Campaigners’ delight as plans thrown out

WE did it: local residents including Trevor Cash and Martina Hanson (front) are all smiles after the application was thrown out

Lucy Kenderdine: Oldham Planning Committee

PEOPLE power prevailed at last night’s planning meeting as residents battling a controversial housing development in Moorside saw the application refused.

Oldham Council planning committee refused an outline application to build 30 detached and semi-detached homes on land off Haven Lane, saying the plan would over-develop the site.

A 600-name petition and 28 letters of objection were received by the council. Traffic issues, parking problems, loss of green space, over development of the area, a potential increase in noise, crime and pollution were all sited as concerns.

The application, submitted by Heyford Developments, contained plans for 14 three-bedroom and 16 four-bedroom homes and access to the site.

Trevor Cash, who has lived in the area for more than 50 years with his wife Wendy, said: “We are over the moon with the result. After the previous Haven Lane application was approved, we thought all hope had been lost but we are happy that the councillors voted to reject this one.”