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

August ‘05

Dear Everyone,

Open to all Greenfield and Grasscroft residents, our next meeting is on Wednesday 21st Sept ’05 at 7.30 p.m. at the King Bill, Chew Valley Road, Greenfield.

AGENDA

Minutes of our last meeting held on Wed August 31st ‘05

Present: George Bennett, Tony Bywater, Des O’Brien, Ann Gatley, Vince & Sybil Hill, Neil & Irene Hirst, Neil Langton, David McNeeney, Mike Rooke, Dave Sanders, Pauline Tetlow, Jason White.

Apologies: Adele & Trevor Baxter, Christine Bennett, Mavis Bingley, Pat Bywater, Mike & Edith Howarth, Kath McNeeney Ted Nolan, Val Smith, Sue Wolfenden.

1. Matters Arising

	Mike read out our letter sent to Phil Woolas on 17 th Aug re. Health and Educational facilities and Planning Law.
	There had been no reply yet from our follow-up letter on Customer Care issues to the Chief Exec. If no response is forthcoming from an officer, we agreed to take up the matter with our ward councillors.
	Website/Publicity - It was agreed to print 1,500 A4 Meeting posters with GTEC printers for £180.00
	Greenfield Social Club – The Chair was happy to report that last week’s Planning Committee had unanimously refused to grant planning permission for Whiteoak Ltd to convert this building into 6 holiday flatlets, on grounds that the proposal to build 6 garages attached to this development would not be allowed in the greenbelt. Our Fletcher’s Mill sub-group had helped compose the letter submitted to officers/councillors on the Planning Committee. Our sub-group will reconvene on Sept 8 th. (See 4. Fletcher’s Mill below).
	Judy Lamb, OMBC Head of Library Loan Services, has assured Mike that we’ll be given a comparative breakdown of costs and loans as requested in our recent letter.

2. Correspondence and Communications

	We had received a standard letter from Stephen Ramsden, Programme Officer for the Replacement Unitary Development Plan (RUDP) attached to which were copies of the Council’s rebuttal to objections made by GGRA in respect of the Grasscroft side of Lydgate Tunnel, land adjacent to Summershades Lane, Friezland Bowling Club, Saddleworth Cricket/Bowling Club and Wellington Rd/French’s Wharf. In the case of the latter, such rebuttal’s would be superseded by the outcome of June’s Knoll Spinning Inquiry. The others will eventually become subsumed within Oldham ’s future Statement of Community Involvement. Des agreed to pass on the papers re. the Lydgate Tunnel to David Chadderton who had first submitted GGRA’s objections.
	Notification from Simon Shuttleworth (Area Manager’s Support Officer) had been received re. 2 forthcoming Area Committee events. Preceding September’s normal public meeting on Thursday 29 th at the Civic Hall (6.30 p.m.), a special meeting will be held at Saddleworth Museum on Tuesday 13 th Sept (6.30 p.m.) to discuss Environmental Issues at which Tom Flanagan, Head of Environmental Services will be present. This will be a chance for us to put questions and make complaints about OMBC’s services in our villages. It was agreed that we should ask people on our e-mail network to forward their concerns to us re. environmental problems/priorities. Meantime, three issues were raised at the meeting: i). Poor signage and blockage of local footpaths. ii). OMBC’s policy re. Ancient Highways in response to the 4-Wheel drive lobby for access and iii). Lack of representation of public complainants at site visits – e.g. at the recent Kinders Lane/Boarhurst Lane junction.
	2 consultation documents had been received from Oldham ’s Primary Care Trust – Making it Better and Healthy Futures, which were distributed round the meeting. The full versions are available on www.bestforhealth.nhs.uk and the deadline for completing questionnaire responses is Sept 15 th.

3. Treasurer’s Report

Based on our latest bank statement, our current balance is £494.97.

4. Fletcher’s Mill

Given recent encouraging events at OMBC’s Planning Committee, we discussed our plans and strategies at some length.

The meeting agreed that the Fletcher’s site should be developed as an employment zone for the common, community good and not be exploited for private greed. At this stage, it is important to remain flexible about the exact make-up of the final project whilst funding sources/costs are identified for different options – e.g. Leisure, Arts, Tourism.

It was felt that GGRA could play an important role in seeking to provide expression of local people’s wishes whilst liasing with OMBC Officers/ councillors, the MEP/MP and other key players.

The notion of extending the Peak Park boundaries to include the Fletcher’s site, recently expressed by Phil Woolas MP, could prove significant in helping to ensure responsible eco-friendly development of the site.

It was strongly hoped that the UDP Inquiry would uphold the council’s stated position that the mill footprint was not to be used for residential development. The value of the land would be greatly reduced if house building was not permitted and would therefore make leisure/recreational options possible. Not only has there been far too much housing in our villages already, but this would be a wasted opportunity on a site offering so many potential benefits to local people and the wider community. The facilities created could attract visitors from across Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire and beyond.

Actions agreed:

	To renew contact with Chris Davies MEP and Phil Woolas MP, requesting a face-to face meeting as a matter of some urgency, given that Nat Purie/Whiteoak Ltd are already making strong claims to build houses within the curtilage of the Fletcher’s site and within the greenbelt. (NB: Once we meet them, we can discuss strategic initiatives and explore Euro and Government funding options for different potential uses of the site.)
	To re-establish contact with the Peak Planning Board and set up a meeting between themselves and GGRA, Civic Trust and other Saddleworth reps.
	To involve United Utilities at an early stage in developments.
	To continue strong opposition to any housing development on the fringe sites (e.g. The Social Club and Nut Bottom). (NB: Sybil Hill suggested that we stressed the historical role the wider environs of the mill played in providing leisure and sports facilities for mill workers, their families and the wider village community.)
	After our sub-group has re-convened on Sept 8th, a report of our plans and activities will be sent to Andrew Fletcher, OMBC’s Deputy Chief Exec, with copies sent to local councillors, MEP & MP.

5. Any Other Business

	We agreed to include Chairman’s Urgent Business on our agenda, should this be required at future meetings.
	David M. circulated a draft of our revised consultation. Mike agreed to distribute this document via the e-mail network asking for suggested amendments/comments prior to ratification at September’s meeting in time for our AGM, a month later.
	George asked whether we should purchase a set of small-scale OS maps which he felt would help us greatly in obtaining accurate information for planning disputes etc. Jason explained that OMBC currently pay a licence fee to the Ordinance Survey for the privilege of access to all maps in the area. As a voluntary independent body, we had no right to access OMBC’s copies and would need our own licence. A new web-based version of definitive maps was going to be available to local authorities and it may have implications for community associations and other users in future. It was agreed that George, Jason and Neil liase to explore what options are available to us. Meantime, George will contact the CPRE for advice.
	Wood Square – Despite GGRA’s 3 minute submission at the Aug 24 th Planning Meeting, permission was granted for the sheltered housing scheme on this site to go ahead. Neil thanked our secretary for standing in for him, due to family holiday commitments. Five GGRA reps/supporters present on the occasion all thought they heard Steven Bashforth, the Chairman, conclude the agenda item with the statement that “Planning Permission is granted subject to a Right of Way being secured across the site”, though George felt Councillor Bashforth was actually referring to the requirement that the developer applies for a stopping-up order for the existing footpaths. Mike said he would speak to Andy McMullen, the planning officer, on this matter.

6. Date of Next Meeting – Wed 21 st September – 7.30 p.m.

For past minutes, please visit the minutes archive.