By Gayle Buckley, NO to South Hindley Masterplan (formerly NO to South Hindley Urban Village)
During a Wednesday lunchtime on the 11th July 1979, a massive explosion occurred at Turner Brothers Asbestos in Hindley Green, Wigan. Staff ran for their lives from an inferno that sent smoke and flames 200 feet above the factory. The fire started in a two-storey warehouse used by a Chorley based transport company, Jacob Haworth. It is believed sparks from welding in the neighbouring Ward & Goldstone premises ignited cotton bales, minerals, plastic and polyurethane which burned for 48 hours before it was finally extinguished. The entire building was demolished over coming months with final damage estimated at up to £10M. We will never know what was contained in the fabric of the building from the time it was used processing asbestos. During the event, black acrid smoke covered Hindley, Hindley Green, Bickershaw and surrounding areas. Toxic ash settled throughout the locality. It is conjecture that the fire and prevailing winds spread toxic contamination across a wide area resulting in serious health problems to local residents.
Roll forward a few decades, the contaminated land has rewilded providing a wildlife-rich landscape where shrub roots hold toxins safely underground. Former coal lines form wildlife corridors between woodland and nature reserve, dotted with spectacular reminders of Victorian architecture by way of remnants of bridges and station. You could be forgiven for forgetting this was once an industrial heartland containing a deadly secret.
This equilibrium could soon be destroyed by the South Hindley Masterplan, a scheme by Avison Young (Peel Holdings) to redevelop 112ha of land despite concern that this will expose the long buried asbestos. Ground investigation works by Arcadis were conducted in 2017, yet out of 193 samples, only 113 were tested. The committee representing the community objections asked why the majority of digs for asbestos were less than ½ metre deep. Arcadis documents highlight where ground was dug deeper yet only the 0.2 top section was tested for asbestos unless fibres were found, whereas other contaminant tests were done deeper. Maybe Arcadis were looking for airborne fibres that settled rather than dumped in buried waste. Turner Brothers Asbestos had a sister company in Rochdale that buried asbestos in mineshafts. There are over 40 mineshafts within this site – Why have these not been checked?
In February of this year the committee requested a Freedom of Information from The Mining Remediation Authority to ascertain if the Coal Authority have liaised with Peel Holdings, Avison Young or Wigan Council in relation to the proposed development regarding the securing of mineshafts, nature of stand-off zones and contamination. They say they have not had any contact with Peel Holdings or Avison Young however have commented twice on the planning application. The response included “Any activity such as ground investigations or groundwork that intersects or interacts with any unworked coal, coal mine workings or entries requires a permit from the Mining Remediation Authority. To date we have received no permit applications for this development”.
A site close by was recently developed. Despite being only 3ha, 14 trial pits were dug up to 3.6m deep and 6 bore holes to 4m deep. South Hindley site is 112ha, so a dig for contamination would require over 700 holes throughout entire site to achieve a fair comparison. In 2017 the committee contacted the smaller landowners within the site requesting authorisation to employ a private drilling company to test for asbestos in the hope that independent samples could alleviate growing concern. Permission was denied.
During a recent public meeting, the committee revealed historical company-inside-documents from 1969 to 1983 proving Turner Brothers Asbestos inadequacy and disregard for public safety pertaining to asbestos cover up. Concern about conditions imposed by local health authorities involving additional expenditure to customers trumped the urgency to remove crocidolite – fibres from the JW Roberts Blue Spray Operation. Despite scrapings of 12”, heavy rain revealed more blue fibre had risen to the surface. During October 1981, the HSE ordered area be covered with 12-18″ of boiler ash and reseed, however Turner Brothers argued that this was not a practicable proposition in view of the high cost (£2600.00). When the boiler ash was finally applied, a document from August 1983 entitled “Covering of disturbed land” included correspondence noting that despite work being signed as “Job complete”, further blue asbestos has been found. The solution advised … “HOSE CONCRETE DOWN”.
Historical documents such as these evidence a 1970’s tick box challenge to save face, and as such, who believes we are going to be protected by new 21st century profit-driven development companies sneaking around legislation? Press articles regarding Turner Brothers have all but vanished. Without the memories of elderly residents reminiscing about playing with the Turner marbles, recollection of those who witnessed the fire, former employee accounts, this terrible history could be erased as fast as residents have been lost to the ravages of this disaster. Only recently a local councillor branded the asbestos contaminated land as “Urban Myth/Conspiracy Theory” despite committee members losing loved ones to mesothelioma.
A recent documentary on BBC Wales entitled “Britain’s Toxic Secret” questioned if authorities are hiding our toxic past and to what cost. The industrial heritage has left a toxic legacy as chemicals leak out of old mines. Plans for a public register of contaminated sites were ditched. Councils often state they are unaware of land contamination therefore areas not remediated before homes may have been built. Government funding for clear ups has been scrapped. Councils stopped inspections because they don’t want to run the risk of finding contamination.
Despite health risks and community fears, a refreshed planning application submitted to Wigan Council will be determined very soon. One can only hope that decision makers understand the devastation caused by mesothelioma and choose health over profit.
