Parish objects to disposal of green open space – Crompton Way/Milnrow Road/Siddall Street

I am pleased to report my colleagues on the Parish Council have backed my calls to oppose the sale of this green public open space in the heart of Shaw.

Below is a copy of their objection letter.

Oldham Council has now published its so called ‘public notice’ to let the people know about its plans to sell this land.

It was buried in the small print on page 25 of the Oldham Evening Chronicle, along with other disposals (called plot 3) on the 21st October 2013.

People have 28 days to object i.e. by NO LATER than the 18th November.

Objections need to be sent to:

Ref. Bernard Summers, Executive Director of Neighbourhoods Oldham Council, PDI Division, Level 6, Civic Centre, West Street, Oldham OL1 1UH

If YOU feel strongly about this issue please do object by the deadline, I need your help to save/protect this key green space in the heart of Shaw

Copy of Parish letter:

Chief Executive
Oldham MBC
Civic Centre
West Street
Oldham
OL1 1UT

17 October 2013

Dear Sir/Madam

Site of the Former Matthias Pilling House and Adjoining Land at Milnrow Road/Siddall Street, Shaw

At a meeting held on 14 October 2013, the Parish Council discussed a report by your Council’s Executive Director, Commercial Services, dated 9 September 2013. The purpose of the report was stated to be to seek authority to advertise an intention to dispose of land comprising the site of the former Matthias Pilling House and adjoining land at Milnrow Road/Siddall Street, Shaw, which had been identified as Public Open Space. A copy of the report is attached for ease of reference.

The Parish Council resolved to express to your Council:
• its opposition to the disposal of the Public Open Space that is not, and never has been, part of the former Matthias Pilling House site (for clarity, the area on the site plan which is not hatched), and
• its view that sale of the land comprising the site of the former Matthias Pilling House be restricted to social landlords, preferably those providing for older people. Members pointed out that this end use had been agreed previously with the then Metropolitan Borough Councillors for Shaw Ward and Chairman of the Housing Committee.

I look forward to receiving your confirmation that the views of the Parish Council will be taken into account when reaching a decision about the future of these two pieces of land.

Yours faithfully

Dr Ray Hughes
Clerk to the Council

cc Oldham MBC Executive Director, Commercial Services,
Oldham MBC Councillors for Shaw Ward

DISPOSAL OF THE SITE OF THE FORMER MATTHIAS PILLING HOUSE SIDDALL STREET/MILNROW ROAD AND OTHER ADJOINING LAND

The above was discussed at a recent meeting of the Shaw and Crompton District Executive held on the 8 Oct 13.

Consideration was given to a report of the Executive Director, Commercial Services, which sought delegated authority to advertise an intention to dispose of land comprising the site of the former Matthias Pilling House and adjoining land at Milnrow Road/Siddall Street, Shaw which had been identified as Public Open Space.

This report had been presented to the District Executive for consultation purposes following a request by councillor Howard Sykes.

Members discussed the impact that the disposal of the site on the area. Planning applications to develop the public open space on the site had previously been refused and this was a key plot on a major route through the area.

Elected Members confirmed that previous administrations had given verbal assurances that the site of Matthias Pilling House would be redeveloped for social housing for the elderly (i.e. its previous use).

Concerns were also raised regarding the reduction of Public Open Space in the area if the disposal continued as detailed in the report as there was a severe lack of open public space in Shaw.

The Meeting resolved that::

1. The District Executive opposed the sale of the land on the site of the former Matthias Pilling House on the open market;

2. Should the decision be made to sell the land, the District Executive recommended that the site of the former Matthias Pilling House be sold in order to provide social housing for older members of the community;

3. The District Executive recommended that the area of Public Open Space adjoining the site of the former Matthias Pilling House not be included in any disposal.

Questions (allowed max of three) I asked at Oldham Council meeting Wed 23rd October 13

Q1. The Armed Forces Covenant – and Oldham Council’s Commitment:
This Council has a long history of working on a cross-party basis to recognise the commitment, dedication and, tragically on occasions, self-sacrifice of citizens of this Borough who are or have been service personnel in Her Majesty’s armed forces or in the emergency services.

This has included awarding the honorary title of Freemen of the Borough to members of the Royal Tank Regiment, supporting the retention of the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers and endorsing the Royal British Legion Manifesto and the Government’s Armed Forces Covenant.

In recent months, my colleague, Councillor John McCann, has proposed, on behalf of the Liberal Democrat Group, that streets be named in this Borough after fallen service personnel and that ex-service personnel seeking employment with this Council be offered guaranteed interviews.

