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250-strong protest against Foxdenton plans
Reporter: KAREN DOHERTY
Date online: 08 January 2013
A MASSIVE protest group last night packed a meeting against proposals for a business park and homes on a large swathe of green land in Chadderton.
The 250-plus opponents queued down the street to get into Nimble Nook Sports and Social Club to speak out on the future of the 110-acre site.
Mike Luft, chairman of Thatch Leach Residents’ Association, said: “In the 40-odd years I have lived in Thatch Leach I have never seen the community come together and express its concerns as it has tonight.
“There is no doubt the council will have to listen to us. They will have to respond in a positive way. No amount of bullying will divert us from our concerns.”
The land, roughly bounded by Foxdenton Lane, Broadway, Radclyffe Athletics Centre and Firwood Park and containing three farms, is next to Kingfisher and Radclyffe schools and the Newman College.
Oldham Council is working with a private developer to create the building plan for a 74-acre business park and up to 380 homes. Foxdenton Limited Liability Partnership, a joint venture between Grasscroft Property and Seddon Group, has options on a substantial proportion of the land. The council also owns some of it.
Residents are concerned about the loss of the open space and local wildlife, worsening existing drainage problems, flooding, increased traffic, road safety and the future of a riding school.
They also object to the site’s proximity to the historical Foxdenton Park and Hall.
Christina Gater, part of the small group of residents which organised the meeting, fears a planning application will be submitted next month.
“I knew there would be a lot of people tonight, but I thought maybe 100. It just shows how many people are upset by what’s going on. They are absolutely devastated.”
Roger Pakeman, secretary of Oldham and Saddleworth Green Party, said: “This will wipe out a large area of what is not quite green belt land, but a valuable amenity. The Green Party is not against industrial development, but is there a need for additional industrial development in Oldham?”
The group plans to set up a website and a committee, and is appealing for anyone with expertise in areas such as law and planning to help. The next meeting is planned for a month’s time at the same venue.
Councillor Dave Hibbert, Cabinet member for housing, transport and planning, said the council doesn’t have any plans for the land: “We may have to come to terms with the fact that something will happen “I have made a commitment as the Cabinet member that whatever goes on there in the future - and it could be years and years off - I will work with local councillors and local residents to make sure everybody has an input.”
Comments
Well done to all who attended that is what is needed not apathy for your local community and the surrounding area. Keep together and make yourselves heard. Good effort.
If the Council hadn't decided when accepting the detail of the LDF to redesignate 50% of this 110 acre site from "protected open space", protected for the health & welfare benefits of the community to "land reserved for future development", last nights meeting may never have happened. Questions for the Councillors of Chadderton are 1) why did they vote for this change of use and 2)Why ? when they new North Chadderton had the least open green in Oldham. Now they have none.
The area requires development more homes and jobs nimbys as usual get on with it and make use of the land
Roger Pakeman quotes "a valuable amenity" What a laugh! I must start taking my dog there instead of Chadderton Park
Now a football ground, that is an idea or prison
It doesn't matter how many of them turn up, nor what they say, the council have made their decision and nothing will change their minds.
If we lived in communist China we'd stand a better chance of influencing decisions than we do here.
Why couldn't the Hartford Mill be refurbished to provide industrial use? Very fashionable I'm led to believe.
No more homes should be built on green sites, Labour caused the problem with mass immigration let them deal with it.
hmmmmmmmmmmm maybe a football stadium aint to bad eh
Oldham needs extra income and jobs. This would create a substantial amount in business tax rates and jobs. If it gets refused just remember that when the same people will complain of a lack of facilities in the town. Oldham cannot compete with the likes of Trafford or Salford even Bolton to get businesses here without this sort of development.
mr luft not the same mr luft who support's mass immagration.the mr luft who supports asylum seekers etc...well were do all these extra people live coming into this country the strain on schools ,hospitals,etc,etc.i stated this years ago but was told there always room in pan for an extra potato...well there is but not nr mr luft ..funny how things change when its on your doorstep..
So after the farce of The Lancaster club where the council made pronises it could not keep & ended up buying it back off Latics to avoid being sued, they now want to destroy a hard to access piece of open land as well as clogging up the orads even more.
Why do the people of Oldham keep voting in Labour councils?
Keep these sort of developments away from residential areas and on the fringe of the M60/M62, just like Ashton & Rochdale have
so oldham council want to build another industrial estate,good idea lets have more empty buildings to go with the ones on greengate and broadgate,as for jobs most people realise firms that relocate bring existing staff with them.oop's no jobs.
Houses?lots for sale in chadderton.
Valuable amenities? lots of young and older people use them at Foxdenton farm.
