Revellers turn village into new 'Staly Vegas'

TRANQUIL by day . . . but weekend sees a wave of revellers

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COULD a Saddleworth village be set to become the new 'Staly Vegas?'

These fears are being expressed by businesses and locals because of a massive weekend surge of more than 2,000 revellers descending on Uppermill.

GMP's Saddleworth and Lees policing team's monthly strategy plan reveals the village's booming late night economy is seen as "a direct correlation with the increase in assaults and public order incidents."

Staly Vegas was the nickname given to Stalybridge after the proliferation of nightclubs, cars and takeaways in the Tameside town.

Uppermill's High Street now bristles with winebars, pubs and food outlets, with more scheduled to open.

And police monitoring reveals revellers are travelling in from across the Manchester area and beyond with coaches from Stockport, Salford and recently Wigan.

The annual community-wide Whit Friday celebrations are scheduled for Friday, June 9, and Uppermill is the focal point for processions from key Saddleworth villages which congregate in the centre for the annual open air service.

This year, the Archbishop of York, The Most Reverend and Right Honourable Dr John Sentamu, has accepted an invitation to walk with Dobcross villagers.

But crowds swell even more across the villages when the colourful brass band contests take place throughout the evening.

Uppermill has already been tagged Saddleworth's "crack capital" after a massive anti-drug campaign focussed on the village at Christmas.

Now, working with the Uppermill licensing team and Oldham's Saddleworth Community safety office, police will continue the ZEROZONE initiative throughout the Summer period as footfall increases week on week.

The police report said: "A conversation with one licencee showed they are continually seeing their businesses operate at the level presented during the Whit Friday Band Contest.

"That is becoming the norm with regards to the level of visitors seen particularly in the Uppermill each weekend."

And one longtime local businessman, who did not want to be named, said: "Uppermill is becoming the new Staly Vegas.

"Drugs are rife and the opening of even more leisure outlets will only lead to more folk coming here bringing all the attending problems.

"There should be a complete crackdown on the drug dealers.

"Police should put their drug sniffing dogs into pubs, arrest the dealers, put them in handcuffs and publicly name and shame them.

"This way the public would know who these people are and they could help to combat the problem, " he added.

Additional security staff are being recruited in Uppermill, particularly after public order and assault issues over the Bank holiday period.

One licensee took to social media to apologise to customers for having to close early because of problems elsewhere.

And police are examining introducing a by-law on Uppermill High Street to prevent revellers from walking between premises carrying glasses.

Looking ahead, the report adds: "The next twelve months will be challenging. We will see our work streams being tested as the night time economy grows further and the affluent Saddleworth area is visited by criminals who are determined to steal from the community."