Post-Whit shifters come in for praise

LITTER-pickers removed more than 40 tonnes of rubbish from the streets of Saddleworth after the annual Whit weekend celebrations.

The council’s Street Scene team hit villages, connecting roads and district centres after the Whit walks, band contest and beer walk to make sure they were returned to their original condition.

Fifty temporary bins and recycling containers were left crammed with waste following the traditional celebrations.

Councillor Mark Alcock, cabinet member for citizens and neighbourhoods, said: “The events are great spectacles and attract thousands of people to Saddleworth every year.

“Unfortunately one of the knock-on effects of this success is the amount of litter that is left behind.

“Our street scene workers faced a huge job clearing up but they were on hand as soon as the festivities ended and they did a fantastic job.”



UNITED Utilities and Oldham Council have been praised after they responded quickly to sewage leaking into the River Tame and a newly refurbished playground in Delph.

Councillor Keith Begley raised the alarm on Whit Friday, when it looked as if the pollution could put weekend family fun activities in jeopardy. However, Parish Councillor Ken Hulme says the Swan Meadow play area, opened on May 16, has been beset with problems since day one.

He said: “The main feature of the playground, a large zip wire, was rendered unusable by vandalism after just a week.

“The play area has seen groups of young people congregating there into the early hours of the morning and then a broken sewage pipe created a health hazard for youngsters.”

“I’m delighted that the play area is there but there needs to be some kind of security measure.”

Councillor Begley said the teams contacted acted swiftly to clear up the mess.