Trespassers warned of asbestos risk at old factory

The former Turner Brothers asbestos factory in Rochdale

A warning has been issued to trespassers who are continually breaking into an abandoned asbestos factory in Greater Manchester.

Site owners at The Turner Brothers factory met with Rochdale Borough Council to discuss public safety following repeated evidence of break-ins at the factory, including damage to perimeter fencing and CCTV cameras.

They said they had had an "ongoing battle" with "determined trespassers" in recent months who filmed the break-ins for social media platforms, and were urging the public to stay away from the potentially hazardous site.

Spodden Park Ltd said that by entering the site, "trespassers risk disturbing the material and put themselves at risk".

Part of the Turner & Newall (T&N) company, the factory was a pioneer in weaving asbestos fibres into cloth and grew into the world's biggest asbestos manufacturer.

The massive 75-acre (30-hectare) site next to the River Spodden has been abandoned since the 1990s, when asbestos production was outlawed.

But with asbestos still thought to be present, the now deserted site poses a public health risk to trespassers who have allegedly been hopping the fence.

'Urban explorers'

People known as "urban explorers", who film themselves going into abandoned buildings and dangerous spots, have frequented the site, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS)

Their videos have showcased the rubble and collapsed interior of the vast industrial complex on social media platforms.

The LDRS walked around the site in September, spotting numerous gaps in the fencing.

Bars had been broken in three locations on the eastern edge of the site, which runs alongside a public footpath. Once through the fencing, there is clear access to the hazardous industrial area.

A spokesperson for Spodden Park Ltd said: "We have recently met with the council and their community safety team. During the meeting, we discussed the challenges of securing the site against determined trespassers.

"We informed the council that the fence is being regularly damaged and that we have had incidents where CCTV cameras have been destroyed."

They said "several options for how we could work with the council to address these issues were raised".

"We want to remind everyone that asbestos is only dangerous if it is disturbed.

"By entering the site, these trespassers risk disturbing the material and put themselves at risk."

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.

There are no official planning proposals lodged yet, but Spodden Park Ltd have vowed to engage with locals on future development plans.

The area has long been eyed up for housing, but nothing has ever materialised.