50 questions to shape the future of Saddleworth’s villages

A 10-PAGE questionnaire has been sent to 13,500 Saddleworth households to help form a blueprint for the future of the area.

Answers to 50 key questions will be used as a parish plan to form the basis for key initiatives on health, traffic, education and housing.

The document evolved from meetings over the last two years when Saddleworth Parish Council and volunteers identified issues they think matter to the area.

Now, Brian Lord, the parish council’s leader, is spearheading the questionnaire that could change the face of services in the area.

For example, the questionnaire asks residents views on additional car parks in Uppermill, Delph and Dobcross. It also asks if parking should be limited to two or three hours in Uppermill, with the exception of long-term car parks, and whether people would use a new rail station at Diggle.

The questionnaire also seeks views on whether a secondary school should give first preference to Saddleworth children.

Employment issues are tackled on the types of businesses needed to create local opportunities and policies that could help maintain and expand retail businesses.

And the questionnaire raises the controversial issue of funding an effective drainage system to prevent Churchill playing fields flooding by an increase in the precept of £10 per household per year for five years.

On crime, residents are asked their views on opening times for the police station, along with other crime-related questions.

Councillor Lord said: “We want to create a vision for Saddleworth’s future and encourage everyone to complete the questionnaire. We studied Parish Plans across the country and we are looking forward to hearing people’s views.”

Residents should return completed questionnaires, by November 1, to the nearest Post Office — Denshaw, Delph, Dobcross, Uppermill, Greenfield,Springhead and Diggle — or to Uppermill, Delph, Greenfield libraries.

The questionnaire can also be dropped in at The Visitors Information Centre at Saddleworth Museum or the civic hall, in Lee Street, Uppermill.

If residents have difficulties completing the forms, they should contact the parish council on: 01457-876665, or email: tony@saddleworthparishcouncil.org.uk.


A winner of a £100 prize will be drawn from volunteers who complete a question on expanding or connecting with a range of community-based facilities.