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Dobcross man sentenced for sexual activity with a child
A man has been jailed after he had sex with an underage girl in Oldham.
Timothy Edwards (20/03/57), of Walk Mill, Dobcross, was found guilty of four counts of sexual activity with a child, five counts of making and possessing indecent photographs, and one count of attempting to incite sexual activity with a child, after a trial at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court.
He was sentenced on Thursday 29 January 2015 to six years in prison and forced to sign the sex offenders register indefinitely.
In February 2013 Edwards met his victim, who was 13-years-old at the time, online via Facebook, and began chatting to her. He asked her to send him explicit pictures and videos, but she refused and after messaging each other further, Edwards persuaded his victim to meet with him in early December 2013. He went to her house, where he had sex with her.
After his arrest in January 2014 police seized his computers and, after forensic examination, discovered 15 indecent images of children.
Detective Sergeant Lindsey Curry of Oldham Division said: “Edwards actively pursued his victim because of her young age and sexually abused her.
“The girl was very brave to speak to police and disclose these crimes and I would like to commend her for that, as coming forward and disclosing the assaults that he committed against her must have been extremely hard.
“I would urge anyone who believes they may have been a victim of sexual abuse to come forward and talk to police.
“I hope this case sends out a strong message to those who target young girls and abuse them that we will track you down and bring you before the courts.”
Anyone who is concerned about a child or young person should call Greater Manchester Police on 101 or 999 in emergencies.
Any child or young person wanting help and advice can use the numbers above or contact Childline on 0800 1111.
Help and advice can be found on the It’s Not Okay website – http://www.itsnotokay.co.uk or Parents Against Child Sexual Exploitation website
Telltale signs of child exploitation to look for include:
– Disengagement from education; young people who are not in school during the day may be more at risk of sexual exploitation. Children who are becoming involved in this activity may begin to skip school or become disruptive
– Risky behaviours; including secretive use of mobile phones and the internet
– Repeatedly going missing
– Unexplained gifts; children who appear to have new clothes, jewellery, mobile phones or money that cannot ‘plausibly’ be accounted for
– Peers and friends; involved in sexual exploitation and with ‘older’ boyfriends/girlfriends
– Drugs/alcohol; drug or alcohol abuse may leave children more vulnerable to sexual exploitation, it is also true to say that ‘abusers’ may use drugs and alcohol to help control children.
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Public storm out of Parish Council Meeting
Traffic on Huddersfield Road, Diggle
More than eighty members of the public stormed out of Monday night’s Saddleworth Parish Council meeting in anger after parish councillors, in their view, failed to effectively deal with their questions and concerns
Normally at the start of a council meeting a short amount of time is allocated to allow the public to ask questions but at last night’s meeting, in response to the sheer numbers that turned up, the time was unusually extended. Even though this concession allowed more questions to be asked, it didn’t satisfy the public’s desire for clear unambiguous answers. When, Parish Council Chairman, Cllr Enid Firth, finally brought public questions to a close, the public stood up, en masse, and in protest left the room. Both they and the councillors were clearly unhappy with the outcome. Several members of the public demanded a public meeting be organised by the Parish Council and were angered further when Cllr Firth said it’s not the chairs job to organise a public meeting. One woman asked, “How do we do it then?” Cllr Firth remarked she should ask Cllr Buckley thus putting the neutrality of the Chair in question.
It was clear that people in the gallery expected a constructive response to their questions yet, in the main, received a repeat of what they’d heard before. Cllr Cullen said that they would need to wait for the EFA reports to be released before questions could be answered. Cllr Lord added that OMBC had completed a plan for road widening twelve months ago but this had not yet been released.
Cllr Buckley said that it was wrong to say that there will only be a new school if it’s built in Diggle. A representative from the EFA confirmed to him and others, at a meeting last week, that they would build a school on any site that OMBC chose and that all four sites would be acceptable.
A Dobcross resident asked about the impact on Dobcross with increased traffic and Cllr Sheldon said that road safety and public access hadn’t been considered properly. Cllr Knotts pointed out the need for a holistic approach and a detailed traffic survey. Saddleworth resident, Samantha Marshall, read out a statement followed by a question.* (See below for full text.)
It is clear that eighteen months on, the people at the meeting still feel excluded from any decision making and the Parish Councillors are struggling to find answers to questions. Without doubt, OMBC and the EFA hold all the cards and sadly, for people in the borough, it’s looking like consultation could once again end up being simply a presentation leaving Saddleworth isolated with no voice.
