Alleygating only for right reasons

West Oldham District Partnership: ALLEYGATING schemes should be prioritised to combat anti-social behaviour — and not picked just because they are easy to implement.

That was the view of Councillor Abdul Jabbar as members heard that quick decisions had to be made to spend the budget by the end of March and the start of the new financial year.

A number of schemes totalling £30,000 for unadopted alleyways were put forward for approval in a bid to meet the deadline, because they don’t have to jump through as many hoops to get approval as do adopted alleyways.

But Councillor Jabbar said: “I don’t feel this is the right way of doing things.

“I thought the basis of decisions was to address acute problems such as crime, fly-tipping and anti-social behaviour — not just because they are easy to do.

His views were backed by chairman, Councillor Fidal Hussain, who said: “We have a limited budget and I don’t want to sit here and just rubber stamp this kind of decision.

“We want to use resources where they are desperately needed.”

Councillor Shoab Akhtar added: “The criteria should never be the fact that we have only three months to the end of the year so we will do the easy ones.”

Councillor Hussain pointed out that a £4,800 scheme for alleygates in Lynn Street, Durham Street and Suffolk Street in Werneth were to protect houses which were earmarked for demolition under Housing Market Renewal.

“It doesn’t make sense. They are due to come down in a year or so, so what is the point of putting up alleygates?”

The go-ahead was given to alleygating schemes for Nether Hey Street and Warren Lane in the Alexandra ward, and for Frederick Street, Selkirk Street and Chamber Road in Werneth.

Officers were told to have a rethink on the Werneth streets due for demolition, and also for the Medlock Vale ward, where schemes for Manley Road, Langham Road and New Road costing £7,200 were shelved.

Members agreed to halve the £9,600 suggested for Coldhurst, with only two from four suggested schemes at Sunfield Road, Henshaw Street/Evans Street, Boundary Park Road/Kenwood Road, and Godson Street, going ahead.

The decision on which two are successful will be reported at the partnership’s next meeting, and the money saved will instead go towards security fencing around Robin Hill Youth Centre in Coldhurst.


Plan of action on crime

THE partnership is forming an action plan to tackle tough issues which blight the area.

Members agreed to meet in working groups to thrash out what needs to be done on a wide range of issues which will make up the West Oldham District Plan.

They cover everything from tackling drug abuse and dealing, targeting 10 and 11-year-olds who take cannabis, to involving asylum seekers in community life and reaching out to young people in a bid to stamp out gangs. Prostitution in the Featherstall Road area will involve highlighting hot-spots and carrying out prevention work in and around schools, and street pastors and mosque marshall schemes will attempt to offer a helping hand and advice to anyone who needs it.

Anti-social behaviour, alcohol abuse and burglary will also come under the spotlight, as will violent crime, and dangerous dogs used by gangs to intimidate people, concentrating on Coldhurst subways, Werneth Park, Alexandra Park and Kings Road. The plan not only looks at problems in the area, but how it can help and support people and community groups to blossom.

Health and well-being, children and young people, overcrowded housing and standards of housing are all areas which still need work to develop, said chairman, Councillor Fida Hussain.

Work will take place over the next few weeks and a more detailed plan will be presented to the March meeting of the district partnership.