Secretary: Mike Rooke, Sycamore Mount, Higher Arthurs, Greenfield, OL3 7BE

July ‘05

Dear Everyone,

Open to all Greenfield and Grasscroft residents, our next meeting is on Tuesday 26 th July ’05 at 7.30 p.m. at the King Bill, Chew Valley Road, Greenfield.

AGENDA

Minutes of our last meeting held on June 20th ‘05

Present: Barbara Andrews, George Bennett, Mavis Bingley, Edith & Mike Howarth, David & Kath McNeeney, Jacky & Graham Parker, Mike Rooke Val Smith, S. Wolfenden .

Apologies: Graham Andrews, Adele Baxter, Trevor Baxter, Christine Bennett, Trevor Harrison, Bernard King, Fred Skelmerdine, Jason White.

1. Matters Arising

Fletchers Mill

	i). Letters have been submitted to the Planning Committee calling for a delay in development of flats and houses at Nut Bottom and the Social Club, on grounds that an agreement to allow residential development on these sites could prejudice the bigger decision about the future of the Greenfield Mill site.
	ii). In response to our letter sent to Sue Collier about OMBC’s Overview and Scrutiny visits to the Fletcher’s Mill site, not only have we received an e-mail reply from Sue as O & S. Manager but Andrew Fletcher (Assistant Chief Exec. – Strategic Planning) has also given a 2 page response, outlining events so far and defending the council against what we described as their “closed door” approach to the site’s development. In this e-mailed letter, he suggested that we may consider holding a public meeting. With this and future strategy in mind, we agreed to discuss Fletchers at our next meeting in July.
	iii). Mike R. had asked the Environmental Agency about the relative costs of decontaminating the site, depending on type of usage. It was indicated that the costs would be the same whatever function the building served in future. (e.g. Leisure Sports Centre, Hotel etc)
	iv). As tenants at Hey Top, part of the Fletcher’s Mill site, Jacky and Graham Parker were concerned about the future use of green lanes by 4 x 4’s. Kath suggested they should contact Terry Cavanagh, OMBC’s Rights of Way Officer.
	We have written again to Phil Woolas re. policy on house building/educational and medical provision now the election is over.
	Following our response to Gail Richards (Chief Exec. – Oldham NHS Primary Care Trust (PCT).) and a proposal for the possible siting of a Health Centre at the Knoll Spinning site, Mike Rooke had been invited to attend a meeting with John Critchley (Deputy Chief Executive) and John Bird, both board members of the PCT. Contrary to what may have been implied from Gail Richard’s belated reply to David McNeeney’s question at last November’s Area Committee, there are no current plans to build a Health Centre in our area. However, the PCT are open to suggestions and should Knoll Spinning or any other location become available then they will look into the possibility of using such sites in future.
	Customer Care – Except for the replies noted above, we had not received a reply to our June 1 st letter sent directly to Andrew Kilburn (OMBC Chief Exec.). It was agreed that if no satisfactory reply is forthcoming, then we should send a follow up letter, as minuted at last month’s meeting, asking what OMBC is doing to carry out the Government’s requirement of local councils to prepare Statements of Community Involvement based on key principles i.e. the public’s right to “access to information, opportunities to contribute to ideas, options and proposals, opportunities to be consulted and opportunities to get feedback and be informed on progress and outcomes.” To best support the communities we serve, organisations like the GGRA need to base our work on facts and knowledge of policies not on hearsay.
	Road Improvements – Following our request re. resurfacing of 3 roads at the last Area Committee Meeting, Kinders Lane and Clough Lane have been identified by OMBC for urgent attention in next years’ maintenance programme. However, it didn’t appear that Chew Vale had been earmarked for similar treatment. Along with the state of Hey Top/Bradbury Lane and Higher Arthurs, this matter would be raised at this month’s Area Committee Meeting.

