The former Littleborough Gas Works investigation
The site has a long industrial history dating back to the 19th century.
In 1865, Henry Newall formed the Littleborough Gas Company. Newall, a founding British Association of Gas Managers member, became the association's treasurer in 1866. By 1891, the gasworks included a retort house and two gas holders. Tully Gas Plants Ltd installed a Tully plant at the gasworks by 1923. The site came under the control of the NWGB in 1949, but production ceased in 1953.
The site covers approximately 1 hectare and is located about 5 miles northeast of Rochdale town centre, centred at OS Grid Reference SD 3935 4165.
About the investigation
The main law that councils use to manage contaminated land is Part 2A of the 1990 Environmental Protection Act (EPA). This law requires councils to inspect areas for land that may be contaminated.
Since this site was once a gas works, it might be considered contaminated. Consultants working for the council reported preliminary results showing elevated levels of certain contaminants. These initial findings are not unusual for former industrial sites, such as this one, which was previously the home of a gasworks.
As a precaution, the council closed the site to the public until further investigation was completed.
Updates on The Former Littleborough Gas Works investigation
- November 2024: The situation will be reviewed once further investigations are undertaken.