‘Votes ploy’ fury

DISGRUNTLED... property owner Tariq Mushtaq hits out at “politically motivated” planning councillors.

A PROPERTY owner has accused Labour councillors of rejecting plans for a mental health treatment live-in centre to secure votes in the run-up to May’s local elections.

Last week Oldham planning committee rejected plans to transform the long-derelict Yew Tree residential home in Sycamore Avenue, Chadderton into shared living accommodation for mental health sufferers on the road to recovery. The majority of committee members voted against with access concerns - despite the plans being recommended for approval by the council’s highways department, who said there would probably be little effect on traffic.

But seven Labour members of the committee voted against the plans, saying using one of two unadopted dirt roads wouldn’t be suitable for additional traffic or parking.

Tariq Mushtaq, the owner of Yew Tree and a Labour supporter, believes those who voted against were trying to secure the votes of local people — 133 of whom signed a petition against the plan.

Mr Mushtaq said: “It seems rather odd to me that highway experts recommended the plans but councillors still voted against them. I do know there are local elections around the corner. It seems to me as though this decision was politically motivated. None of the residents (of the facility) would be driving and most of the staff use public transport.

“The two Liberal Democrats and the Conservative councillor voted in favour of it. I think Labour members were trying to keep their seat in the ward.

Labour councillor Steve Bashforth, chair of the planning committee, has strongly denied the claim that councillors voted politically.

He said: “Obviously the applicant will be upset and the people against it will be pleased but it isn’t uncommon for us to go against the recommendation of officers. It has nothing to do with politics.

“If we agreed with everything the planning officers recommended there would be no need for the planning committee.”

Mr Bashforth insists access to the building is inadequate.

A spokesman from Turning Point, which wanted to turn the empty former residential home into a 12-bed centre, told councillors at last week’s committee meeting that the vast majority of their staff use public transport and none of their residents currently drive.

Local residents and planning councillors had noted before the decision that there are only four parking spaces on the proposed development which have to be accessed by an unadopted road.

Councillor Bashforth said: “It is a real shame because it is a fantastic use for a building like that. If it had been on a main road and it was accessible, it would have sailed through. The use is really good and it is a use that is really needed but if you want something to be accessible, it needs to be somewhere it can be accessed.”

Last year owner Mr Mushtaq applied for permission to turn the building into a home with 19 bedrooms. The application was rejected for the same access reasons. Mr Mushtaq has appealed this decision and a result is expected in June.

Mr Mushtaq has also said that local residents would object to any use of the building because they have become used to it not being used. If Turning Point remain interested Mr Mushtaq will appeal the latest decision.