Group’s call for support against plans

CAMPAIGNERS have launched one more battle cry against plans to build at Crompton Hall Wood.

Crompton Hall Action Group (CHAG) wants supporters to flock to an Oldham Council planning meeting to demonstrate opposition to the controversial plans.

Developer Vian Homes wants to build eight houses at the Shaw beauty spot off Buckstones Road but CHAG say it will destroy woodland and wildlife.

The council’s Planning Committee will rule on the latest set of plans at the civic centre on Wednesday, April 28, at 6pm.

CHAG chairman Sue Eckersley said: “We want all our supporters to attend the meeting.”

Two years ago, the group, 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.

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) that should be saved to protect flora, fauna and many rare species of wildlife.

Vian amended its latest plans prompting campaigners to claim that the developer was trying to get the application accepted by stating it will not fell many trees — when the responsibility for the plots will be put on to future owners.

Mrs Eckersley argues that once the owners know how costly it will be to maintain the trees, and how they make the site dark and damp, they will want to cut them down.