Asbestos site advert 'misleading'

Developers want to build a housing estate on the site

The firms bidding to re-develop a former asbestos factory for housing published a misleading advert, a watchdog has ruled.

MMC Estates and Countryside Properties sent out 50,000 brochures saying rubble on the Spodden Valley site in Rochdale, Gtr Manchester, was free of asbestos.

The Advertising Standards Authority has upheld three complaints from residents about the booklet.

It said it breached the code of honesty and truthfulness.

Campaigners fear any development at the former Turner and Newall site could disturb asbestos, which was dumped there.

'Comprehensive clean-up'

Three out of the five grounds for complaint about the published brochure were upheld by the ASA.

They related to "The Regeneration of Spodden Valley Community News Autumn 2005".

The ASA said claims the "the landowners, MMC Estates and the Rathbone Trust are committed to the comprehensive remediation (clean-up) of the entire site including the wooded area" was misleading.

The booklet also implied the owners of the site were a registered charity, the ASA ruled.

It also agreed that claims about levels of asbestos at the site were misleading.