We did the lotto!

WHEN council chiefs refused to improve a dilapidated alleyway residents took action — and scooped a lottery grant to sort out the work themselves.

Proving the old adage “If you want a job done well, do it yourself”, the public-spirited residents formed a committee to secure £10,000 to improve their neighbourhood. They had spent 20 years locked in battle with Oldham Council over carrying out repairs until they were forced to go it alone.

The once messy and dangerous alleyway linking Prince Edward Avenue and Hollin Hall Street in Clarksfield is now in smooth and pristine condition. Its poor state meant residents couldn’t access their garages, the bottom of cars were scraping along the surface and it was overgrown, dirty and unsafe for people to use.

At one stage there were 40 burglaries in the area.

But the council insisted it was not their responsibility — though it redeveloped alleyways in Greenacres and other neighbouring areas. Fed-up neighbours Ted Witczak, Frank Walsh, Susan Brierley and Peter Ramsbottom formed a committee so they could apply for a grant from the Big Lottery Fund’s Awards for All scheme to pay a firm to Tarmac the alleyway and smarten it up. Middleton Surfacing Ltd did the job in less than a day.

Mr Witczak also braved foul weather to patiently knock on residents doors with a petition seeking their approval for alleygates to be installed to make the throughway a safer place and keep out burglars.

The committee had to show that everything was above board — opening a bank account and getting every step of the process sanctioned.

And the lottery bosses will be getting some change from their cheque — with £117 that’s not been spent winging its way back to them.

Mr Witczak said: “All the neighbours had done their bit to keep on top of the alleyway but it was horrendous. It was dirty and unkempt and the kids could not play on it. Low profile cars were catching and dragging on it.

“It was a 20-year battle with the council. We all had a pop at them but they said it’s your responsibility and fobbed us off over the years. Everyone else’s alleyway was being done, we wondered what was wrong with ours. They basically washed their hands of us but we got the grant and said ‘this is how it should have been done.’

“Some one had to do it at the end of the day. Oldham Council would not give us any help with it but we would do it all again. It’s not for ourselves but for everyone — and the kids as well as it’s now a safe environment.

“I did not think we would get a lottery grant. We are so grateful that they gave us the money. They’ve done a first class job. It’s stunning compared to what it was before. Everyone is very pleased and chuffed about what’s happened.”

A Big Lottery Fund spokesman said: “It’s quite easy to get money through Awards For All. If it’s a good project and meets basic criteria then they will get the money.”

A council spokesman said: “It’s an unadopted alleyway so the council does not have any responsibility for it other than making sure it gets cleaned. So the maintenance is not down to us.”