Blot on the landscape... and bats in the belfry

EYESORE . . .Parish councillor Ken Hulme wants the graveyard at Delph Independent Chapel cleaned up

A row is simmering over a housing plan in Delph as fears grow that mourners in an adjoining graveyard will be unable to grieve in peace.

A planning application is being considered by Oldham Council for nine housing units as a conversion of Delph Independent Chapel.

Parish councillor Ken Hulme says he understands the need for something to be done with the empty chapel which has been redundant since the 1990s.

But he says he wants people to be able to continue to use the graveyard for quiet reflection on the lives of loved ones, without building work encroaching or the graveyard being too overgrown.

He said: “A priority is for the graveyard to be cleaned up of brambles and weeds, together with mice and rats, and for relatives to be able to use it quietly.

“There have been efforts by a local voluntary group to go in and clean it up but these have been prevented by Oldham Council.

“So while something does need to be done about the chapel, whatever is decided, my priority is the relatives of those buried in the graveyard, which is still in use.”

Parish councillor Hulme has written to Councillor Mark Alcock, cabinet member for environment and infrastructure, complaining of the state of Delph churchyard.

He said: “I would ask you to intervene and require the owner of the graveyard to clean up this eyesore which blights our village.”

Steve Smith, group manager for parks and cemeteries, said: “We will be investigating the situation and our responsibilities and see what powers we have to have the place tidied.”

Meanwhile, bats will remain in the belfry if the Delph Chapel is turned into apartments.

Concerns were raised at a public meeting in January about bats in the chapel.

Planning agent Alan Chorlton said: “A full survey of the building was carried out and found three varieties of bats.

“As they are protected species, the scheme has been amended to provide a continued roost for them in the roof space.”