Residents cut up over canal land plans

THE canalside land off Sam Road, Diggle

RESIDENTS face a battle to prevent development on a canalside greenfield site.

Outline plans for the residential development in Diggle will be ruled on by Oldham Council’s planning committee tomorrow.

The site is a parcel of land between the canal and the Manchester-Huddersfield railway.

Planning officers have recommended approval subject to conditions, including protecting the development from railway noise, ensuring proper drainage and protecting the canal.

Saddleworth Parish Council has recommended rejection of the proposal.

Parish councillor Mike Buckley said that there was growing discontent within the council after changes made development on green sites easier.

All development on greenfield sites was previously considered inappropriate, but recent changes mean a developer can get permission if the project is “sustainable” .

Mr Buckley said: “The residents nearby are obviously not very happy. The problem is that the definition of sustainable is unclear and seems to require only a close location to amenities.”