Protesters heighten their campaign

Crane used to demonstrate controversial tower plan

A CRANE is to be hoisted up to tower over Shaw — to demonstrate the height of a controversial development.

Campaigners against Fulfilment Logistics’ proposals for a warehouse extension and multi-storey car park at its Lilac Mill site in Beal Lane are to use the crane to give people an idea of the visual impact they say will be caused.

Residents have formed the group SOS Campaign — Stop Overdeveloping Shaw — to fight the plans and are gearing up for a public inquiry that starts on March 31. The plans have already been defeated twice but the firm has appealed with the application to be decided by a planning inspector. Designs for a 175ft (53metres) high warehouse — only eight metres (26ft) lower than Oldham Civic Centre — were scrapped after sparking an outcry that it would tower over Shaw. But a fresh application would still see it reach 127ft (39metres). Residents say the warehouse is too tall and disproportionate to existing buildings and will block out light during the day while flooding the area with artificial light through the night, as well as causing traffic problems.

But the firm, a mail order business owned by JD Williams, claims the development will only have a minor visual impact and have a petition signed by more than 500 employees saying the plans will create more job opportunities and encourage investment in the area.

It says it has outgrown the site and needs to expand to secure the jobs of the 1,000-strong workforce.

Leaflets have been distributed in Shaw by the campaign group urging residents to unite against the development.

The group claims the development will be visible from everywhere in Shaw and will turn the town into a traffic-bound industrial estate, while the car park will be too close to residential properties and will cause disturbance, disruption, noise and pollution.

They point out the warehouse will be the size of Old Trafford football ground and that the Kingsway Development has a height restriction of 80ft.

The crane will be located at Whitworth Mallinson and Co car park, Mill Croft, Beal Lane, on Saturday and residents are invited to turn up at 2.30pm to show their support.

A campaign spokesman said: “To display the enormous height of this structure and evidence the visual impact we will all suffer if JD’s appeal is upheld, we will be hoisting a highly visible object 127ft into the air and asking anyone who can see it to either e-mail, text or telephone the hotline to register the address you can see it from.”

The group raised £521 with a Christmas prize draw to fund the stunt.

Residents wanting to speak at the public inquiry at Oldham Civic Centre are advised to be at its opening at 10am to seek the inspector’s permission.

Those that spot the object hoisted by the crane are asked to text or call 07966 780030 or e-mail Icansee.jd@btinternet.com