Parish councillors fight to preserve local character

Saddleworth parish councillors insist treasured open spaces and local character must not be lost in their recommendations on proposals for borough development.

Oldham Council invited public comment on its Site Allocations Development Plan Document Options Report, which lists potential areas for development or protection as part of the Local Plan.

And in their recommendations for almost 50 sites across Saddleworth and Lees, the parish council and district executive has urged Oldham Council to retain green areas and village character.

Sites listed for development consideration include Bailey Mill, Delph; Robert Fletchers Mill, Greenfield; Shaw’s former pallet works, Diggle; land at Ward Lane, Diggle, and Dacres Hall, Greenfield.

Some sites were highlighted as concerns by parish councillors and local residents groups, who fear they may be developed rather than protected.

The parish council’s move comes in the wake of district councillor John McCann accusing Oldham Council’s proposals of “land grabbing” to reallocate dozens of sites in Saddleworth for development.

Councillor McCann said if the site allocation report were to be approved next month, land-use zoning for these sites would be redesignated. When planning applications follow, the battle to stop these developments will already be lost.

He said some of the “most horrendous” proposals, as well as Greenfield primary school, include houses on the highest-category flood-risk land next to the canal, near the sewage works off Shaw Hall Bank Road.

Other areas of conflict include:

::Building housing or commercial development by extending Uppermill Centre to include the nature pond, wooded hillside and bus turnround behind Warburton Court.

::Building housing on the highly visible mature woodland between Sumershades and Oldham Road, Grasscroft.

::Building housing on the wooded slope between Oaklands Road/Oldham Road and the railway line near Greenfield Station — the last unbuilt gap between Greenfield and Grasscroft.

He claims there is “utter confusion” as the report mixes up two large sites at Fletcher’s former Paper Mill near Dovestone reservoir with Knoll Mill/Frenches Wharf off Wellington Road, Greenfield in the description sections.

Councillor McCann, who has written to council’s planning officer objecting to the proposals says: “It is absolutely vital local residents make their objections to Oldham Council by Friday.”

The report can be read at Greenfield and Uppermill Libraries and Oldham Council’s website.