Wood fight goes on, say protesters

CAMPAIGNERS say fresh letters of objection are needed to save Crompton Hall Wood after developers altered their plans.

Crompton Hall Action Group (CHAG) wants supporters to renew opposition to the building of eight houses at the Shaw beauty spot.

The group says previous letters of objection won’t stand because of an amendment to the plans.

It has hit out at Vian Homes, saying the developer is trying to get the application accepted by stating it will not fell many trees — but the responsibility for the plots will be put on to future owners.

CHAG chairman Sue Eckersley said: “In this plan, the future owners will have to maintain the trees in their plot themselves which will be very costly and, of course, they will not want this cost and will want to cut down the trees as they will be in a dark and damp site.

“From viewing the plans, CHAG cannot see how this application can be accepted as it is clear that more trees will need to be removed to fit these properties in.”

Two years ago, CHAG — which had seen off six sets of plans over three years — was forced to concede defeat after a planning inspector approved building 15 flats and a three-bedroom bungalow at the Buckstones Road site.

But the fight was back on when Vian submitted a new application to build eight houses instead. The developer had never started work and it’s believed the credit crunch, making it more difficult to sell flats, forced it to go back to the drawing board.

Mrs Eckersley says the wood is a special place and a site of Scientific and Biological Interest (SBI).

She added: “We need to save Crompton Hall Wood with its beauty of natural flora, fauna and wildlife that holds many rare species. We should not allow this developer to take this away from us. Once it is gone it is gone forever.”

She said letters should be submitted to Oldham Council before Monday, February 22.