Councillors should represent views of local people, so remember who votes for you!
Well. . . you reap what you sow.
Two problems speaking as a Foxdenton resident. First is traffic increase as evident during the building of the RC Academy. Despite assurances that contractors traffic would not come from Broadway down Foxdenton they did. This is because Foxdenton is a straight run in comparison to the access options from the industrial area. The roads not designed for works traffic & is a major dropping off point for children from the RC academy. Two; as of July 2012 770 commercial properties vacant in Oldham
Oldham Council seem to have a clear mandate to use any greenfield sites they see fit. Look at the centre they have approved in Saddleworth and now it looks like they will have to allow a commercial animal centre on greenbelt land at Mills Hill. There won't be a blade of grass left when they have finished ! Good luck to the people of Foxdenton, stick together and keep shouting, perhaps then common sense might prevail.
Whats the betting all those who support yet another of the Council's cock ups don't live anywhere near Foxdenton
It would be interesting to know how many of the objectors have ever set foot on this piece of land. I bet most of them don't even know, in fact how can anybody know, where any, at present unknown, proposals may be sited.
I attended the meeting, and we had a party political broadcast from the Green Party and the usual irresponsible agitating rant from Mr. Luft.
I ride at the riding school which this land is on Llike many other people so the land isnt being wasted ! you think we need more houses maybe but thats because the goverment let too many immigrants in !Why do the houses need to be built on land which is already being used by people in the community . It's the only riding school in chadderton has kids/teens going to look after the horses on the weekends.It won't create jobs the workers will be taken from other sites. new jobs are only temporary!
Well said LATICS38, I had the same thought myself.
So 380 houses & another industrial estate. So if there are two people inhabiting each house that is 760 people per house. That is 760 people who need to register at a doctors, dentist and possibly even schools. What type of housing will it be? How will they fund high quality industrial units & build high quality housing In this climate? Is High Quality housing 250k or less? These types of houses are not selling.
how many own a dog?
in reply to comments made as one of the organizers of the meeting the 250 people you see queuing are residents in and around Foxdenton as my(and others) leg work hand delivered to the households notified and invited to attend it...and thankyou to them all for reading the letters we posted and making the effort to come out on a monday night to attend it, made giving up our Christmas break worth while cg
You dont have to have "stepped on this piece of land" to appreciate this is not a good move. This is increased traffic and population in an already built up area. People who are saying NIMBY regarding objectors maybe drive along Broadway past 3 Acadamies to know this are is already congested. Also drive down Greengate and surrounding area and count empty business premises. Dont be in a rush though you may be held up in the ridiculous traffic.
A very well organised and well attended meeting. The overwhelming views of the residents was quite clear.
Whilst no submission has yet been made, local councillors should take note of residents' concerns.
Another interesting point was that only 2 out of 3 Chadderton Central Councillors were present? Where was the third councillor?
I live locally and use the ground everyday for taking the dog (and myself!) for a good walk out, there are dozens of local residents use this patch of land and its not only dog walkers, there are families that also use it a lot. People and OMBC are kidding themselves if they think this will put much money in the local community - the only benefactors will be the developers, show me where to sign up......I'm in
whilst i am in agreeance with improving the town prosperity and creating new jobs, i am strongly against these plans near my home. a home i purchased for the green land and safe space for my children to play in. There are enough heavy goods vehicles in this area with traffic being terrible at best without more ugly buildings cropping up. look to the delapidated town centre, use the buildings there not destroy more land. build the site i will stop paying my council tax
ALICE! YOU ARE STILL IN WONDERLAND. IS THERE A LAW THAT SAYS THEY DO HAVE TO SET FOOT THERE? THAT WOULD BE A BIT I'M ALRIGHT JACK WOULDN'T IT. LETS NOT OBJECT ABOUT POVERTY IN AFRICA COS WE HAVE NEVER SET FOOT THERE EH!IN THIS VERY BUSY DAY AND AGE ANYONE TAKING THE TIME TO OBJECT IS DOING IT BECAUSE THEY FEEL IT NECESSARY.I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT THE PARTS OF THIS LAND THAT ARE NOT PRIVATE AND PARTS OF THAT WHICH IS ARE HEAVILY USED BY MANY! YOU NEED TO GET OUT MORE.
Have Your Say
Will cllr Hibbert now take note off resident’s wishes? Only time will tell. (But it could be too late by then.) I would urge any resident to write direct to the council/cllr making your views known, one petition is only viewed as one objection imagine 500+ letters landing on your desk What an impact can Cllr Hibbert ignore such feeling?
By Silver Surfer @ 08/01/2013 13:19:10