What a blooming nerve!

Gareth Harkness

A councillor had accused Oldham Council of snubbing parts of a village competing in a top national award.

Garth Harkness said villagers in Delph had been kicked in the teeth over the route judges would take in the Britain in Bloom competition.

A meeting of Saddleworth and Lees District Partnership agreed to revise the route to include a short diversion down King Street/Church Street and Garside Street.

Councillor Harkness said: “Since then a lot of work, time and money has been spent in and around the centre of Delph with some plants provided by the council.

“It seems strange to now go back and miss it out. I know the competition can’t go everywhere but it is a great disappointment the route now seems to have been changed back to its original route.

“It was only a tiny detour. It is a kick in the teeth when people have worked hard and spent money.”

But Glenn Dale, Oldham Council group manager of environmental services at Alexandra Park, said: “Decisions regarding the route have to be altered even at a minute’s notice to ensure where we go and what judges’ see enables us to gain the highest number of points. If they come across anything negative then we are marked down.

“There are major building works taking place in Holland Close, Delph, that will not only affect the score but seriously delay our ability to get the judges around in the maximum 31/2 hours. Once the 31/2 hours are up the judges could refuse to see anything further and I want to give us the best chance to meet all the criteria and finish on time.”

The judges’ first visit will be on Monday followed by national judging day for Britain in Bloom on Thursday, July 31.