Wildlife worry over new play park

Oldham Council Cabinet reports by Richard Hooton
RESIDENTS claim building a Bank Top Playscape at Leesbrook Nature Park will destroy a beautiful area and drive away wildlife.

Thomas Gledhill asked Oldham Cabinet meeting why a tranquil area was under threat and warned it would be noisy and difficult to monitor.

He said it was continually used by families but a wildlife meadow had been recently flattened by a fun day. David Loffet said it would take a green area away from current users, such as dog walkers, bird watchers and imaginative children, and their views had not been sought.

Councillor Mark Alcock said park staff were enhancing the green space with projects, such as improving accessibility and woodland management. It was not designated as a nature reserve.

Alleygate scheme restarts

FUNDING was agreed to restart the crime-busting alleygating scheme.

Since the gates began being installed five years ago more than £1.2 million has been spent fitting 1,000 gates covering 10,000 homes.

But it would cost around £4 million to install gates across the borough, so the scheme was suspended while police and officials analysed burglary patterns to set a clear policy for which places should benefit first.

Councillors agreed to spend £125,000 this year on borough-wide schemes, £50,000 annually for the maintenance of existing alleygates and £100,000 every year for District Partnerships to invest in additional local schemes. District Partnerships can also use their share of a £190,000 general resources budget on alleygating.

One project in Clarksfield with 35 gates covering 253 properties cut burglaries by 90 per cent.

£4.7m school for problem pupils
A NEW £4.7million special school for some of the borough's most troubled pupils is set to be built in Chadderton.

Oldham Council Cabinet approved the start of formal consultation on the facility for children with behavioural, emotional and social difficulties (BESD).

It will open at the current South Chadderton School site in September, 2013, as part of Oldham's £230million Building Schools for the Future overhaul of secondary education.

South Chadderton is being merged with Kaskenmoor School in a new academy run by a sponsor at Brook Mill, Hollins.

Concern has been expressed by residents about the potentially disruptive influence of the pupils who will attend and the impact it will have on the local community.

No stalling on market revamp

COUNCILLORS approved plans to revitalise the ailing Tommyfield Market.

Nearly half a million pounds will be invested to boost trade, including opening a series of new stalls in Albion Street in time for the Christmas rush.

Tired wooden stalls will be replaced with gazebo-style huts that can be taken down at the end of each trading day to bring an end to eyesore empty stalls.

The area behind the market hall will be repackaged as a specialised shopping offer, with the potential for farmers markets, specialised Asian markets and flea and antique stalls. The specialist market will be in place during April using existing stalls and operating from new stalls by June.

Shaw market will be relaunched in March followed by six-monthly reviews to decide whether Shaw should have an on-street market and whether trading days for Shaw and Royton should be altered. New stalls will be in use at Royton Market during July.

Council chiefs says the move is aimed at making Oldhamers proud of their market again.

In the black...and the red

AFTER finalising last year's accounts, Oldham Council has found it's capital programme is £8.7 million better off than expected.

Treasurers were expecting an overspend of nearly £4.8 million but discovered an under spend of nearly £4 million.

Councillors approved the capital programme for 2009/12, including spending the extra cash on schemes including highways resurfacing (£563,000), tackling grotspots (£100,000), market refurbishment (£315,000) and the Civic Centre refurbishment and car park resurfacing (£794,000) A further review will take place later in the financial year to allow for an improved capital planning process and to consider the implications of the housing stock transfer tenants ballot.

Councillor Lynne Thompson said: "This is an opportunity to redirect money to our corporate priorities."

However, May’s overall financial forecast predicts a £917,000 overspend. Councillors agreed to establish a financial model to help draw up three-year budgets.

Cash bonanza for our children
CABINET approved the allocation of more than £3million of funding through the Early Years Quality and Access Capital Grant.

It will be spent on projects to improve the quality and accessibility of the learning environment in early years settings, such as funding Children's Centre. They also agreed to develop a Children's Centre satellite at Springhead Infants School to serve the Saddleworth West and Lees ward.

Meanwhile, £1.2 million is to be spent on play areas. Cabinet approved how it will spend it's Playbuilder grant from the Government to refresh and refurbish 22 play areas across the borough so they better meet children's needs.

The national Playbuilder programme aims to increase the availability of safe, exciting and inclusive play facilities.