Saddleworth Parish Council reports

FEARS of a shutdown of Greenfield Library were misplaced, Councillor Brian Lord told last night’s Saddleworth Finance and General Purposes Comm-ittee.

Alarm bells rang after it was said that Greenfield could close as Oldham Council strove to balance the books.

Parish councillor Ken Hulme tabled a motion opposing efforts to close the library.

But he was told by Councillor Lord that Oldham Council were merely looking for a community building in which to locate Greenfield Library.

He said: “We want a fresh community building be-cause the present library building at Greenfield is not up to standard.”

Councillor Hulme said he was hoping that the library would remain — and that was the important thing.

Four years ago, Greenfield Library was threatened with the axe but the highly unpopular proposal was removed from Oldham Council’s budget options following a wave of protests.


Saddleworth residents have another two weeks to respond to the parish plan questionnaires aimed at securing better facilities for the district.


A continuing probe over rights of way in Saddleworth needed a little more time, Councillor Mike Buckley reported.
He said work had been slowed by poor summer weather but had been very successful in some areas.