Opposition to meet Latics

CAMPAIGNERS opposed to Oldham Athletic’s new stadium plans will get a face-to-face meeting with club bosses on Monday.

Failsworth Residents’ Action Group, led by Peter Batty, has organised the meeting at Failsworth School and says Latics chief executive Alan Hardy and managing director Simon Corney will be there.

The Boundary Park club unveiled proposals in July to build a 12,000-seat stadium at the site of the Lancaster Club off Broadway, and adjoining open space at Failsworth Lower Memorial Park.

Residents opposed to the plans say they will organise a 10,000-name petition, and have launched the action group and a leafleting campaign. Mr Batty said that as the school’s capacity is for a maximum of 320 people the group is inviting only people living in Failsworth East and West wards — including local Latics fans.

He said: “It would be a travesty of justice if residents of Failsworth were unable to get in. They probably wouldn’t be very pleased either.”

But Oldham Council chief executive Charlie Parker and leader Howard Sykes have told the group they cannot attend at short notice, but other council representatives will be there.

Mr Parker’s reply to the invitation added: “If there is any abusive behaviour the representatives are within their rights to leave.”

Mr Batty said: “There is no question of that.

“We have a very highly-qualified chairman who has worked at ACAS and used to be a legal representative for a trade union.

“We have assured Mr Parker that he has no fears on that. This meeting will be timetabled, orderly and informative, possibly even more so than some council meetings.

“Besides, the residents of Failsworth want information, not more confusion.”

The meeting at the Brierley Avenue school starts at 7pm.