Homes protest gathers pace

Local residents of Casterton Road area, Royton protesting the plans to build houses on greenbelt land..

A PROTEST against plans to build thousands of homes on Oldham's Greenbelt is expected to gather huge support when campaign groups gather on Monday.

Hundreds are expected to join up, with groups from Royton, Chadderton, Shaw and Middleton arranging to march from their respective areas to meet at Tandle Hill Monument at noon.

The united effort, supported by Save Royton's Greenbelt, Save Chadderton's Greenbelt, Save Shaw's Greenbelt and Save Middleton's Greenbelt, aims to raise awareness and show opposition to proposals put forward under the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework (GMSF) draft plan.

The GMSF plan outlines a need for an extra 227,200 new homes across Greater Manchester by 2035, including 13,700 (6 per cent of the total figure) in Oldham.

To meet this need, several areas in Oldham have been identified as potential sites, including Cowlishaw (640 new homes), Broadbent Moss (1,000 new homes and employment floorspace), Beal Valley (900 new homes) and Hanging Chadder (600 new homes). There are also plans for 100 holiday lodges and 120 new homes at Robert Fletcher's Paper Mill and the surrounding land close to Dovestone Reservoir, as well as plans to build on land east and west of the A627(M) and on an area south of Junction 21 (M62), between Newhey, the A663, High Crompton and Burnerbridge.

Gary Palmer, of Save Royton's Greenbelt, said: "It is not a long walk but it is about showing a united front.

"Everyone is encouraged to join in to let the authorities know they cannot steal our open countryside ­- and to burn off all the extra Christmas pounds."

In Royton, the walk will commence from Thornham St James School, opposite Hanging Chadder, at 11am, before progressing along Springfield Lane to the Pleasant Inn and turning right on to Rochdale Road.

The group will turn left into Thornham Old Road and continue on to the Tandle Hill Monument.

The Shaw group will start at 10.30am from High Crompton Park, walking down Rochdale Road, Wood Street, Thornham Road and Castleton Road before joining with the Royton group outside Thornham St James School for the remainder of the journey.

The Chadderton walk will begin from the tennis courts at Chadderton Hall Park at 10.45am, following a route through Heights Lane, Heald Green and Cinderhill Lane before walking through Tandle Hill Park to the monument.

In Middleton, walkers will meet at the canal bridge, on Boarshaw Lane at 10.30am, walking along Hough Lane and Oozewood Road and on to Tandle Hill Monument.

Col Wagstaffe, of Save Middleton's Greenbelt, said: "At this early stage, we need to make it known that we want these areas removing as a potential sites.

"We have little enough green space left as it is.

"If they go ahead and approve these areas as potential sites, then we are one step closer to seeing applications for development on the land.

"The aim of the group is to try and stop it coming to that stage. If we can't, then we have to fight each and every application from thereon."

The GMSF, which set out proposals to provide housing and investment opportunities for sustainable growth over the next 20 years, is currently out for public consultation with residents encouraged to have their say on the proposals included.

The public consultation is open until January 16 and is available online at www.greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk/info/20018/greater_manchester_spatial_framework.