to serious health problems, including mesothelioma and lung cancer. The site off Spod Road has long been eyed up for housing, but nothing has ever materialised. Locally the idea of a new development actually going ahead has been met with scepticism. Sources from within Rochdale council believe the future redevelopment would include hundreds of new houses as well as some form of green space. But nothing has been confirmed by Spodden Park Ltd. The site owners have revealed that they plan to run consultation on their development plans in 2026. However, no specific date has emerged so far. There have been long periods of uncertainty surrounding ‘Rochdale’s Chernobyl’, starting back in 2004 when controversial plans to build 650 homes, a children’s daycare centre and a business park on the land, were tabled. The proposals were eventually thrown out by Rochdale council in 2011. The next hope of development came through ESG in 2021 – which ended in disappointment. Planning permission was refused after MMC Estates failed to carry out a £500,000 investigation into contamination on the site. A few years later, in 2014, a fire ravaged a section of the factory buildings. Now Spodden Park Ltd are next in line to put forward their vision for the future of what is a hotly anticipated project. Before any building work could start, they would need to remediate the land and be granted planning permission by Rochdale Borough Council. Locally there is fear that major development, particularly with housing, could bring the deadly white asbestos dust back to their doorsteps. John Hainsworth has lived in and around Spotland all his life. He remembers watching the thousands of factory workers trudging down to Turners and back daily – usually covered in asbestos dust. Get news, views and analysis of the biggest stories with the daily Mancunian Way newsletter – sign up here Denise, John’s wife, described the area like a winter wonderland in its heyday because of the sheer abundance of the deadly white stuff. The married couple described the dilapidated site as an eyesore now, which is becoming more and more dangerous. “It is a ticking time bomb,” John previously told the M.E.N . “I remember when I was a child we used to walk from around here, through Turners to St Wilfred’s School. “There were about six of us there used to be but two of the lads have died with asbestos related illnesses, but none of us worked there. I’m worried because it’s there. “The dust used to be hanging off the trees, we used to call it winter wonderland.” A recent update from Spodden Park Ltd read: “Last month, we told you about our treatment of the invasive plant species on site. The Japanese Knotweed is now in its third treatment phase, and alongside the Himalayan Balsam, should soon be eradicated. “Our ecology consultants will be undertaking further bat monitoring surveys in October. Other surveys, including badgers, are now complete. “While we have made all this progress over the past few months, there are still further considerations to be made as we come to understand what will be feasible in the future. “Our ground remediation experts are continuing to assess the site. They will need to form a careful plan of action for managing the cleanup of the woodlands, the removal of waste material, and the demolition of buildings, amongst other tasks. “This is a huge job that we need to get right. We are very grateful for the patience of the community in this matter. “So that we can share more meaningful plans with you, we are planning to host a consultation in the new year, where we will present information on the proposed scheme and ask for your feedback. Once we have a clearer understanding of the timings, we will update the website and notify you via email.”