Mental health facility plans are rejected

PLANS to turn a long-derelict residential home in Chadderton into shared living accommodation for mental health sufferers on the road to recovery were last night rejected because of access concerns.

The controversial plans for the Sycamore Avenue home prompted 250 locals into signing a petition, expressing a number of concerns, including that it would overlook nearby houses, cause noise pollution and have an impact on parking and highways.

Turning Point mental health services hoped to use the former Yew Tree residential home — unused for over 15 years — as a 12-bedroom home for recovery and rehabilitation for people with mental health needs.

A Turning Point spokesman said: “The residents using Yew Tree would be 75-80 per cent on the full road to recovery. The scheme is for the people of Oldham. It promotes independence for people to successfully move into the community.”

Councillor Rod Blyth said: “All the problems we have heard would exist if this was still a residential home, anyway. The only difference I can see is that the residents are slightly different — they have mental health issues. I don’t know if that has some bearing on this because if it does it should not.”