Funds to stem playing fields floods are sought

THE fight to save Churchill Playing Fields continues as councillors look for ways to fund vital repair work.

Severe flooding of the field has led to the cancellation of various events such as the Olympics and Saddleworth Show over the past few years.

The council had hoped the Football Association would stump up some of the £250,000 needed for the drainage work, but the collapse of pay-TV firm Setanta has seen the money dry up.

Councillor Derek Heffernan said that the near-by pitch used by Saddleworth Rangers rugby team also regularly floods but is quickly made useable again so the problem at Churchill must be solvable.

Councillor Richard Knowles added: “Churchill is a boroughwide responsibility. We will never have the resources within Saddleworth District Partnership to solve the problem but it should not just be left to use to sort out — it is a concern for the whole borough.

“There are a number of high-profile events held here so Oldham Council should have a hand in sorting it out.”