Greenfield & Grasscroft Residents' Association: February 2005 Minutes

GGRA: Greenfield & Grasscroft Residents' Association

GREENFIELD AND GRASSCROFT
RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION

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

March ’06

Dear Everyone,

Open to all Greenfield and Grasscroft residents, our next meeting is on Tuesday 25th April ’06 at 7.30 p.m. at the King Bill, Chew Valley Road, Greenfield.

AGENDA

1.	Apologies
2.	Minutes of last meeting
3.	Matters arising
4.	Chairman’s Urgent Business
5.	Correspondence and Communications
6.	Report back from Hey Top residents.
7.	Treasurer’s Report
8.	Discussion with Mary Booth (Editor – Saddleworth Monthly)
9.	Feedback from March’s Area Committee
10.	AOB

Minutes of our last meeting held on Tues March 21st ‘06

Present: Mavis Bingley, Alan Cooper, K & M Davies, Joan Frost, Peter Gallagher, Jacky Knight, David & Kath McNeeney, Graham Parker, David Partington, Sarah Plevin, Mike Rooke, Dave Sanders.

Apologies: Graham & Barbara Andrews, John Frost, Vince & Sybil Hill, Mike & Edith Howarth, Ted Nolan, Des O’Brien, Jason White.

1. Matters Arising

	OS Maps – Mike H. had e-mailed to say that he’d contacted Don Wagstaffe (OMBC) who’d taken over mapping issues from Mr Hindle. Voluntary groups and individuals can’t have free access to small-scale maps, other than the sketches/maps accompanying planning applications. Mike R. agreed to ask David Clark at CPRE for advice on this matter.
	Knoll – As previously agreed, a letter has been sent to the PCT to support the offer of a mobile NHS dentist for Saddleworth villages as an interim measure before a permanent site (such as Knoll) could be found. We’d had a constructive meeting with Tracy Jenkinson (Manager) and Dr Milne (Head of Practice) with Saddleworth Medical Practice. Following an upbeat letter from Gail Richards (PCT Chief Exec.), a meeting is planned for March 29th between ourselves and some of Gail’s management team.
	Recycling – Suzanne Jones (OMBC Recycling Officer) had written to explain that the council are undertaking a review of the service for those properties currently unable to receive the Recycling Collection Service. As an interim measure, Mini-Recycling Centres were going to be supplied by the end of March. We’ve also complained about OMBC’s inadequate instructions re. types of recyclable plastic, but a response from Suzanne’s colleagues has failed to clarify this matter.
	147, Manchester Rd – Following a request from the owners, Anne and Nigel Plackett, Mike R. had visited to discuss the issue of sewerage on Manchester Road. Mike had confirmed to them that it was still GGRA’s policy to object to planning proposals in this part of Greenfield, given United Utilities “hydraulically inadequate” designation to the local sewerage system.
	We agreed to discuss this matter at our April meeting, once further facts had been obtained. It seems this issue could soon affect all residents in the area, given that proposed new legislation may require future house sellers to confirm that sewers are adequate in a Sellers’ Pack. Derek Richards (Greater Manchester Ecology Unit) has written to confirm that he has asked OMBC Planning Dep’t to consult with his Unit on all future planning applications that potentially affect the Dacres SBI site.
	Holmfirth Rd – Traffic Dangers. Steve Palk (OMBC) has sent us the results of the traffic and speeding levels’ survey. The mean speed of vehicles was found to be 35.7 mph westbound and 34.8 mph eastbound. However a follow-up query from Dave S. had indicated that 85% of the vehicles surveyed, travelled at or below 46.3 mph westward and 44.5 mph eastbound. This means that 15% of drivers travel in excess of these speeds, a worrying level of risk to residents, pedestrians, cyclist and horse riders. To more fully assess the danger, Dave S. will now ask how many cars in the survey exceeded the speed limit and what was the distribution of speeds of these cars.
	Wellington Road – We’d sent a letter to Steve Paulk to support the Homewatch group’s request for traffic calming measures. In response to Homewatch’s complaints, Mr Paulk had acknowledged the problems but had alluded to priorities within OMBC’s tight budget constraints. We advised David Partington (Wellington Rd Homewatch coordinator) to submit a question to March’s Area Committee Meeting, specifically directed to Inspector England (Uppermill Police Station).
	Clough Lane Bin Collection – Mavis reported that Councillor Richard Knowles had repeatedly requested for assisted bin collection at her address, but no-one’s come to collect her bin yet! With a Unison strike planned for Tues 28th March, no-one in Mavis’ area were likely to have bins collected the following week.
	Response to UDP Inspector’s Report – It was agreed that we should support OMBC’s refusal to accept the Inspector’s recommendation to exclude the complex of buildings at Springfield Farm, Friezland Lane.