*Statement made by Samantha Marshall
As concerned Diggle residents, my husband and I have been in direct communication with Mr Peter Lauener, the Chief Executive of the Education Funding Agency since early 2014, expressing our concerns with the proposed building of the new Saddleworth School in Diggle.
On Friday 16th January 2015, along with another concerned resident, we met with Mr Mike Green, the Director of Capital of the EFA, for an open and frank discussion on the results of their feasibility study into the four site options for the new Saddleworth School.
Mr Green confirmed the following to us:
- Their study determined that it was feasible to build the new fit for purpose school on ALL four site options within the EFA’s budget.
- NO site option has been rejected by the study.
- The recommended option by their study, of the back site in Diggle, was due to it being the lowest cost to the EFA’s budget. But all other options are available to be chosen by the local authority.
- The EFA is only concerned with the costs to themselves, within the boundary of the proposed school area. Issues of road access and local infrastructure are NOT their concern and are NOT part of their feasibility study or costings.
- Their study does not take into account the costs which Oldham Council will have to incur, or any issues which they will have to overcome, in order for the school to be built in a location.
- The EFA does not impose a site option choice onto Oldham Council and would be happy to build it on any of the four site options examined, if asked to do so by Oldham Council
- It is for Oldham Council alone to determine the location of the new Saddleworth School.
When asked if the recent decision to build in Diggle was final and could now not be changed, Mr Green confirmed that this was not the case.
They would not build the school on a site which Oldham Council did not approve of.
Should a request be made by Oldham Council of a change of location to Uppermill during the process, then they would be able to accommodate this.
We have been misinformed by Oldham Council, in their recent press release, that it was the EFA who decided the location of the new school to be the back site in Diggle. In fact all options are feasible, are within the EFA’s budget and the EFA are willing to build it on any of the site options examined, including in Uppermill.
It is Oldham Council alone who has approved the building of the new Saddleworth School in Diggle, with no consultation with the Saddleworth residents or the parents of children at the school. They have ignored both a 3000+ signature petition and the election of an independent borough councillor by Saddleworth North voters, which expressed their wish to keep the school in Uppermill.
Previously, the decision by Oldham Council to build the school in Diggle was made because it was thought that there was no alternative.
The EFA have now confirmed that there IS an alternative.
Since thoroughly reviewing all the options, they are now willing to build the new Saddleworth School on the existing site in Uppermill.
It is time to stop and rethink the options available.
This is what the EFA have done, so why can’t Oldham Council?
We must echo the sentiments expressed by Jim Williams in his Friday column (Oldham Chronicle 23/01/2015) as to why they insist on their “It has to be Diggle” attitude and ignore the views and concerns of the local residents?
It is time for Cllrs Jim McMahon and Amanda Chadderton to listen and act on the wishes of the Saddleworth residents and request the EFA build the new Saddleworth School on the existing site in Uppermill.
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Pupils prove their salt with gritter names
Gritter operative clearing roads in Diggle {Photo: Stuart Coleman©2015)
Primary school children have shown true grit and come up with some imaginative names for Oldham Council’s fleet of gritters.
Late last year we launched a competition asking young people to come up with a first name for each one of the eight vehicles which have recently been in use 24-hours a day keeping our roads free of snow and ice.
We received hundreds of entries – some from outside the borough – and after careful consideration the best eight were chosen.
Each gritter has now been branded with its new name on the front of the cab – and now you’ll be able to look out for the vehicles as they travel around spreading grit and salt if we get a repeat of the recent wintery weather.
The winning entries were: Freddie Salted – Joshua Thompson, aged eight, from Mills Hill Primary School, Chadderton; Grittersaurus – Nathan Peter Smith, aged four, from St Mary’s RC Primary School; Goliath – Ellie Ward, aged 10, from Yewtree Community School; Walter the Salter – Imogen Summer, aged five, of Norden Primary School; Gritterbug and Gritney Spears – Leighton Sessman, aged seven, from Royton Hall; Gritanator – Callum Sessman, aged five, from Royton Hall; Thor – Joseph Gledhill, aged seven of Whitegate End
Councillor Dave Hibbert, Oldham Council’s Cabinet Member for Housing, Planning and Highways, said: “We’ve had a great response to this competition and although it was a bit of fun it also helps to teach our youngsters about road safety and how we keep our roads safe in cold weather.
“Over the last few weeks the council’s fleet of gritters and their drivers have played a vital role in helping to keep the borough moving. In just seven days we gritted more than 10,000 miles of carriageway. To put that into perspective that’s the distance from Oldham to Adelaide, so it’s fair to say our staff have been busy and they deserve a pat on the back for the work they’ve done. As far as reasonably possible, we will keep the primary highway network free of ice and snow at all times in order to help ensure a safe journey for commuters and residents.”
