Parents have been cautioned about a location in Rochdale known as ‘Chernobyl’, situated within the abandoned Turner Brothers factory. The site is suspected to harbor hazardous fibres from its past use, posing a threat to trespassers. Incidents of unauthorized entry have escalated, with over 100 occurrences reported in October 2025 alone.
The frequency of breaches, averaging between 30 to 60 per month, surges during school holidays as groups of individuals, including urban explorers, persist in gaining access. Asbestos, formerly prized for its fire-resistant properties, is now recognized as a significant health risk, capable of causing severe respiratory conditions like asbestosis, mesothelioma, and lung cancer.
Owners of the site highlight the potential dangers of even brief exposure inside the premises, warning that fibres could be carried on clothing, endangering others long after leaving the area. Efforts to secure the site have been thwarted by persistent break-ins, resulting in visible damage to fences and surveillance equipment.
Spodden Park Ltd expressed concern over the repeated security breaches and emphasized the risks involved in entering the premises, including asbestos exposure and the possibility of collapsing structures. They stress the challenges emergency services would face in the event of a rescue operation.
Videos of urban explorations within the site have surfaced on platforms like YouTube, raising alarms among landowners. The situation is further exacerbated by ongoing incidents of illegal dumping, prompting appeals for witnesses to report such activities to the authorities.
In response to the trespassing issue, Spodden Park Ltd has not ruled out the possibility of legal action and urges parents to educate their children on the dangers associated with asbestos exposure and exploring derelict buildings. Once a prominent local employer, Turner Brothers’ site closure in the 1990s has since posed persistent environmental and redevelopment challenges.
Previous attempts to redevelop the area in 2004 and 2021 were unsuccessful due to contamination concerns and inadequate investigations by responsible parties. A fire incident in 2014 inflicted additional damage on the already precarious site, complicating its rehabilitation efforts.
