Housing fight

Residents at Haven Lane Moorside protest regarding revised Housing Development

2 More Image(s) In Gallery

ANGRY residents are campaigning once again after yet another unwanted proposal for a housing development was submitted to Oldham Council.

Oxfordshire-based Heyford Developments have placed an application for 23 houses on green belt land off Haven Lane, Moorside.

It is the third such proposal after the previous two were rejected amid strong opposition from locals last year. They are now ready to fight once more.

Risk

Originally for 30 homes, the first submission was rejected due to a risk of over-development. Builders returned with an application of 29 homes which angered residents further. That too was declined after strong opposition.

In light of the latest proposals, residents have already rallied to raise concerns over traffic issues, over-development and loss of green belt land. They have vowed to run a petition and collect letters of objection to hand to the council.

Trevor Cash, a resident of Haven Lane for 50 years who is leading the charge, claimed residents are angry by the continued efforts of Heyford Developments.

He said: "Our first reaction is that we are angry. We have fought this for a very long time.

"It seems as though these guys will keep nibbling away until the council legally are unable to refuse it any longer.

"It is very upsetting. We just don't want this development."

Councillor Ginny Alexander strongly objects to the application.

She said: "The fact the thoroughfare is called Haven Lane, the dictionary definition of lane being a "a narrow road in the countryside or town" surely illustrates it was not built to accommodate the number of houses and cars that currently use it yet alone sustain increased volumes with this proposed development.

"I would also like to raise concerns on how the development of the land would affect natural drainage.

"If the development were to go ahead there would be a reduction of open land to soak up the excess water.

"I find it incredible that Heyford's can keep resubmitting applications after being rejected by an independent authority."

Wendy Cash, Trevor's wife, also raised concerns about the traffic flow.

She said: "People park outside their houses as is their right but it makes the lane single-file traffic. This really is an accident waiting to happen.

"This is green space and the only bit of that left around here."

Campaigners believe that despite the latest proposal being seven houses less then the first, it would still be to the detriment of the area.

Trevor added: "It is still 23 houses we do not want. It is very frustrating because we're never away from it, they're just coming to us again and again.

"We have so much going on in this area ­- we are seeing it saturated. The infrastructure is saturated, the schooling is saturated.

"As residents of course we are concerned."

The Chronicle was unable to contact Heyford Developments for a comment.