Resources are initially directed to gritting seven priority routes, including the trans-Pennine roads and most of the principal, classified and major bus routes.
To keep residents fully informed of any developments the Oldham Council website – http://www.oldham.gov.uk/winter – will be updated continually and feature the latest news on school closures, gritting routes, locations of grit bins and grit sales.
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Related stories:
Saddleworth Players present Absurd Person Singular
How Many Alan Ayckbourn Characters Does it Take to Change a Lightbulb?
The answer – at least according to Absurd Person Singular – is six: one to attempt suicide with an exposed light-fitting and five others to remain so blithely wrapped up in their own affairs that they fail to notice.
Directed by Rod Fitton, our production of the play runs from January 31st to February 7th and all the action takes place in the kitchen of one of the three couples on three successive Christmas Eves.
At the first party, thrown by suburbanites Sidney and Jane Hopcroft, (Julian Smith and Liz Travis) housing developer Sidney is looking to make a good impression on his guests, banker Ronald Brewster-Wright (Ian Perks) and architect Geoffrey Jackson (John Weetman). Jane, though, is more interested in making her kitchen spotless, and the party peters out when she has to run through the rain to the store for tonic and gets locked out of the house.
A year later, it’s Geoffrey and his pill-popping wife, Eva (Jo Weetman), who are hosting the Christmas Eve party in their flat, except they haven’t prepared properly because Geoffrey has just told Eva that he’s leaving her. Eva reacts by trying to kill herself, in five different ways, while her guests gather in the kitchen, mostly oblivious to what she’s doing.
Finally, we visit the Victorian home of Ronald and his wife, Marion (Jill Woods). There’s no party in prospect this year: Ronald’s bank is failing, he can’t afford to heat the house, and Marion is drunk in her bedroom. But first Geoffrey, who’s also gone bust, and Eva, who’s still with him, drop by to commiserate, and then Sidney and Jane, successful and dressed to the nines, arrive to make these upper-class failures dance to their middle-class tune.
Those who enjoy witty comedy combined with hilarious chaos – plus just an echo of The Good Life – will love Absurd Person Singular. It has everything, including the kitchen sink!
Early booking recommended http://www.saddleworthplayers.org.uk
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Site for new Saddleworth School Confirmed
This plan for Diggle shows how land could be used to deliver a new school. It does not portray exact details such as the shapes and design of buildings.
Following the completion of a long awaited feasibility study, the Education Funding Agency (EFA) has decided that the new Saddleworth School should be built on the rear WH Shaw site in Diggle.
The feasibility study assessed the suitability of four options: two using the existing Saddleworth School site in Uppermill; one using land at the front of the WH Shaw site; and one using land at the rear of the WH Shaw site. The options were examined against a range of vital considerations including costs and budget, buildability and construction, teaching and learning requirements, statutory issues, ecology, and operational issues.
The EFA is managing the project on behalf of the Department for Education as part of the Government’s Priority School Building Programme, a £2.4 billion programme to rebuild or refurbish 260 schools in the worst state across the country.
This option, contested by many local residents but preferred by Saddleworth School and Oldham Council
will provide the largest possible site for the new school – approximately 18 acres in size – and would see dilapidated industrial buildings cleared to make way for the new school, sports hall and ancillary buildings. Green Belt land would be used for the provision of sports pitches, which would be available for community use.
Matthew Milburn, Headteacher of Saddleworth School, said: “This is a hugely important day for Saddleworth School and the local community. We know the location of the new school has been a contentious issue and it was absolutely right that all possible options were evaluated and all interests considered.
“This feasibility study takes a large number of factors into account and has been a significant piece of work by the EFA. We welcome confirmation of the preferred site and are now keen to get working alongside all interested parties to get the detail right and deliver the fantastic school that Saddleworth has long needed.”
An EFA spokesperson said: “We have now completed the feasibility study for the new Saddleworth School. It was important that we assessed the suitability of each option identified to ensure that the most viable and suitable option was chosen. In the final analysis the site to the rear of the Pallet Works in Diggle stood out as being the best option.
“Today (16/1/15) we are meeting several interested parties to discuss the findings. We then look forward to working alongside them and our contractor to move this project forward.”
Councillor Amanda Chadderton, Oldham Council’s Cabinet Member for Education, said: “It was absolutely right that we listened to public feedback and concerns and that the EFA thoroughly examined all options.”
“We know there are challenges associated with the chosen Diggle site in terms of vital works needed. These will include carriageway and footpath widening, residents’ car parking, fencing work, the introduction of a School Safety Zone and more. Oldham Council has committed to undertaking these works to support the successful delivery of the project.”