2. Correspondence and Communications

	Parish Council – Robert Wilcock, Clerk of the council, had written to ask if we’d like to be represented on a new Quality Parish Council Sub-group. Mavis asked if her name could be put forward.
	62, Oldham Road, Grasscroft – Good news. Planning permission to erect 22 dwellings at this address had been refused by OMBC’s planning committee. The design and scale of this proposed development was seen to be visually intrusive and out of keeping with the character and appearance of the surrounding area.
	Skate Park – Publicity details for the Opening Event being held at Churchill Playing Fields on Friday 21st April (11.0 a.m. – 3.0 p.m.) were circulated.
	The latest editions of CPRE’s Voice and Fieldwork magazines were also circulated.
	David P. had recently e-mailed us re. OMBC’s application for an Entertainment’s Licence for the Satellite Youth Club. Mike R. had made enquires with Vidette Bussy (OMBC – Youth) and Diane Higgins (Saddleworth Youth leader) who both concurred that this application was being made for all of Oldham’s Youth Club’s, following a change of legislation of Nov 24th requiring all premises classified as education centres to obtain a licence for live and recorded music. David P. was advised to submit a question to the Area Committee re. police supervision for evening events held at the Centre.

3. Fletchers’ Mill

i)	Hey Top – Alan Cooper described difficulties faced by residents at Hey Top, the row of terraced properties known as Forty Row, conservation dwellings – e.g.. higher rentals, appalling standards of maintenance from the house agents – Marriots (based in Nottingham), inadequate street lighting on Bradbury Lane and the complete withdrawal of street lighting from the footpath passing the football pitch en route to Greenfield village. Before last year’s General Election, Alan had complained to Phil Woolas MP who had been most helpful, coming up with his secretary to meet with residents and listen to their complaints. Phil W. had promised to attend to this matter, but nothing has happened since. When Nat Purie took over the Fletchers’ Mill estate, these properties were full. Now there are 14 empty houses, with only 8 still occupied. Prior to GGRA submitting a question to May’s Area Committee, Alan, Graham and Jacky would meet with other Hey Top residents to compose a letter to be sent to Marriots. We agreed to assess the response at our April meeting. It was also felt that we should engage OMBC’s newly appointed Conservation Officer on this matter, once a reply from Marriots had been received, and also seek support and involvement from Saddleworth Civic Trust via Dave S.
ii)	Greenfield House – Mike R. reported that a local farmer had alerted us to the danger that this former mill owner’s house could become damp and fall into disrepair. This had happened to Ashway House in the late 70’s with disastrous consequences. As Mike Buckley has confirmed, Greenfield House is a Grade 2 listed building and the owner is legally bound to maintain the building under Section 54 of the Town & Country Planning Act. Unless inside information is forthcoming, no action can be taken. As Dave S. and Mike R. have observed, the property appears to be reasonably maintained from its external appearance.
iii)	Contamination – An ex-employee of Fletchers has reported potential pollution hazards caused by a). Kier Liquor spillage from storage tanks on site. b). Possible leakage from 4” pipes that formally transmitted chlorine from the tanks into the factory - a distance of 100 yards approx. and c). a concrete sealed tank full of sulphuric acid. This further evidence is now being checked by John Dinsdale (Environment Officer – OMBC).
iv)	Social Club Appeal – A further letter of objection, including ref. to possible contaminants on the site had been sent to the Inspector, but no hearing date had yet been set.
v)	Other developments – Mike, David M and Dave S. were due to meet on Friday 24th March with Phil Woolas, Andrew Fletcher (Deputy Chief Exec. - OMBC) and a senior rep from the council’s Regeneration Dept. It has become apparent that Nat Purie has contacted his local Nottingham MP and now wishes to meet with Phil Woolas to discuss what’s happening with his land. We have also learnt through correspondence to tenants and from the Companies’ House website that the company now dealing with land transactions at the Fletchers’ Mill site is called Hollow Oak Ltd and is registered in the Isle of Man. White Oak Ltd no longer exists.

4. Treasurer’s Report

Our present balance is £248.38
This month we paid £173.80 to Anthony Chiu for web services and £7.79 bank charges.
Many thanks to recent subscribers – Sarah Plevin, Peter Gallagher, Mavis Bingley, Nigel & Ann Plackett, Mr and Mrs B. Williams.
Further subs. were submitted at this meeting. Please send your subs (£3.00 per household) to our Treasurer Graham Parker at 15, Hey Top, Greenfield OL3 7NB

5. Preparation for March’s Area Committee

Concern was expressed about Item 9. of this month’s agenda. Councillor Mike Buckley had proposed that an Area C’tee sub-group be set up to consider the extension of the Peak District National Park Boundary in and around Saddleworth. It was proposed by Mike R. that we submitted a question a). calling for wide public representation including delegates from the National Park, CPRE and other such bodies and b). that the sub-group be directed by a non-partisan chair. Although we agreed that there was a danger that Mike Buckley’s proposal could be driven by party political interests, there was much discussion as to whether a question should be put. As two out of three of our officers felt strongly in favour of raise this matter at Thursday’s meeting, the Chair ruled that the question should be put.

Date of Next Meeting – Tues April 25th

For past minutes, please visit the minutes archive.

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