Uppermill civic hall extension opposed

RESIDENTS will tonight oppose plans to extend Uppermill Civic Hall.

Saddleworth Parish Council wants a stone-built, three-storey extension to provide a new civic suite, office, store, foyer area, toilets and multi-use room.

But six neighbours have written letters to Oldham Council saying the development will deprive them of light, privacy, parking facilities and have a visual impact.

They are backed by Councillor Ken Hulme who says the extension is a luxury Saddleworth doesn’t need and, in times of austerity, shouldn’t be spending money on. He labelled it a £500,000 municipal white elephant.

He said: “As a parish councillor, I say that this application is not going forward in my name and I strongly dissociate myself from this proposal.

“The parish council is being a bad neighbour to local residents. Apart from the loss of light to neighbouring homes, a huge ramp is being constructed overlooking people’s houses.

“Oldham planners are saying that this should only be used in emergencies. In the real world, common sense says this condition just won’t be met. People bringing in lighting rigs and sound systems are not going to use a small lift, highly susceptible to breakdown, to get their gear out or several flights of stairs.

“This extension is supposed to give Saddleworth Parish Council a bigger share of the wedding market, which is so important to local hotels and restaurants.

“No proper costings have ever been made — we are signing a blank, but certainly very large, cheque on behalf of local council tax payers. Not only have the cost implications not been worked out but I have not received any sort of business plan to justify this expenditure — which will impact on the council tax precept Saddleworth residents will pay for years to come.”

He said there had been no consultation with residents, it was not mentioned on the Saddleworth Parish Plan and was not in the Lib-Dem manifesto for the last parish elections.

Oldham East and Saddleworth MP Phil Woolas has raised concerns but this was before amendments were made to reduce the impact on residents.

These include a hipped roof — one that slopes down to the eaves on all sides — lowering the overall height and reducing the mass of the extension.

Oldham Council’s planning committee will rule on the plans tonight.

A report from a planning officers concludes: “The proposed extension will undoubtedly have some impact on properties on Lee Street. However, it is not considered that any additional impact would be so great as to justify a refusal of planning permission.”