Plan for old chapel is refused

SADDLEWORTH PLANNING

Plans to convert a former chapel at Delph into nine apartments were strongly criticised at Saddleworth Planning Committee last night.

The committee’s conservation group recommended refusal at the former Delph Chapel, Hill End Road, on several grounds.

They said that plans to remove gravestones were unacceptable.

There were objections to structural changes, but the group also said the piecemeal enclosure of the churchyard was unacceptable.

Councillor Ken Hulme, who has already campaigned for the graveyard to be protected, said he realised the chapel would be converted into some sort of housing.

But he did not like the way the present scheme encroached on the graveyard. And, he said, what was proposed seemed to be ripping the heart out of it.

The committee recommended refusal of the present scheme.




Plans for a new shop and cafe at Albion Farm, Oldham Road, Delph, were recommended for approval.



Councillor Ken Hulme said the Albion Farm business was a very successful enterprise.




Former Everest climber Paul Braithwaite suffered a setback when his proposal for a single-storey extension at New Tame House, Tame Lane, Denshaw, was recommended for refusal on the grounds that it was too large.






Plans for five new homes in Ripponden Road, Denshaw, were recommended for approval.



Councillor John Hudson said the land earmarked for the scheme had become a bit of an eyesore.




THE committee recommended approval of a plan for a multi use games area at Saddleworth School in High Street, Uppermill.