Royton bids to cut loutish behaviour

COUNCILLOR Steven Bashforth.

ANTISOCIAL behaviour, Royton regeneration and highways issues were discussed last night during the Royton District Executive meeting and Community Forum.

Local residents turned out at Royton Town Hall to meet with local councillors to discuss issues affecting the area and ask questions or raise concerns.

During the meeting, councillors explained that they are currently in the process of applying for a Public Space Protection Order for Royton Precinct in a bid to reduce the amount of anti-social behaviour in the area.

The area is regularly affected by groups of young people who gather there with reports of people climbing onto buildings, intimidating people in the area and throwing stones or eggs at passing cars.

The orders, which came into existence under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, allow for broad powers to criminalise behaviour that is not normally criminal such as prohibiting large groups of under 16s from congregating in the area or consumption of alcohol.

If approved, Councillor Steve Bashforth said the order would be one of only a few in Oldham borough following an application for a similar order for Higher Memorial Park, Failsworth, restricting the number of dogs a person may bring or be in control of in the park to three and making anyone who allowed a dog to enter the children's playground, bowling green, football pitches or tennis courts guilty of an offence.

Councillor Hannah Roberts, who chaired the meeting in the absence of Chair Councillor Tony Larkin, said: "When we held a consultation on the issue on Royton market, the people we spoke to said they thought it would be a good thing for Royton Precinct."

Councillor Roberts added that landlords in Royton had signed up to a new agreement pledging to work together on antisocial behaviour in the town centre following complaints by residents about smashed glass and litter left on the precinct.

The updates followed the release of the latest crime figures for Royton, which revealed 244 crimes were committed in the area between January 6 and February 2. The number of violent crimes rose to 27 incidents, compared to 17 for the same period last year, while there were 11 reports of burglary from a dwelling, down from 20 in the previous year. There were also 14 reports of theft of a motor vehicle, 21 reports of theft from a motor vehicle and one of robbery.

The number of rowdy or inconsiderate behaviour halved in Royton from 96 in January to February, 2016, to 44 in 2017.

Residents were also urged to attend Royton Market on Thursday, from 9.30am until 1.30pm in order to have their say on Royton's master plan, which is currently being prepared and will look at the town centre as a whole and earmark areas for improvement.



ALTHOUGH there were no formal updates on the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework during the meeting, councillors pledged to continue lobbying on behalf of Royton residents.

Councillor Steven Bashforth said: "I had a meeting with the Council Leader and planning to discuss this issue.

"We have been quite clear that we are not happy with the plan as it stands and we are continuing to do everything we can to protect our green space."