Councillor Nikki Kirkham, Ward councillor for Saddleworth North said: The majority of people in Saddleworth have been very clear that they would like Saddleworth School to remain in Uppermill. They believe this is the most cost effective way to go as sports facilities are already in place and the road network has proved it can cope with the School traffic.
“The campaign by The Independent Councillors and the SDAG will go on despite this announcement. Relevant questions still need to be asked. Children’s safety, traffic and transport issues and environmental protection are paramount. I hope that OMBC will hold a full consultation with the residents of Saddleworth as to the Council’s detailed intentions on all the issues raised by this new build.
“One of the main reasons I was elected as a representative of Saddleworth North is because of the controversy surrounding the decision on the siting of the new School. It was a landslide victory for the Saddleworth Independents because as a group we were fighting to protect Saddleworth’s outstanding beauty.
“We all agree Saddleworth needs a new School but please lets try to protect our beautiful valleys. We risk losing our natural landscape forever.”
Keith Lucas, spokesperson for Save Diggle Action Group said: “The decision is no surprise, we already informed our supporters in advance earlier this week. It is a disgrace that this decision has been taken without allowing the parents, residents and businesses of Saddleworth to have their say. The school, the EFA and Oldham Council, are party to the decision; why not the people that will have to live with the outcome for generations to come?
“The chosen site is fraught with safety, environmental and strategic planning issues not just for Diggle but for the surrounding villages. Our campaign will continue to legally and democratically fight to build a school for Saddleworth in Uppermill where most Saddleworth residents want it to be.”
Local Councillor Mike Buckley said: “The people of Saddleworth want the school to remain in Uppermill. This is the best location on both cost, operational and technical grounds. We will be scrutinising the EFA findings carefully, supported by our technical advisers. The campaign will continue despite the announcement. Achieving planning consent for Diggle will be neither speedy nor straightforward.”
Mark Brooks, Chairperson for the Diggle Community Association said: “The Diggle Community Association is saddened and angered by the news that the new Saddleworth School is proposed to built on the former pallet works site in Diggle Village.
“For whatever reason, OMBC have been intent on developing the Diggle site despite the depth of feeling throughout Saddleworth. This is quite simply the wrong location for a 1500 pupil school. The site is fraught with danger and technical issues. The children of Saddleworth and its residents deserve better.
“It is clear to me that the depth of feeling expressed at the DCA meeting last night (15/1/15) shows that this will be a long, drawn out and protracted process. It’s ironic that the Headteacher,Matthew Milburn talks about the new school becoming a school for the community when the very community that it will impose on will be the one that is destroyed”
Interserve has been selected as the contractor to design and build the new school. They will now progress to the design stage which will start later this month. As part of the design development, Interserve will consult publically prior to submitting a planning application.
It is estimated that the new Saddleworth School could open in Spring 2017.
Copies of the EFA’s feasibility study will be made available on request. Please contact PSBP.EFACAPITAL@education.gsi.gov.uk
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Upstairs at the Swan: Le Grand Return
WEDS 11th FEBRUARY 2015
Talking Stock Productions present
“LE GRAND RETURN” by Alan Stockdill
It’s 1994 and the 50th anniversary of D Day looms. Tommy, Alf and Edwin are incarcerated in Coldrick Nursing Home. In spite of his ever-worsening heart condition, D Day veteran Tommy is determined to break out and rejoin his old comrades on the Normandy beaches.
But how will they all get out – and what will happen along the way?
This gentle comedy drama is about love, remembrance, war and peace (brought to us from the team behind ‘The Last Memory’ and ‘Godfrey’s Last Stand’ – recent big hits at The Swan theatre).
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Supporting Tradition in Diggle: Diggle Whit Friday Committee
Windy Whit Friday Walk (Photo: Stuart Coleman©2015)
An appeal to the residents of Diggle for their continued support of the Whit Friday Walks
by Lynda Elmore
Members of the Diggle Whit Friday Committee consist of a small group of Diggle residents who represent both churches in the village. At the moment we have eight members and our aim is to raise funds to ‘put on’ the Whit Friday morning walks.
We have a range of expenses which include: paying two bands to march with the procession, refreshments for the children on the playing fields in Uppermil, the coach to and from the main service in Uppermill (for less mobile villagers), hymn sheets and a PA system.
In the past, money has been raised by organising events in the village such as Lancashire Nights, jumble sales and fashion shows. Since 2005 we have concentrated on the house-to-house collections, which raise the majority of our funds. As it costs around £1000 to pay for everything, this collection is very important to us and we have a network of volunteers who give their time to go out in all weathers at the beginning of May.
