Villages plan for next generation

A visionary consultation document involving Saddleworth villagers will form the blueprint of a parish plan for the community’s future.

Implemented by Saddleworth Parish Council, the plan maps out how people see challenges and pressures, priorities for action, and their wishes for the district to evolve in the 21st century.

The survey results were presented to a public meeting of residents by Councillor Mike Buckley, hosted by Councillor Pat Lord, chairman of the Parish Council.

Councillor Buckley said challenges relate to the threat of over-development, attendant on rising land prices, decline of a mixed local economy, lack of affordable housing, and the expense of maintaining local services and infrastructure in a geographically large country district.

“But these are balanced by Saddleworth’s strengths,” he said. “We are a largely prosperous, healthy, and well-educated population.

“And a strong community spirit is manifest in the large number of voluntary societies, organisations and communal festivals.”

However, 89 per cent of respondents felt some form of cap should be introduced on the amount of new housing permitted each year.

And 92 per cent believed stronger planning measures were required to protect character and appearance of villages, while 72 per cent felt more terrace housing, rather than flats, should be built.

Seventy-seven per cent believed locals should have priority in the allocation of affordable or shared housing over non-residents in the district, a policy not presently in force, and 95 per cent stated green belt protection was not strong enough.

Councillor Buckley said: “Even the prospect of using some green belt land for a new Saddleworth school was strongly opposed by 64 per cent disagreeing this course of action.”

Eighty-two per cent say although trees are highly valued, they should be better managed and thinned because views have vanished. But they wanted more tree preservation orders.

On the controversial wind farms issue, 34 per cent believed they should be allowed within the Saddleworth green belt, whereas 53 per cent were against this.

“Immediate environmental concerns relate to poor management and maintenance of the environment,” said Councillor Buckley.

Thirty-three per cent of respondents leave Saddleworth each day to work, with only 8 per cent living and working in Saddleworth, and another 5 per cent working from home.

Overall 72 per cent judged health services in Saddleworth ‘satisfactory’ with the general level of patient care seen as good or very good by 68per cent, while 76 per cent of respondents felt dental services were unsatisfactory.

Fifty-seven per cent supported a park and ride tourism bus scheme servicing Greenfield station and Dovestone, with 68 per cent backing a route linking all Saddleworth villages to tourist locations.

More than 90 per cent supported the Visitor Information Centre, as a focal point for tourists.

However, only 28 per cent of respondents from all villages said they would use a bus service in the evenings if it were provided.

Over 70 per cent were in favour of a 20mph speed limit outside all Saddleworth schools, school hours only — decreasing to less than 24 per cent for a 20mph limit all the time. However, 75 per cent said there should be an increase in the number of flashing warning speed restriction signs which increased to over 82 per cent if the flashing lights were located outside schools.

Traditional sport and leisure activities were under-resourced and, despite offering good facilities at school-based activities , there is a ‘large void’ to be filled.

Councillor Lord said: “More than 1,200 people responded to the survey which provides a valuable evidence base for working with partners and seeking external help and support.

“We will endeavour to seek improvements on a yearly basis.”

l A copy of the parish plan is available by contacting Saddleworth Parish Council on 01457 876665