I am pleased to say that these two proposals have found favour with my fellow councillors.

With Remembrance Sunday next month and the 100th anniversary of the commencement of the First World War next year, I therefore welcome the recent announcement by the Leader to implement measures to make the Council’s commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant a reality at a local level.

My first question to the Leader tonight comes in three parts:
a) Could he please outline for Council what presently these measures will be?
b) Will he charge a cabinet member with responsibility for championing these measures, as has been done by neighbouring Rochdale, for example?
c) Will he be happy to support my call for overview and scrutiny board to identify best practice from other local authorities that can be adopted here and to consult with relevant organisations in our Borough for their recommendations, such as veterans’ associations and charities which provide support for ex-service personnel?

Q2. Recent Stabbing and Lack of PCSOs:
I am sure that the Leader will join me in condemning the recent stabbing in Shaw.

For many months (over 12 in fact), ward members have both at district meetings and at meetings with the police reported recurring instances of anti-social and intimidating behaviour by a gang of young offenders in central Shaw, and have repeatedly demanded action.

Despite the police undertaking undercover operations, I am convinced that the lack of visibility of PCSOs in Shaw has meant that this gang has operated without apparent interference for months (that is what the public think) – and this unsatisfactory situation has now led to this stabbing.

The Leader may recall that at last December’s Council I asked him to join me in condemning a change in procedure requiring Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) to parade at Oldham Police Station prior to deployment to their assigned beat?

This has meant that PCSOs have less time on the beat to actually detect crime, apprehend criminals and help the public as they now have to travel between central Oldham and Royton, Shaw and elsewhere, rather than simply reporting for duty on their beat at the start of a shift.
In Shaw, this has resulted in us now hardly ever seeing any PCSO’s in our town centre, and the public have noticed and regularly comment about this fact at every opportunity.

At December’s Council, the Leader agreed that a meeting should be arranged for Group Leaders to discuss our concerns about the new arrangements with the Police.

This appears not to have happened?

In light of the recent incident in Shaw, can I again request that the Leader agree to arrange such a meeting as a matter of urgency?

Q3. Regulating Chuggers:

In this chamber in the recent past, we have had a number of discussions about how we can revitalise and support our high street.

I hope that the Leader will agree with me that one of the irritants deterring shoppers from returning to our town centre is being accosted by one of the many fund-raisers (known less affectionately as ‘chuggers’, or charity muggers) who seem ever prevalent on our high street?

Although sporting garments advertising whichever charity of the day they are promoting, many of these individuals are in fact employed by agencies.

These agencies operate for profit through taking a fee from funds raised and in turn pay commission to the fund-raiser.

Can the Leader please tell Council what is being done by this Administration to regulate the activities of these ‘fund-raisers’, in particular to ensure that shoppers and visitors to our town are not harassed and that 100% of the money raised goes directly to the charity?

Shaw and Crompton celebrate the 150th Anniversary of Oldham to Rochdale Railway Line

The Railway line and now the Metrolink line are 150 years old

Come and join us to celebrate the occasion

Saturday 2nd November 2013

Shaw and Crompton Metrolink stop, Beal Lane at 10.45am

Metrolink have promised that tram 3050 will be in service

Trams will be running with commemorative boards

A plaque marking the event will be unveiled by the Mayor of Oldham

Shaw and Crompton District Executive part of Oldham Council

Information to help combat anti-social dog fouling

Neighbourhoods Directorate
Environmental Health
Chadderton Town Hall, Middleton Road
Chadderton, Oldham OL9 6PP
Tel: 0161 770 2244
Email: environmentalhealth@oldham.gov.uk

Dear Sir or Madam

RE: DOG CONTROL ORDER: CLEAN NEIGHBOURHOODS AND ENVIRONMENT ACT 2005

I receive numerous complaints annually concerning dog owners who allow their dogs to foul in public places; in order for the Neighbourhood Enforcement team to fully investigate a complaint please provide me with the following information

• The times when the owner takes their dog out
• The location where the fouling has occurred
• A description of the dog
• A description of the owner
• If the dog owner is using a car, the registration number

Dog owners who do not clean up after their dogs face an immediate £80 fixed penalty fine or face prosecution by the Local Authority which can result in a fine of up to £1000.