Many years ago, money was raised by collecting house to house, with the name of every resident who contributed being written in a book, along with the amount given! In those days, a hot meal was given to every child upon return to the Sunday schools, cooked on the premises. Nowadays things are more streamlined, due to work commitments; however the day is enjoyed by several generations of Diggle folk, and has been looked forward to by so many children (and adults) over the years.
One of our more senior residents, Mrs. Eileen Farmery of Harrop Green, writes a description of her Whit Fridays as a child: ‘Thursday before Whit Friday was a day of great preparations -most of all scanning the skies and praying for a perfect sunny day. Baths, hair curled and above all else, a very early to bed.
‘Up early Friday, very excited, and can’t wait to get dressed in white from head to foot. When we arrived at Sunday School, we were rigged out with a red, white and blue sash from shoulder across to waist. We all felt very proud , no matter what age group we were in. Everybody now waiting for the band to arrive off the train at Diggle station; one or two tears were shed as they marched down to Sunday School playing ‘Hail Smiling Morn.’
‘We started out and walked all the way to Saddleworth Church via Ward Lane (rather exhausting, especially if it was a windy day) We got chance of a rest during the service at the church, then onwards down Church Road to Uppermill. When all churches had arrived in the ‘back meadow’ we enjoyed a very lively service. Little legs were aching, feet sore, but we walked back via Huddersfield Road back to Kilngreen, where a hot dinner was waiting for those who weren’t asleep, usually home made potato pie. After dinner we had an afternoon of sports for everyone. I can remember my mother running the three-legged race, and being very embarrassed by it. During the sports , the Band played on……..’
Former chairmen have included Frank Bradbury, Anne Eccles, Dorothy Rhodes, Mr K. Redfearn and Mr. Eddie Clegg. I am the present chairman, a comer-in to Diggle since 1984.
The last two years have proved to be quite a challenge due to the scaling back of the police presence to maintain the safety of the walkers on their way to Uppermill.
Whit Friday has been a very special day in Saddleworth since around 1850. The present committee have every intention of keeping this wonderful tradition going for many years to come but we do need the continued financial support from the very generous people of Diggle.
We would like to extend our profound gratitude to our group of local collectors who go out and to knock on doors in order to keep Whit Friday funds ticking over.
Diggle (Photo courtesy of Saddleworth Museum)
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Free wifi to be switched on in Greater Manchester’s Metrolink trams
Metrolink MediaCity tram
Metrolink customers will be able to make a new kind of connection in future as part of a £1.7 million deal to roll out free wifi on every tram.
By spring next year all 94 trams will have the technology on board, as well as the 20 buses running the free city centre Metroshuttle service linking the main rail stations, car parks, shopping areas and businesses in Manchester city centre.
Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) – which owns the Metrolink network and Metroshuttle’s low-carbon buses – has joined forces with Manchester and Salford City Councils and the government’s Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK) – part of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport – to fund the innovative scheme.
Metrolink is on track to be the first light railway in England to becoming fully wifi capable. This helps Greater Manchester move a step closer to its ambition of being a top 20 worldwide digital city region by 2020.
Wifi has already been trialled on Metrolink, with positive feedback from customers who used it. It is hoped the rollout will make the trams and Metroshuttle buses a more attractive journey choice, supporting TfGM’s commitment to sustainable travel.
Metrolink trams will start to be fitted out with the latest wifi kit from early January by mobile internet connectivity specialist Icomera and extra funding has been secured to ensure any new trams brought into service in the next two years will also be fitted with wifi capability.
Councillor Andrew Fender, Chair of the TfGM Committee said: “This is great news and will benefit the millions of people who travel on Metrolink’s trams and Metroshuttle’s buses each year. We live in a digital age and people want to make the best use of their travelling time – quick and simple access to digital technology is key to this. Greater Manchester is leading the way in the growing provision of wifi services on public transport, which in turn takes us one step close to our aim of being a top 20 digital city region by 2020.”
Sir Richard Leese, Leader of Manchester City Council, said: “Putting digital access at the heart of the city by improving connectivity is key to achieving our ambitious target of making Manchester one of the world’s leading digital cities. The introduction of free wifi on all Metrolink and Metroshuttle services ensures that residents and visitors to Manchester can make the most of mobile technology while they are on the go.”
Government Digital Economy Minister Ed Vaizey MP said: “This is fantastic news for Manchester and exactly the type of thing the government’s Superconnected Cities programme was set up to do. Having free public wifi on all of Manchester’s trams and Metroshuttle services will transform the digital landscape of Manchester, making it an ever greater place to live, visit and do business.”
