New bid for a slice of £5m

Saddleworth Parish Council reports

PROJECTS in Saddleworth are still vying for their chunk of a £5m European fund for Pennine developments — after four separate bids were turned down.

Pennine Prospects, a group of South Pennine authorities, including Oldham, which aims for economic regeneration, was awarded the pot of money and invited bids from all its councils.

But the four bids from local groups in Saddleworth, including one for a new tourist map from the parish council, were rejected.

Now councillors are looking at schemes which will be sure to grab a slice of the pie in the second round of the bidding.

Councillors discussed some of the successful bids from other authorities, including dry stone walling schemes and a project to help fund a group of locals who took over a shop which was in danger of closure.

Councillor Barbara Beeley, who represents Oldham on the Pennine Prospects Board, indicated that there may be changes to the criteria used to determine how cash is allocated, so she will continue to push for local projects, alongside Councillor Mike Buckley, as the second round of bidding gets under way.

THE Parish Council is to press on with renovations to the stage at Uppermill’s Civic Hall before it becomes a serious health and safety risk.

A planned extension to the hall was put on hold when objections were raised at the borough’s planning committee meeting, but a wooden structure which is used as an extension to the stage is to be replaced immediately amid fears it is on its last legs.

Committee members agreed to replace the structure immediately saying that it has until June at the very latest before it becomes so rickety that somebody could be in danger of being seriously hurt.


Overcoming boundary

THE parish council is moving closer to membership of a South Pennine organisation which could boost the economic fortunes of Saddleworth.

The South Pennine Forum brings towns within the region together to discuss how to improve the fortunes of the area by attracting investment, improving tourism prospects and increasing transport links.

But Saddleworth has been snubbed up until now because organisers say it is in Greater Manchester and can’t be a member.

But the parish council has now been invited to the next meeting and is hoping to reap the benefits of being in the group.


Letter of support

COUNCILLORS sent a letter to the Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority outlining its objections, to extend the High Moor tip — including the fact that the access route, the A62 Huddersfield Road, has a poor safety record.

They also mentioned the considerable nuisance which the present High Moor operation has caused for residents, including smells, flies and noise, which caused some of the residents to take a legal action against the tip operators, Veolia PLC, which was settled out of court.

The consultation period for the extension of the tip will continue until the beginning of May.