Top O’ Slate, Haslingden
Site Description
The REMADE site at Top O’ Slate is sited in a highly visible location on a hilltop above Haslingden. There are two distinct parts to the site with Top O’ Slate to the south and Duckworth Clough to the north.
The southern part of the site at Top O’ Slate is a former sandstone quarry which has several spoil heaps around its edge and appears derelict with evidence of tipping. Adjoining it to the north is a rough grassed area, with tree planting and several informal paths.
Duckworth Clough occupies the northern part of the site and consists of a former landfill site which has recently been reclaimed and planted with trees. To the east on the hillside of Cribden Moor is a tree plantation which currently has no public access.
Grid Reference: 379148 423649
Size: 33ha
Site Boundary
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Boundary 
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Current Status
The southernmost part of the site has until recently been used as a tip for highway maintenance waste and for composting by Rossendale Borough Council. Around the southern boundary of the site are the remains of spoil heaps from the former quarrying activities, partially covered by heather but also eroded through the use of scramble bikes. Areas of this part of the site also show the presence of invasive species such as Himalayan Balsam and Japanese Knotweed and there is also evidence of fly-tipping. Several sections of the stone boundary wall surrounding the site have also been demolished.
The reclaimed quarry immediately to the north of Top O’ Slate tip is tree planted with several poorly drained informal paths. However, the boundaries to this part of the site are in poor condition with stone walls in need of repair, especially along Cribden End Lane. There is also fly-tipping occurring.
An area of Duckworth Clough is still used as a household recycling centre. The reclaimed landfill site has been tree planted with new fencing erected around its boundaries, new signage erected and several informal grass paths created. The areas of conifer woodland to the south and east of the landfill site at Duckworth Clough are in need of management and have no public access. The conifer block to the east is steeply sloping, poorly drained and requires new boundary fencing.
Previous Use
Top O’ Slate quarry and the area immediately to the north were originally sandstone quarries which were subsequently used for landfill. Top O’ Slate has been used for the tipping of various substances including domestic refuse & waste from the construction of roads.
The former quarry to the north has been the subject of general landfill tipping and for the disposal of paints and solvents. Other unauthorised hazardous substances have also been tipped on this part of the site which led to the waste licence for the site being revoked and Rossendale Borough Council reclaiming it in 1984.
Proposed Use
The REMADE scheme at Top O Slate aims to reclaim the current tip site for informal recreation uses and create public access into the site, improve boundary features, provide interpretation facilities, undertake landscaping and heather planting. It is also proposed to provide a disabled car park with 4 spaces at the entrance to the site. The area occupied by spoil heaps around the southern edge has also been identified as the location for the siting of the ‘Halo’ panopticon. Halo is an 18m diameter circular steel structure raised off the ground on a tripod and lit at night, intended to create a stricking piece of public art and a new landmark for Rossendale. ‘Halo’ is one of 6 panopticon structures intended to celebrate the East Lancashire Regional Park. To find out more about 'Halo' go to the Panopticons website.
It is proposed that within the northern and eastern areas of the site at Duckworth Clough improved public access including new footpaths, woodland management, new boundary fencing, signage, landscaping and potential interpretation facilities will be created.
Aerial Photo
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Design and Consultation
A steering group was set up early in 2004 to progress the REMADE scheme and Halo Panopticon at Top O’ Slate. Partners on the steering group include REMADE, Rossendale Borough Council, Rossendale Leisure Trust, Mid Pennine Arts, local members of the community. Groundwork Rossendale are also members of the steering group and they have been appointed to undertake the outline design for the site and secure additional funding for the project.
Extensive public consultation has taken place on the project since early 2004 to gain local people’s views on the project. Public consultation events held include:-
- February 2004 - Public consultation event at Alder Grange High School, Rawtenstall;
- April 2004 - Public consultation event at Mary Hindle Resource Centre, Haslingden;
- December 2004 - Community event at Bacup Market where the public were invited to make Christmas Halos and Panopticon flyers distributed; and
- December 2004 - Halo public consultation exhibitions held at Haslingden Library, Haslingden Sports Centre, Rawtenstall Tourist Information Centre, Ski Rossendale Café, Bacup Victorian Craft fair, Haslingden Community Primary School, Rawtenstall Market & Haslingden Flea Market.
A visualisation event was also held on the 5th & 6th February 2005 where a blimp was flown at the proposed location and height of the Halo to help assess its visual impact upon Haslingden and also where it could be seen from further afield.
The feedback received from the public consultation events influenced the outline design produced for the scheme by Groundwork Rossendale. The draft plans for the site were exhibited at Haslingden Library in February 2005 and information packs including feedback forms were available at this event. Further amendments to the design of the scheme were made following this event, which led to the submission of a planning application for the scheme in June 2005.
View the final outline design for Top
O’ Slate (size
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Clough (size
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Work-in-Progress
The scheme received planning permission on the 11th October 2005. The design was completed in October 2006 and the works contract for the scheme was let to Cumbrian Industrials Ltd.
A planning application was submitted to Lancashire County Council in February 2007 for the erection of a wind turbine at the site to power the lighting for Halo. This was approved in March 2007.
Initial work on site started on the 18th December 2006 while the main works commenced in January 2007. The earthworks and land reclamation element of the scheme were completed in April 2007. The main Halo structure including lighting and the construction of the wind turbine were completed in September 2007. The entire site is now open to the public and a leaflet showing walks to Top o' Slate is available at local Tourist Information Centres or can be downloaded here (size 1.89mb)
Opening Event
The opening event for the Top o' Slate reclamation scheme and Halo Panopticon took place on the 20th September 2007. After speeches by Hazel Harding (Leader, Lancashire County Council), Nick Hunt (Director Mid Pennine Arts), Wayne Hemmingway and other project partners a procession was led up to the site. Once at Top o' Slate a poetry reading took place before a male voice choir ushered in the lighting of Halo.
Panoramas
Below is a 360 degree panorama of the Top o' Slate site taken on a grey October day. The panorama includes the Halo Panopticon, landscaping features, wind turbine, heather planting and the view point. To move the panorama, place the mouse cursor inside the panorama hold down the left mouse button and move the mouse up, down, left and right. To zoom in and out use the + and - buttons on the menu bar.
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