Councillor Roger Jones, Assistant Mayor for Transport at Salford City Council, said: “This scheme has my full support and I am already looking at ways it can be extended to benefit more public transport users.”
Dave Palmer, Managing Director of Icomera UK, said: “Icomera is proud to be supporting this ambitious, forward-thinking project. Our technology is ideal for this digital city initiative, making public transport more user-friendly and communicative. TfGM recognises the important role Internet connectivity has to play in delivering the 21st century passenger experience. The adaptive nature of our solution will ensure it keeps pace with newer technologies as they become available, maintaining a state-of the-art network for TfGM’s passengers.”
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Saddleworth North Monthly Crime Figures: November 2014
Courtesy of GMP
| CRIME | AUG | SEPT | OCT | NOV |
| Burglary(Of homes) | 5 | 0 | 2 | 4 |
| Burglary Other(Shed, Garage, Business) | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 |
| Theft from a vehicle | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 |
| Theft of a motor vehicle | 0 | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| Criminal Damage | 5 | 4 | 4 | 7 |
| Robbery | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other Theft | 3 |
Saddleworth North
Burglary Dwelling
Sevenacres, Delph – Bodily force was used against the front door to gain access to the property. The alarm was activated and offenders fled the scene.
Crib Fold, Dobcross – Offenders attempted to enter the garage through an unlocked door. The alarm was activated and offenders fled the scene.
Dalefields, Delph – The rear door of the detached property was kicked open. The alarm was activated and offenders fled the scene.
Huddersfield Road, Denshaw –The lock on a rear door was snapped. The noise alerted the occupants and the offenders fled the scene.
Burglary Other
Huddersfield Road, Waterhead – Offenders used a ladder, removed from an adjoining garden, to gain access via a rear first floor unlocked window. Once inside they conducted an untidy search and removed property.
Thorpe Close , Austerlands – Offenders drilled the lock on a secure garage door to gain access. They removed several items.
Sandy Lane, Dobcross – Offenders smashed a rear garage window to gain entry to the garage and stole a Cube bicycle.
Vehicle crime – Theft from a motor vehicle
Huddersfield Road , Delph – Offenders smashed the rear window of a vehicle and stole a radio from within.
Friarmere Road, Delph – Offenders smashed the front near side window of a vehicle and stole the airbags from the steering wheel and dashboard.
Oldham Road, Denshaw – Front and rear number plates were stolen from a secure unattended motor vehicle.
Criminal Damage
Huddersfield Road, Scouthead – Offender smashed the windows and wing mirrors of several vehicles using a broken broom handle. He was arrested near the scene.
Long Lane, Dobcross – Offender/s poured an unknown substance over a vehicle causing damage.
Harrop Court Road, Diggle – Offender/s poured a tin of white emulsion paint over parked secure vehicle.
Other Thefts
Huddersfield Road, Diggle – Offenders ran from a taxi without paying fare.
Platt Lane , Dobcross – Offenders forced a hasp and staple lock of a garden shed and stole a sit and ride lawn mower.
Dobcross New Road – Offenders stole twelve stone flags, which were laid as a path, from the rear garden.
Contact PCSO Monica Seville, PCSO Kath Crompton or PC Mark Clough at oldhamborough@gmp.police.uk or call 0161 856 8825
Saddleworth Group of Artists Winter Exhibition
Winter Morning Sunlight River Tame Delph by John McCombs
Established local artists will again be exhibiting their work at the Saddleworth Group of Artists Winter exhibition at the Saddleworth Museum from Saturday 13th December 2014 through to Sunday 1st February 2015. .
Always a popular show, especially in the run up to Christmas, the exhibition will be comprised of up to fifty works, with styles ranging from photo realism to expressionistic. Most paintings will be on sale.
The group, founded in 1950 by water colourist Ellis Shaw and friends, is currently comprised of around fifty enthusiastic members. Some are full time professionals but all are seriously committed to their work.
Check out our website – www.saddleworthartists.co.uk.
Saddleworth Museum, High St, Uppermill, OL36HS Tel. 01457874093.
Run as a registered charity the museum is reliant on admission charges as part of it’s income. Open daily 1.00pm to 4.00pm. Adults £2 – Children – £1 – Concessions £1 –Family Ticket – £4 (2 adults and up to 5 children)
Mother’s Day by Christine Sheard
Dovestone Reservoir, Saddleworth by Sheila Dewsbury
Diggle’s Christingle and Christmas Lights switch-on
Diggle children celebrating Christingle 2013 (Photo: Stuart Coleman © 2014)
The Annual Christingle Service, led by Mr. Duncan Rhodes, will be held this year in the car park of The Hanging Gate on Sunday 7th December at 4.00pm.
