Houses need counting

UNRELIABLE data recording systems means it is almost impossible to get an accurate picture of house building in the borough.

Mike Rooke, from the Greenfield and Grasscroft Residents’ Association, asked the community council to look into ways of improving the method of recording the construction of new homes.

He said: “Since the process of building control certification has been deregulated, dwellings built are not legally obliged to be registered with the local authority hence it is difficult for our borough to gain an accurate picture of the amount of house building taking place.”

Research by the GGRA highlighted examples of incorrect data including developments at Fernhill in Grasscroft and Chew Valley Road in Greenfield.

Mr Rooke added: “Unless the borough’s officers and councillors have access to accurate information we wonder whether informed strategic decisions can be made.”

Councillor Richard Knowles said: “Around a quarter of new dwellings built in the borough are built in Saddleworth which creates a huge strain on resources and people are getting fed up of every blade of grass and every patch of open land being taken up by new houses.

“If these houses are being built we need something to be put back, such as traffic calming measures and extra pedestrian crossings to cope with demand, but this will be much less likely if the figures of new buildings are inaccurate.”

The community council agreed to take the matter up with council officer Phil Jobling.




A NUMBER of arrests has slashed the level of house burglaries from 27 in May to four in June.



Officers are now targeting hotspot areas in Lees and Springhead in a bid to reduce the number of incidents even further.

Sergeant Craig Johnson said: “I would urge everyone to be vigilant, keep windows and doors closed and don’t make it easy for burglars.”

Knoll Mill in Greenfield has become a target for thieves as the trade in scrap metal has picked up and there has been an increase in the number of Ford Focus cars being broken into which Sergeant Johnson puts down to an urban myth.

He explained: “There was a rumour going round that a chip in the radio of a particular type of Ford Focus would give you access to free Sky TV. This is not true and it seems that people are slowly starting to realise this as the number of thefts from these cars has dropped significantly.”

l Five cars were damaged in Spring Lane, Lees, after a youth on a scooter went on a rampage and 20 wing mirrors were ripped off cars in Shaw Hall Bank Road in Greenfield by a man who’d argued with his girlfriend.

l The annual band contest led to more arrests than ever before. Police arrested 22 people for anti-social behaviour offences with most related to alcohol consumption. There were 148 officers on patrol.




THE future of the Saddleworth and Lees Community Council hangs in the balance as councillors prepare to debate and vote on whether to reintroduce Area Committees.



Community Councils have been labelled ‘talking shops’ by some as they have no real decision making power and it is proposed that Area Committees will have bigger budgets and the ability to make decisions about planning and other services that will affect local people.

Councillor Rod Blyth said: “Saddleworth has the highest number of planning applications in the borough so it seems only right that the people affected by the decisions get to have their say. We need to back to grass roots level and get more people involved in decisions that will greatly affect them. No one knows the areas like the people living in them so they should be given more power to make changes and have a say in what happens.”

The matter will be discussed at the next meeting of Oldham Council on Wednesday.




Battle for post office



THE fight to save Lees Post Office is growing stronger as the consultation period draws to a close on July 21.



There are now almost 7,000 names on the petition to save the branch in High Street which is earmarked for closure alongside Grasscroft and Scouthead.

Bruce Penhale, from Oldham Council, said: “ We believe we have a really strong case for Lees as their survey was conducted at a time when the road was shut off due to road works meaning less people were using it.”

Councillor Richard Knowles said that while the post offices in Grasscroft and Scouthead may be less well used they are also relied upon by residents.

Anyone wanting to have their say on the post office debate can visit the council website at www.oldham.gov.uk.