One-woman protest at school’s floodlights

LONE protester Christine Beaumont-Rydings alongside the trench, with her bungalow in the background

Christine blocks trench to halt construction

A DEFIANT lone protester halted the installation of lights at a school sports ground by blocking a trench with her wheelchair.

Despite freezing temperatures, multiple sclerosis sufferer Christine Beaumont-Rydings sat for several hours, wrapped in a sheet, in a bid to stop cabling being laid for the 32-ft high floodlights yards from her home.

And she has reported the plan by Oldham Council to erect lighting at the all-weather pitches at Saddleworth School, at Pickhill in Uppermill, to the Local Government Ombudsman.

Mrs Beaumont-Rydings, a retired midwife, moved to a bungalow in Hawthorne Grove four years ago.

She said: “I came here because I was disabled. It was quiet and a conservation area. But since the pitches have been installed, I have constantly complained to Oldham Council about problems.

“There is lots of noise from the pitches, which can go on until 9.30pm every school day. And these new floodlights would shine directly into my bedroom window.

“My garden, and those of neighbours, are being ruined by spectators who turn up to watch events.

“There are no toilet facilities at the all-weather pitches so people use our gardens and dump beer cans and other rubbish. It’s disgraceful. Somebody has to make a protest.”

She carried out her one-woman demonstration after hearing workmen beginning to excavate the trench for the floodlight cables.

“I just got in my wheelchair, turned up at the site behind my home and sat there,” she said. “The workmen were very kind and understanding and they called a halt to the dig.”

Mrs Beaumont-Rydings, who has a daughter, remained at the site for more than three hours and was visited by an official from Saddleworth School.

She added: “I explained my reasons for protesting. And I have reported the situation to the ombudsman.

“I am protesting because I feel really strongly about the situation.”

Independent Saddleworth parish councillor Ken Hulme said: “I admire her protest. It is vital people protest for what they believe.”

A spokesman for Saddleworth School referred inquiries to Oldham Council.

Mrs Beaumont-Rydings was in the public spotlight more than a year ago when she complained that plans to build 24 two-bedroom flats at Pickhill was out of keeping with the area.

But despite more than 600 protest letters and opposition from councillors Christine Wheeler and John McCann,the plan was approved.