Ken’s in line for Scoop of the Year

THE Oldham Evening Chronicle has been shortlisted for a prestigious media award in a campaign to get justice for residents whose lives have been blighted by a controversial landfill site.

For more than two years, reporter Ken Bennett has supported a battle by families, local businesses, councillors and MP Phil Woolas about noxious smells and pollution-related problems at High Moor tip, Scouthead.

Bennett presented a 10,000-word dossier of his stories from the Oldham Chronicle to the MP, who was then Environment Minister and represents Oldham East and Saddleworth.

Earlier this year, the Environment Agency press office blacklisted Bennett saying they could “no longer work with him” on inquiries relating to High Moor and asked him not to make contact with them with any further media inquiries.

Now he has been shortlisted for the Scoop of the Year, one of 14 categories, in the inaugural O2 Media Awards for Greater Manchester and Lancashire, which will be presented at a glittering ceremony next month.

The winners will receive their awards at the Urbis exhibition centre, in Manchester, on October 1.