Should you have any queries or require any further advice, please contact the Enforcement Officer on the above telephone number

Samantha Jackson
Principle Environmental Health Officer
Neighbourhood Enforcement

Planning a basic guide

Councillor Chris Stephens Chair of Shaw and Crompton Parish Council Planning Committee wrote the following article. I have posted it on my web site as I think it will be of interest to you all.

Several residents have expressed concern regarding the general lack of information about planning processes within Oldham Borough.

It can be disconcerting to find that a neighbour, business, school, farm, or other organisation in your neighbourhood has applied for a planning application which may range from a simple house extension up to a major property development or significant business change/ implementation.

Concerns over privacy, loss of amenity, noise, additional traffic movements, parking and environmental issues often have a significant impact on resident’s lives.

The process of finding out about a planning application can appear to be disharmonised; the purpose of this article is to provide some basic information on the planning process.

Information about larger planning applications generally appears in the local press, particularly for those which may have a major impact on the local neighbourhood.

Applications which affect fewer residents, such as home or shop extensions, business change uses, are not necessarily widely publicised. Generally Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council (OMBC) will send out notification letters to properties adjacent to the proposed application.

The letter will contain details of the planning application together with information where the plans may be inspected (usually the Civic Centre) and dates by which objections may be forwarded to OMBC.

However, OMBC are not obliged to send out letters but they do have an obligation to post a notice about a residential planning application adjacent to the property; this is generally a pink coloured notice often placed upon a lamppost outside the property.

If you see such a notice within your vicinity please ensure you take the time to read it. If you are concerned, or need advice, about the application it is recommended you contact a Parish or OMBC councillor about the issue as soon as possible.

All planning applications within the Parish of Shaw and Crompton are notified to the Parish Council.

A list of such applications is on display in the window of the Parish Council Office at 1 Kershaw Street East, Shaw.

Applications are on display for only about 1 week prior to the Parish Council Planning Committee meeting.

Residents are able to make representation to the Parish Council; public participation is encouraged as views from people living and working in the area are important to the decision making process.

Dates and times of meetings are displayed in the Parish Council office. Members of the public wishing to speak on a planning issue should advise the clerk of the Parish Council prior to the meeting.

The Parish Planning Committee does not make a final decision on approval or rejection of an application but it makes a recommendation to OMBC on acceptance or refusal based on planning laws as well as taking into consideration any public representations.

OMBC may take into account the Parish recommendations when making their own decision on the application.

Members of the public are also permitted to make a presentation to OMBC Planning Committee on planning applications although only one person may speak against the application and only one may speak in support. Additionally a time limit is imposed on speakers at Borough planning meetings.

For further information on the planning process please contact Cllr Chris Stephens: 0775 296 8201 or the Parish Office 01706 847590.
Also further information on the planning process is available at:
http://www.oldham.gov.uk/info/200351/planning

Shaw and Crompton Parish Council – Chairman’s Crompton Circuit Walk

Chairman’s Crompton Circuit Walk
(free guided walk of just over 11 miles)

Sunday 22 September 2013 – Starting at 10:00am and Finishing 4:30pm

Meet at Dunwood Park Café, Smallbrook Road, Shaw OL2 7UQ with a Pit-stop at the halfway mark, around 1:00pm – 2:00pm at St Joseph’s Church, Oldham Road,
Shaw OL2 8SZ

Or join at the half way mark if you wish.

For more information prior to or on the day of the walk please contact the Chairman, Cllr Dave Murphy on 01706 840056 or email cllr.dave.murphy@gmail.com

Please bring a packed lunch, waterproofs and suitable footwear.

Those with any health issues, please seek medical advice before participating in the walk.

Congratulations to St Mary’s CE Primary School, High Crompton

St Mary’s CE Primary School in High Crompton won the main prize of £500 in the Recycle Week ‘Don’t Bin It, Bring It’ competition.

This competition took place between 28 schools throughout Greater Manchester during Recycle Week, to encourage pupils and staff to recycle broken or unwanted small electrical items, such as kettles, cameras and toys.

St Mary’s pupils collected over one third of a tonne of these items. Overall, the 28 schools collected over 2.5 tonnes of material.

All of these materials will be broken down and recycled into new products through a reprocessing facility.

Well done all at St Mary’s!

PEAT-FREE COMPOST

From Tuesday, 6th August, high quality, peat-free compost created from the green and food waste collected around Greater Manchester is available for sale to the public.

In Oldham, this is for sale at Arkwright Street. 20-litre bags are available for £1.50 and 40-litre bags are available for £2.84. Also, four 40-litre bags can be bought for £10.00.