PUBLICATION OF THE ATKINS REPORT

That this House welcomes the publication of the Atkins Report into asbestos and non-asbestos contamination at the former TBA site at Spodden Valley; judges the Report to be a thorough appraisal of the land contamination data available for the site; notes that brown, blue and white asbestos has been found in varying levels across the site; further notes that some areas, including those intended for housing and other buildings, have not been adequately tested; regrets that the applicant did not provide a human health risk assessment for asbestos exposure in support of the outline planning application; endorses the Report's recommendation of further extensive testing on the site before planning consent is given to develop the site; condemns the methods of and information provided by the developers of the site; and congratulates the tireless work of Rochdale Council and the Save Spodden Valley Group in exposing these deficiencies.