Homes plan opposed

A GROUP of Shaw residents look set to campaign against a development of 80 houses — but have held out an olive branch to the applicants.

As revealed in the Chronicle, P+D Northern Steels Ltd has submitted a planning application for the development at its Moss Hey Street site.

Bosses say they need to sell the base to keep the business going and safeguard jobs by finding a more efficient site elsewhere in Oldham.

A group of 26 residents held a meeting to discuss the plans amid fears the housing will be an overdevelopment and create traffic chaos next to the new Asda store.

The residents seem likely to lodge objections but also indicated a compromise could be reached.

Increased traffic is the main concern but finding a different access could help solve this, although this may not be feasible or cost-effective.

The only current access is by Greenfield Lane, where shoppers flock to Asda.

Meeting organiser David Murphy said: “Having spoken to a number of residents the feeling is that we are going to do all we can for a satisfactory outcome for both parties. It would appear that the residents’ main concern is the increased traffic along Moss Hey Street and looking at possible other access routes is the main criteria.

“The 80 houses with vehicles can only add more congestion to the arterial routes in Shaw centre.

“The more we can highlight the situation to all the residents of Shaw the better as it does not just affect the immediate locals but the wider area .”

The residents are now considering setting up a committee to campaign against the plans.

Mr Murphy told the meeting: “If we do nothing this proposal will go ahead and we will all have to live with the consequences.”

P+D Northern has been at the site, used for storage and flattening steel plates, since 1972 and employs a dozen full-time and three part-time staff.

Managing director Peter Martin wrote to the Chronicle to say he wants to do the right thing for the company and the local community. He said a transport assessment concluded that the local road network will continue to operate well and around 40 per cent below their capacity. Plus, removing the firm’s HGVs would ease problems.

He said he understood residents’ fears and is happy to discuss their concerns.