Residents voice traffic concerns

LAND on north side of Primrose Bank earmarked for a warehouse and offices

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FRUSTRATED residents in Primrose Bank claim their concerns are not being taken seriously, after the applicant of a warehouse asked for an amendment to its opening hours laid out by Oldham's planning committee.

Housing association First Choice Homes Oldham will occupy a vacant brownfield site to the north of Primrose Bank, Oldham, for a warehouse and office development.

Objections from more than 40 residents were received by the council's planning department on the grounds of increased traffic, parking, road safety, noise and loss of privacy.

But construction firm Meridian Development Company secured permission for the build, at the junction between Minor Road and Hoyle Avenue.

The application was approved at a planning meeting in August on the condition that the opening hours be put back to 8am from the proposed 7.30am start ­- it would be open until 6.30pm on weekdays.

However, Meridian went back to the planning department last month and asked that the opening hours from Monday to Friday be changed back to 7.30am.

Agent HNA Architects Ltd sent a statement on behalf of the applicant with the amended working hours, stating that the restrictions make it 'unviable'.

They said that the repairs planner needs to be on the site half an hour before the 8am start to ensure IT systems are up and running and works orders are dispatched to mobiles devices.

Concerns

FCHO said they operated from a 'more constrained site' in Copsterhill Road without any complaints from residents.

The only vehicles that would arrive on the site, the agent said, would be the cars of the office staff and transit vans.

Some vehicles would be parked overnight, leaving between 7.30am and 8am the following morning.

They say the timing of the deliveries can be controlled between 8.30-9.30am.

But Syed Maruf Ali says residents feel their concerns are not being taken seriously. As well as the changes to the opening times, they believe access to the site's car park for large work vehicles should be made via Minor Street to avoid traffic build up.

Mr Ali (40 ) said: "We didn't have an issue with the warehouse being built. Our concern was the amount of traffic coming in and out.

"The [planning] committee said for it to start early wasn't acceptable; it would impact local residents.

"We accepted the decision of the planning committee but then we received another letter saying they wanted to open earlier.

"We understand they have every right to apply for it but residents are saying they're disappointed."

A decision will be made by the planning committee at Wednesday's meeting and is expected to be approved.

A report by the planning officer stated that although there will be some disturbance caused to nearby residents, "any limited additional harm is considered not to outweigh the economic benefits."

Mr Ali added: "It's a good investment for Oldham.

"The concern is how can we mitigate the pollution and the cars coming.

"There's a football playing ground nearby. That's another space that's going to be taken away from the children.

"Where's the respect for local people?"

The Chronicle tried contacting the applicants but they were unavailable.