There will be a carol service, involving children from Diggle Primary School, and a Christmas lights switch-on. Music will be provided by Diggle Band and mulled wine and mince pies will be available from The Hanging Gate.
This annual Christmas event has historically been held on Diggle Village Green (land adjacent to Huddersfield Road, opposite the chippy) but that site is now being developed for new housing and has been lost to the community. A new village green site will, in the New Year, be established but for this year the current managers of The Hanging Gate have kindly offered to host the event.
Please support this event if you are able to.
EFA say OMBC will decide the location of Saddleworth School
Cllr Mike Buckley, Cllr Nikki Kirkham, Mike Green, Keith Lucas (Photo: Stuart Coleman©2014)
Leading Saddleworth Independent Councillors and Saddleworth School campaigners travelled to Coventry last Thursday to present a petition to the Education Funding Agency (EFA) urging the Agency to built the New Saddleworth Secondary School in Uppermill rather than Diggle. The EFA are currently assessing four sites as options for the location of the new school. The petition, signed by over 3,000 Saddleworth residents and other concerned parties was handed to Mr Mike Green, Education Funding Agency (EFA), Director of Capital, at the Agencies offices in Coventry. A forty-five minute meeting followed with Mr Green in which he explained the EFAs position and the present state of the feasibility study.
The Group were surprised to learn that, contrary to impressions given to date, the EFA are only responsible for the feasibility studies, not the final decision on the location of the new school. This is entirely the responsibility of the Local Authority and School Governors. Provided the preferred site is technically feasible and acceptable in cost terms, the EFA will build the school where Oldham Council wants it built.
Contrary to previous statements by Oldham Council and MP, Debbie Abrahams, there is no fixed budget of £17 million for the project, site specific factors will determine the final costs. If these are acceptable for a particular site the EFA will build the school in the location preferred by Oldham Council.
Finally, Mr Green stressed that there was clearly a need for a new school in Saddleworth and the EFA are fully committed to deliver a state of the art school within the existing programme. There is no threat to the project by the present feasibility studies, these are necessary to ensure that planning issues have been properly addressed and that the school build will go ahead smoothly without technical difficulties once a final decision on location is taken.
Cllr Mike Buckley said “Mr Green was very candid with us. He gave us straight answers to all the questions we asked. We were very grateful that he gave us nearly an hour of his time and listened carefully to our concerns. This was in strong contrast to the response we have received to date from Jim McMahon, the Leader of Oldham Council, and MP, Debbie Abrahams. I am happy to say that we have now arranged a date, on 13/12/14, to meet Debbie Abrahams but we still haven’t been able to fix a date with Jim McMahon. All we want from both meetings is to hand over the petition and discuss why they favour the Diggle location over Uppermill.”
Cllr Nikki Kirkham, who handed the petition to Mr Green said “Residents and parents have been mislead by Oldham Council and the major political parties. They have claimed that the decision on the site rests with the EFA, clearly now this is not the case. Oldham Council will make the final decision. It is a disgrace that there has been no consultation with local people on this decision, that they won’t speak to us and that we have tried to deflect responsibility for the decision to the EFA. Jim McMahon should be prepared to meet the people of Saddleworth at a public meeting and justify why he wants the school in Diggle.”
Stuart Coleman, who attended representing the Diggle Community Association echoed these concerns “We have invited Cllr Chadderton to our meetings to discuss the school issue but she has declined. Debbie Abrahams, our MP, apparently also does not wish to discuss the issue until a decision has been made. I’m pleased that Independent Councillors have been able to secure a date to meet with her to discuss the issue and hand over the petition.”
Councillor Jim McMahon, Oldham Council Leader, said: “The claim that Oldham Council and Saddleworth School governors are solely responsible for the decision about the new school site is not accurate. The Education Funding Agency (EFA) has been undertaking a feasibility study to review the options available to address the significant need at Saddleworth School.
“The EFA has been liaising with Oldham Council and the school throughout the study. They will soon announce the results of the study which has considered a large range of factors including residents’ views, location, size and suitability.
“The council has identified four potential options for the new school and believes that the rear site at Diggle offers the best long-term option. This takes into account the school’s desire to create a quality campus with good facilities. In addition, this option minimises disruption to the education of the children during the construction process.
“We now await the EFA to confirm the outcome of the feasibility study in deciding which site to take forward into the planning process. We believe that all points of view are being taken into account and hope that the interests of the children are considered first and foremost.
