Memories hold the key to town green battle

A pair of Chadderton campaigners are seeking help from people with long memories in a bid to get a town green.

John Arnold and Joan McMahon have gone back to the drawing board after a failed application to get town green status for a plot of land next to Chadderton Fire Station on Broadway.

It was turned down by Oldham Council’s Commons Registration Committee last week, on the grounds of 20 years unrestricted use by the public not being met.

The council appropriated the land as a public open space half way through the last 20-year period.

Mr Arnold, who was at the meeting, said: “Public open space land can’t be registered as a town green, therefore we had to accept the judgement.”

“But it is possible to put the application forward again, but we need half a dozen witnesses of people who remember it being used by the public. I have known it for 60 years, and I remember it being used for all sorts, children playing, dog walkers and people flying kites.”

Anyone who can help should contact John on 07950 152117.