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Villagers challenge store’s application
Reporter: LEWIS JONES
Date online: 30 June 2010
Heritage row over demolished arch
Villagers from Greenfield are pleading with Tesco to rebuild the landmark Wellington Mill arch that has already been demolished.
As part of original planning consent, the supermarket giant has to incorporate the arch and original building facade into the design of the new store on Chew Valley Road.
But tomorrow Tesco will ask the council’s planning committee to remove the obligation to rebuild the landmark and instead install a display board charting the history of the building.
Mike Rooke, from the Greenfield and Grasscroft Residents’ Association, said: “It is not acceptable — a display board would be virtual heritage rather than the real thing.
“If this is accepted it will set a dangerous precedent for future decisions about the site.
“Tesco would save thousands in not rebuilding the arch and that should go to the community as compensation if they don’t put it back.”
Tesco said that the proposed relocation of the frontage has hit troubles due to an existing sewer and complications with the foundations required to rebuild the feature.
The supermarket would also need approval from United Utilities, which would require access to the sewers for future maintenance.
Due to an email sent in favour of the objections, Councillor Mike Buckley will not vote at the meeting. He said: “This new move is an insult, 99 per cent of what was there has been lost and this was just a token, and now they’re not even prepared to offer that.
“It has stood there since the 1850s and was named after the Duke of Wellington. I’ll be extremely sad to see it go. Yet another piece of our local heritage that could be lost.”
Saddleworth Parish Council recommended approval of the application.
Comments
Stop the moaning and dithering, just get the store built as quickly as possible and save me and others a journey to Oldham. Like many (often unheard) villagers I'm happy to see it built - to hell with the Luddites. They can shove up a new arch made of reconstituted stone and name it after Howard Sykes for all I care.
Hello Hello Hello. What do we have here - They elected person(s) running rough shod over their electors and allowing things to happen that should not happen! Nice!
Look where you vote has got you! Heretige will cease to exist to appease the Gods of Commercialism!
well then! heres a challenge for ombc! lets see how much they value the areas heritage by making contractors build structure that are sympathetic to the area and incorporate old features like this!
after all a few years ago the old labour ran ombc held morrisons to build the sypathetic design of their failsworth store by incorporating the original style of marlborough mill that had been demolished previously.
tell them it's either that or no store at all!
Too often applicants for planning permission agree to include features which they hope will help them get the result they want. The Council needs to see that the developer keeps to what has been promised. There is a similarity here to the Royal George Mills development, where it was agreed that a suite of offices [never a commercial prospect] could be turned into a large house. I see no reason why Tesco couldn't design a store which has at least some distinctive features related to the area.
Oldham does not do "preserve the heritage" where the Saddleworth villages are concerned.
Tesco saves money, that's all Tesco are interested in, so make them pay if they do not want to keep to the agreement to keep whatever.
Perhaps the G.G.R.A. will only be fully satisfied when the old Barrets' site and the Wellington mill are fully restored to their former derelict glory!
My friend has been patiently waiting for the new Tesco to arrive. An arrival that will save her the weekly bus journey to either Ashton or Oldham to load herself up with the family shopping and struggle back with half a dozen heavy bags.
Please G.G.R.A. Let the people have the store they so desperatley need and stop meddling with their lives.
Tesco has deliberately flouted the agreed plannign consent and the development should not be allowed to go ahead unless they adhere to the plans that were passed.
What sewers? Come on Tesco you are not going to rebuild the arch on wellington road where the sewer pipe runs.
Sound like a money saving scam to me.Lets see if o.m.b.c. have the guts to stand up to them-erm--?????
Why di Saddleworth Parish Council support the tesco application? Clearly they have no interest in makign sure parts of the heritage of Saddleworth are preserved.
maybe the people of saddleworth need to remember this next time the ballot boxes open.
IS IT THE VILLAGERS OR THE SHOP OWNERS KICKING UP A FUSS TO TRY AND PROTECT THERE PROFITS THE CO-OP GOT TO BE ONE OF THE DEAREST SHOPS AROUND, MAYBE THE NEW STORE WILL STIR UP SOME COMPETITION WITH OR WITHOUT ITS ARCH.
Have Your Say
If it was a condition of the planning consent, then Tesco's should replace it, whatever the cost. Would the council allow a private individual to get away with it?
The planning officers at Oldham Council will do anything to please Tesco.
By Chron13 @ 30/06/2010 13:01:29