Time to give our villages a voice

THREE community champions are planning to breathe new life into Saddleworth villages.

Austerlands has just two shops and a restaurant, but Derek Heffernan, who lives there; Alan Roughley and Garth Harkness — all three Saddleworth members on the borough council — are urging locals to attend a meeting to discuss forming a community association.

Because the village and its neighbour Scouthead are too small to stand alone, the trio is suggesting both are covered by a new, joint body, the Austerlands Community Association.

Villagers will be able to have their say next Tuesday (8pm) at Austerlands Cricket club, where the councillors, who also serve on Saddleworth Parish Council, will propose their joint plans.

The meeting will spearhead a move to see villages across their ward each receive a one-off cash windfall payment from a proportion of their council money.

Saddleworth North Ward covers 25 per cent of the total area of Oldham borough and includes Austerlands, Scouthead, Denshaw, Delph, Dobcross and Diggle. Each village group will receive a £500 grant, with Austerlands and Scouthead given the money to start a community organisation to represent both villages.

Councillor Heffernan, who has lived in Austerlands for many years, said: “Local committees can be the background to increased participation in local affairs. But they need to represent everyone — not just a small clique who shout louder than others.

“That is why we want to use some of the money to support local community associations — but we need everyone to be represented and involved.”