Parish celebrates greener pastures

ALL SMILES: Left to right, Councillor Robert Knotts, Councillor Pam Byrne, chair of Saddleworth parish council, Joan Sykes, chair of Scouthead and Austerlands Community Group, and David Needham, secretary of the Scouthead and Austerlands Whit Friday Brass Band Contest Committee

A WELL-KNOWN roadside open space could become a field of dreams for village communities.

Because Oldham Council has granted a 12-month licence to Saddleworth Parish Council for the two-acre Dawson's Field, Scouthead.

And this means the community has to demonstrate that the field on the main A62 Huddersfield Road could be retained for future use.

The news has been greeted with delight by the Scouthead and Austerlands Community Group who already stages an annual fun day at the field, working with the district partnership.

Its chair, Joan Sykes, said: "This area of green belt is a great local asset not only for our community group but for Saddleworth as a whole and one which could easily be lost if not protected.

"Although I initially contacted OMBC about protecting Dawson's Field I must give credit to the late Councillor Bill Cullen for sowing the seed in my mind during the 2014 fun day.

"As we stood queuing, he looked round and said why don't you try to get village green status because once it's gone it's gone.

Daunting

"I did as he suggested and when the paperwork came back I asked fellow community group member Rob Knotts for advice.

"He took on the daunting task of reading through all the documents then moving forward, taking the lead throughout.

"I thank him for his hard work and time he has spent to secure the field, we must also thank our community and Scouthead the Austerlands Band Committee for their support."

She added: "We are now planning a series of events and hope other communities come up with ideas for using the field too."

David Needham is secretary of the Whit Friday Brass Band Contest Committee who will stage its annual Whit Friday contest at the field.

He said: "We welcome the parish council's initiative and fully support the community group's plan to encourage greater use of Dawson's Field.

"Increased activity should help to secure the land for the general public and ultimately remove some of the uncertainty regarding our committee's long held concern about the field's retention for community use.

"We believe surrendering the contest committee's current licence in favour of the parish council might well offer that long term security."

He added: "Our thanks go to Oldham Council for their co-operation over many years and to John Buckle & Sons for maintaining the field at their own expense.

"Our appreciation also goes to Councillor Rob Knotts for the enormous amount of work he has put in on this project, the community group for their involvement and to Saddleworth Parish Council for its commitment."

Secure

Pam Byrne, chair of Saddleworth Parish Council, said: "Acquiring a 12 months licence for the use of Dawson's Field is the result of much hard work on behalf of Saddleworth Parish Council and especially Councillor Knotts.

"This will secure the Whit Friday Band Contest for the Scouthead Contest Committee and use for other community activities and further demonstrate its use is needed for this community.

"Sometimes the outer reaches of the parish are less well served for public open spaces and this is a great achievement."