Homes and the temple of gloom

OVERLOOKED . . . the construction site is less than three metres from the Temple

New homes will overshadow Indian centre

MEMBERS of Oldham’s Indian Association say a new residential development in Hathershaw would be detrimental to their community if it goes ahead.

An application to build 121 houses on land bounded by Schofield Street, Ashton Road and Copsterhill Road will be discussed by the planning committee on Thursday.

The site, known as the Borough Triangle, is a key regeneration project within the Hathershaw and Fitton Hill Masterplan.

The development process saw New Deal For Communities and councillors working with private land owners to facilitate a high quality, mixed use residential scheme.

The plan put forward by Countryside Properties includes a mix of four two-bedroom, 77 three-bedroom, 38 four-bedroom and two five-bedroom homes.

Members of the Indian Association in Schofield Street have collected 140 names on a petition against the development.

The objection letter, from association president Trupti Patel, says that some parts of the proposed development are less than three metres from the Indian Association, contravening the minimum 10 metre rule.

The letter goes on to say that noise from neighbouring properties would disturb activities at the centre, especially at times when members are observing silence, such as prayer time.

Gardens of the new properties run right up to the centre’s boundaries meaning members would feel overlooked and activities would be compromised. Ward Councillor Ateeque Ur-Rehman, who supports the Association’s petition, added: “The Indian Community Centre and Temple is an excellent resource used by many people in the area.

Members of the Association plays a very important role in the community cohesion, interfaith and local area partnership.

“It is the council’s responsibility to ensure that operational integrity of the centre is not compromised by introducing new neighbours.”