Chadderton debates town green status

John Arnold and Joan McMahon on the land next to Chadderton Fire Station which could become a town green.

Land north of Chadderton Fire Station on Broadway could become a Town Green after a meeting tonight.

The public meeting will consider the application which has been pending since 2002, but held up because of a House of Lords case which ended in 2006.

In June last year, independent inspector Ruth Stockley held a public inquiry into the town green application which was submitted by local open spaces campaigner John Arnold of Chadderton.

The area, which is owned by Oldham Council, has a history of development, with Baretrees Junior School, Chadderton Foot-ball Club and Chadderton fire station all being built around the site in recent years.

Controversial plans to build a new Chadderton police station on the land next to the fire station were dropped in 2003.

And local people told the public inquiry that they want to preserve the land for future generations.

Tonight Oldham Coun-cil’s Commons Registra-tion Committee will make the final decision, because the authority has to determine any application to register land in the borough as a town or village green. Ms Stockley’s report will be considered by the committee before deciding whether to grant the application or reject it.

The public meeting begins at 5pm in the Lees Suite at Oldham Civic Centre, which can be accessed via the civic centre entrance, Rochdale Road reception.