2. Correspondence and Communications

	Trevor Harrison had passed on a series of letters between him and the council re. the Boarhurst Lane/Kinders Lane junction lorry issue
	Councillor John Hudson had sent us an e-mail confirming that he’d contacted Geoff Willerton and Tom Flanagan about the building and highway problem at the Dene Garage site nr. The Clarence, asking if planning procedures and highway surveys are being correctly adhered to by OMBC now that the pavement is being widened - narrowing the road at a very difficult point next to St Mary’s School and by the busy roundabout. John will let us have the details of any replies.
	CPRE’s recent publications were distributed round the meeting.
	The Voluntary, Community & Faith Partnership and the Oldham Community Network are hosting a “Drop-In” Day on Tues 5 th July ( 10.30 a.m. – 2.30 p.m. ) at e the Oldham Sports Centre Combat Room.
	We had received notification of the “Stand Up for Saddleworth” Follow-up Meeting from Councillor Ken Hulme, held at Denshaw Village Hall on May 26 th.
	Margaret O’Brien has e-mailed Mike R. re. a recommendation by someone from the Environment Agency to a friend that TPO’s are placed on the trees bordering the Bowling Club site. Mike R. will arrange for OMBC to look into this for us.
	Jason White has e-mailed us with a photo attachment to draw attention to the levels of traffic in Wellington Rd and his concerns how these problems could be exacerbated by a Tesco and housing development.

3. Treasurer’s Report

Minus an outstanding payment of £25.00 to CPRE, our current balance is £674.97.

4. Policing Issues

Val Smith reported on late night incidents at Friezland Horse Arena, when youths in cars were creating noise, damage and threatening behaviour to residents. The matter has frequently been reported to the police, who have failed to respond effectively. On one occasion the youths were arrested, only to be let go with a warning. Val has been told by one policeman on the phone that “You’re lucky you live in a lovely area”. It was agreed to raise this matter with Inspector England at the Area Committee.

5. Matters for Area Committee

In addition to policing and road improvements, it was felt that we should ask if action could be taken to mend the grid at 159-161, Manchester Road which presently causes noise disruption from passing lorries. So far, United Utilities, OMBC and the Highway Authority all seem to be passing the buck on this issue.

6. GGRA Constitution

Prior to ratification at our AGM in October, a few minor changes were agreed to George’s draft updated version of our Constitution. i). That our “aim is to promote the interests of the residents of Greenfield and Grasscroft regarding the environment, amenities and infrastructure of that area” ii). That the AGM will be held in October, not September – each year and iii) That the year’s end for the audited accounts presented at the AGM should be 30 th September, not 31 st August.

7. Web-site Update and Publicity

Now that Greenfield & Grasscroft pictures had been obtained from Saddleworth Museum’s archives, more work would be completed on the web-site once Anthony Chiu had finished his A Levels.

Our A5 web-site publicity leaflet has been distributed through the Chron by Fletcher’s Newsagents. So far the response via expanding our e-mail network had been disappointing (only 5 extra households had signed up), though a head count round the meeting indicated that several roads had not been covered – i.e. Clough Lane and Friezland Lane. Mike R. was asked to check with the Chron. which roads had been covered. The deal with the Chron. was agreed on the basis that all 2,852 houses in the area would receive a leaflet. We wouldn’t be paying them until there was reasonable proof that all households had been covered.

The Chron. were interested in a photo-story based on Anthony Chiu’s help with designing the web-site. A photo would be arranged once he’d completed his exams.

As there was still some publicity money left in the kitty, it was agreed that Vol. Action Oldham would produce a poster design to advertise our future meetings around the area, reducing the amount of text and visual detail from the A5 version.
Mike would get costs from GTEC printers re. getting batches of A3 and A4 posters completed.

8. Any Other Business

Mike H. forwarded a letter he’d received from OMBC on 18 th May regarding the complaint about a pavement’s encroachment near the development site on Friezland Lane, in which the Enforcement Officer, Ray Gleeson denied there had been any planning control in this case.

For past minutes, please visit the minutes archive.