A Planning Application has been submitted to Oldham Council seeking to convert the former Weavers Answer public house on Milnrow Road, Shaw into an 18-room temporary homeless hostel.
A planning application was eventually submitted towards the end of November after Shaw Ward Liberal Democrat Councillors asked Oldham Council planning enforcement officers to visit the premises twice to investigate apparently unauthorised works that were taking place.
After their intervention and to ensure that the planning application is properly considered in the public arena, local councillors exercised their right to ask that the application be considered by councillors at a meeting of the full Planning Committee rather than decided by planning officers under delegated powers.
Liberal Democrat Councillor for the Shaw Ward, Howard Sykes MBE said: “Once we became aware of the initial unauthorised works we ensured action was taken to address this, and upon being told an application had been submitted, in early December 2020, we asked that this application be considered by a meeting of the full Planning Committee, rather than just planning officers.”
“The public consultation with neighbours has been limited to only seven addresses, as is required by planning law, but our actions will ensure that all residents can still make their views known and these will be considered as late as the day of the meeting of the Planning Committee. This date has yet to be determined,” he added.
“I am also pleased report the rubbish and fly-tipping left when a large refuse skip was removed from the site has also been reported for action last week,” stated Councillor Howard Sykes.
Shaw and Crompton Parish Council, as a statutory consultee, will also consider the application at its own Planning Committee meeting on 26th January 2021 after which their views will form part of the report considered by Oldham Council’s Planning Committee.
Residents are encouraged to share their views on the Oldham Council website planning portal under reference FUL/ 345796/20. You can search for the application at:
https://www.oldham.gov.uk/info/200351/planning/1866/search_for_an_application