'Contamination and dumping' fears at former mill site

Concerns raised as planning application discussed

- BY ROBBIE MACDONALD LOCAL DEMOCRACY REPORTER

FEARS about potential land contamination and accusations of 'unlicensed waste dumping' at a former Whitworth mill site have been raised over a plan to redevelop the location.

Concerns were raised at a Rossendale Council planning meeting over an application by Spenside Developments Limited for various work at the former Albert Mill site near Albert Street, Whitworth.

The company was granted permission with conditions by the council's development committee to reroute an existing culverted section of the River Spodden, block the existing culvert, allow daylight to reach the rerouted river and to re-profile land levels on the site.

Councillors granted approval, based on planning officers recommendations. But it came after input from various sides including accusations from Community First Coun Alan Neal.

Firstly, planning agent Peter Campbell, of Tetra Tech, represented Spenside Developments. He said: "We welcome the council planning officers' recommendation to approve this plan.

"This is about engineering works for the River Spodden to create daylight and a new alignment. Physical constraints have stifled the site, to date.

"In the past, a previous plan was put forward, including realigning the river, but that has expired.

"However the principal of this application is consistent with that.

"Future environmental and social benefits will include much-needed new homes on brownfield land, reopening the river to daylight and re-wilding.