Firm blasted over car park scheme

MAIL-ORDER company JD Williams has upset members by including a piece of land in its expansion plans which the parish council has improved.

The company let the parish council spend £4,000 on the land and then proposed to build a car park on it.

The proposal was part of the application to build a huge warehouse at Briar and Lilac Mill, off Beal Lane, that outraged residents and has twice been refused by Oldham Council.

Councillor Rod Blyth said the parish council should not do such work on private land again without a signed agreement on future use

He added: “JD Williams has not been a good neighbour.”

Councillor Diane Williamson said the plot had been tidied for a number of years, had a sign erected and had been cleared of Japanese knotweed.

But the work will no longer continue and Groundwork will be asked not to look after the site.

She said: “We don’t think we should use public money to pay for a site that may be built on.”




‘Post offices must be used to survive’



RESIDENTS were urged to use their post office to make sure no more are closed.



Two post offices in Shaw and High Crompton were among the seven recently axed in the borough.

Councillor Diane Williamson said: “We are pleased that Lees is to remain open but are very disappointed that we have lost two offices in our parish. They will be sorely missed.”

Councillor Mark Alcock added: “This is yet another nail in the community’s coffin.

“The Government keeps telling us we are supposed to be getting people out of their cars and then they remove a lifeline by closing these post offices.

“We need people to use the post offices that are there so they are viable and we don’t lose them.”




All switched on for Christmas



THE parish council is planning a bigger celebration at Christmas.



Councillors agreed to spend up to £1,650 on energy-efficient lights and living trees to decorate Wren’s Nest and the town centre.

They are looking for Shaw and Crompton Area Committee to match-fund the amount.

Children will go on a pageant walk through the parish to meet Father Christmas and the lights switch-on will take place on Friday, November 28.