Villagers riled by house railings

IN addition to metal railings, the new Huddersfield Road houses are surrounded by concrete posts and wooden panelled fences

A COMMUNITY that lost a battle to keep its village green has gone to war over metal railings and fencing at new homes built on the site.

Diggle residents have poured scorn on the black-painted railings and concrete posts and panels outside a pair semi-detached homes at Huddersfield Road. The houses, built by First Choice Homes Oldham (FCHO), are part of its commitment to build 48 affordable homes across the borough.

But Diggle resident and former Saddleworth parish councillor, Royce Franklin, said: “The railings are a scar on the landscape. They are disgusting and show no sensitivity to the village.

“We did not want the development in the first place. We had to relocate our local village green because of the building. There has been no attempt to blend the houses with the local community. The railings are a disgrace and merely add to the insult. If this is the way First Choice behave let’s hope we have no more developments by them in Diggle.”

Local historian Mike Buckley, a parish councillor, said: “The double layers of heavy concrete fences and robust metal railings are more redolent of Colditz than a country village.”

A spokesman from FCHO said: “We have received a complaint which will be dealt with in line with our complaints procedure.”