So many issues ...so little time

AFFORDABLE housing, local jobs, tourism and transport were burning issues thrown into the melting pot of future plans for Oldham.

Councillors raised their concerns for Saddleworth during a discussion on a 17-year blueprint for the future of the borough.

A presentation on the Local Development Framework is doing the rounds and councillors at last night’s meeting raised issues they believe will affect the villages of Saddleworth, but it soon became apparent that a rushed debate in the middle of a meeting with 19 items on the agenda was inadequate.

Councillor Mike Buckley was asked to end lengthy questioning of council officer Paul McGrath, who was there to present the plan.

Councillor Keith Begley, who chaired the meeting, said a special meeting should be called to deal specifically with the one issue.

At 9pm, with 15 items still to discuss on the agenda, Councillor David Atherton said: “This just doesn’t do it justice. It’s a joke. It’s just been one-and-a-half hours of waffle.”

During the debate, Councillor Brian Lord stressed that Saddleworth needed jobs to prevent it become a commuter area, and something should be done to control builders who were snapping up any available land to build high-profit houses local residents could not afford to buy.

Crucial

Councillor Ken Hulme said it was crucial to regeneration to develop both tourism and a public transport system to enable people to visit without cars.

And Councillor Mike Buckley said the huge amount of housebuilding in Saddleworth — 625 properties over the last five years — was disproportionate to the rest of Oldham.

Mr McGrath said he would take their comments back with him for consideration.