Oldham Council has been told by the Mayor of Greater Manchester to prepare new housing quotas for the next 20 years. Oldham propose there should be 2,000 expensive, top council tax band houses built in Saddleworth.
No council houses, no social housing, no rented accommodation, nothing for young Saddleworth families – who will be forced out of the district. No mention of money for new schools, medical facilities or improving any of Saddleworth’s antiquated narrow roads and bursting sewers.
They are encouraging landowners to offer up green belt land. This is completely against national policy, which says all brown field sites throughout the borough should be filled before even thinking about invading the Green Belt.
Saddleworth has a stable population. We say there should be some limited new rented accommodation in every village, for young people but we always must always force developers to use brownfield sites first.
Saddleworth Liberal Democrats will always stand up for Saddleworth but we really need your active support if we are to preserve the vibrant nature of our village communities. Talk to us, talk to your friends and neighbours, come to our meetings. When the time comes, support our candidates in the Borough elections. Best of all, join us! We will be delighted to hear from you. You can fill in our petition to make your support known.
Across Saddleworth the following areas are under threat:
Scouthead and Austerlands – The Green Belt site on Lower Turf Lane and Brown Field Sites at Birks Quarry and Austerlands Mill have been offered up by existing landowners. There is a real danger of the area losing some of its green fields and a substantial increase in traffic on an already busy A62.
Delph, Denshaw and Dobcross – In Denshaw, the Green Belt sites between Rochdale Road and Ripponden Road, together with the remaining green belt land at Denshaw Vale and Delph Road have been offered up by existing landowners. Green Belt sites in Dobcross next to Sandy Lane, Long Lane, Lark Hill Road and Wool Road have been offered up by existing landowners. In Delph, the Green Belt site on Rumbles Lane has been offered up by an existing landowner. Dobcross is in real danger of merging with Diggle, Delph and Uppermill, losing the unique character of this village.
Grotton, Springhead and Lees – The Green Belt areas Thornley Brook and Ashbrook have been slated for extensive development, with a major new road included, which would effectively remove the last main Green Belt area separating the three villages.