Wildlife ‘threatened by house building’

Residents and applicant at odds over plan

A HAVEN for wildlife in Grasscroft is under threat because of a development plan, claim residents.
The cul-de-sac at Charlotte Lane opens out on to an area which attracts hedgehogs, newts and frogs. A pond is also popular with local anglers.

But, according to the residents, all this will change if planning permission is granted for a detached house and access road off Charlotte Lane.

This is denied by a spokesman for the applicant, who said half of the disputed area would not be affected and wildlife would remain.

Resident Steven Hancock said: “It really is a lovely spot and it will all change if they go ahead and build here.

“Vehicles used by developers will damage not only entry and exit roads but will also damage all areas of land they come into contact with.

“No development will replace the natural habitat of the wildlife of the area concerned.”

Another resident, Pauline Preece, said: “We have found that there are newts in our pond. Any further development will eliminate the species in this area.

“We also have hedgehogs feeding on our back gardens and there are wild birds which manage to rear young in their nests.

“My whole family consider that this proposed development will lead inevitably to a further development on the site at the side the proposed one.

“The wildlife and unique community will therefore be inevitably destroyed and just for an unwanted and unneeded further property.”

A spokeswoman for Oldham Planning Department said the application for development had not yet been listed to go to the Planning Committee.

The Chronicle has been unable to contact the applicant, a Mr N Simpson, for comment.

However, a spokesman for the scheme’s architects, Hall, Needham Associates of Oldham, said: “The area concerned is the applicant’s existing garden although there is not a fence around it.

“The proposed development would cover half the total area and there would be enough room for the wildlife.

“The house which we hope to build there has been designed in the traditional Saddleworth style and does not overlook neighbouring properties.”