Queen status hope for two green fields

TWO green areas of Oldham are hoping for royal approval as part of the Queen’s diamond jubilee celebrations.

Warwick Road open space, in Failsworth, and Churchill Playing Fields, in Greenfield, have been nominated to become “Queen Elizabeth II Fields” by Oldham Council.

The landmark scheme aims to protect important green spaces in communities as a permanent legacy of the Queen’s milestone.

The council, along with other local authorities and major landowners across the country, was invited to nominate one or more sites to Fields In Trust to become permanently protected for recreational and community use.

The two sites were chosen in response to requests from local community groups and ward members.

Benefits of the dedication include:

::Protecting and preserving the important green spaces for leisure and recreational use for future generations.

::Empowering community groups to get involved through support from the QEII community engagement partners.

::Opportunities to apply for a range of improvement funds managed by Fields in Trust exclusively for QEII Fields.

Councillor Jean Stretton, cabinet member for neighbourhoods, said: “Oldham Council is firmly committed to the provision of recreational open space for future generations. We know how important these particular sites are to their local communities, so we are delighted to be able to put them forward for the QEII scheme.

“We are planning to hold official jubilee celebration events at both of these sites in June 2012, but we need your support. We’re urging all local residents and community groups to get involved with this scheme and help to shape our plans.

“Please get clicking to register your interest and show your support at www.qe2fields.com.”

Approval was recently given to install a complete new drainage system and reconfigure the pitches at Churchill Playing Fields using £411,000 of funding. Work is due to start in March and completed by next October.

The Warwick Road site had previously been suggested for a land swap for charitable trust status with land to the north of the Lancaster Club, off Broadway, before plans to build Latics’ stadium in Failsworth fell through.