Oak Colliery decison delayed

A SO-CALLED fast-tracked decision on the Oak Colliery town green application is still weeks away — seven months after the application was made.

The recommendation from the barrister who headed a new-style local inquiry into the application arrived at Oldham Council last week. But borough solicitor Aileen Johnson wants all sides to get a copy of his report at the same time, when she sets a date for the Town Green Registration Committee to meet again.

She should have the date by Friday — but because of holiday clashes it could be early September before the committee can get together for the decision-making meeting.

The former colliery open space in Hollins, which includes a skate park and grassland, was chosen as the site for one of Oldham’s new academy schools.

But when local Baptist minister and former councillor David Joynes objected and tried to register the land as a town green to protect it from development, the council stepped in.

A puzzled Mr Joynes said: “It is a bizarre way of doing things. This is supposed to be fast-tracked. I made the application to register the town green in January.”