“Whichever option is chosen, the council continues to pledge to do all that it can to assist with any required works. We also remain fully committed to working alongside the EFA and their contractor to consult on the proposed development with the local community.”
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Accrington Pals at the Millgate Arts Centre
Saddleworth Players commemorate the centenary of the start of the great war with Peter Whelan’s drama “Accrington Pals”, with performances at Delph’s Millgate Arts Centre from 22 to 29 November 2014 at 7.30pm.
At the outbreak of war in 1914, the 700 strong local battalion from Accrington, Lancashire marched off optimistically in response to Lord Kitchener’s call – Your Country Needs YOU ! This powerful and poignant play is set in the early years of the First World War, as the country’s jingoistic optimism starts to wane and the true terror of warfare gradually becomes clear. The Accrington Pals portrays the devastating effects of war on a typical Lancashire mill town, and the highs and lows of everyday people at home and on the front line.
In conjunction with the production, Saddleworth Museum will be running a display “In Memoriam” which chronicles how the war affected the community in Saddleworth, and details the human sacrifice they gave. The display will be open in the bar lounge on each performance night.
Tickets for the show are available online at www.saddleworthplayers.org.uk, or by calling the box office on 01457 874644 between 7:30pm and 9pm, Tuesday to Thursday.
Tickets cost £8.00 for adults and £5 for students.
– See more at: http://www.saddleworthnews.com/#sthash.BYE0vLXQ.dpuf
Free Winter Health Event, 8th – 12th December
Age UK Oldham and Oldham Council are working in partnership with a whole host of local organisations to hold a week-long event in Oldham Town Centre to help people stay warm, healthy and active throughout the winter months.
There will be a variety of information, advice and goodies available every day from a range of local organisations.
The winter health event will take place from Monday 8th December till Friday 12th December, 10am – 3pm at 1 Albion Street, opposite Iceland and between Lever’s and Zodiac.
Funding for the event has come from Age UK Oldham, Wilkinson’s Winter Grants and Age UK’s ‘Big Knit’ campaign.
The programme for the week includes:
- Wednesday 10th December (9am – 3pm) – Free electric blanket testing, by appointment only, with a free replacement if your electric blanket fails the test (one per household, while stocks last). To make your appointment, telephone Age UK Oldham on 0161 633 0213. If you are housebound and unable to bring your electric blanket to the event, please telephone 0161 633 0213 to make alternative arrangements.
- Tuesday 9th December (10am – 12pm) – Walking stick exchange and MOT service – come and get advice from the Community Physiotherapy Team and find out if your stick is in good nick!
- Find out how the Warm Homes Oldham scheme can help you to make your home warmer and more energy efficient.
- All week – Information, advice and goodies!
Come and join us and find out more about the help and support available. Age UK Oldham’s Chief Executive, Yvonne Lee, said “We want to encourage people to come and find out more about what Age UK Oldham and its partners have to offer. There are lots of practical services that can make life easier during the winter months, but also lots of opportunities to get involved in activities to help people to stay active and keep in touch with the local community.”
Councillor Dave Hibbert, Cabinet Member for Housing, Planning and Transport, said: “If you want to stay warm and healthy this winter I’d urge you to come along as a number of local agencies will be on hand able to give help and advice. If you can’t attend then home visits can be arranged if required.
“During the cold weather it is very important we all do our bit and look after people who we think may be a little vulnerable.
“The council is doing as much as we can, but everyone can help out in their own way to help reduce the risk of people feeling lonely or isolated. Just knocking on a neighbour’s door to see if they are alright or nipping round for a cup of coffee could make a lot of difference to them.
“One of the biggest issues in the winter, especially for older people, is not being able to get out and about as much. That’s why it’s important to stay in contact with friends and family, and make the most of events and activities happening in the community.”
OMBC – Ready for Winter Disruption
Gritter operative clearing roads in Diggle {Photo: Stuart Coleman©2012)
Oldham Council’s plans to keep the borough moving over the winter months are well underway. Grit stocks, systems and services are in place to meet the challenge if there is any repeat of the heavy snowfall experienced in recent years.
Councillor Dave Hibbert, Oldham Council’s Cabinet Member for Housing, Planning and Transport, said: “Thankfully last winter wasn’t as harsh as previous years and hopefully that will be the case over the coming weeks and months. But we would be complacent if we didn’t look at how we’ve done things in the past and try to make improvements to the way we work. Lessons have been learned and feedback has been taken on board thus ensuring that contingency plans are in place for every foreseeable eventuality, including heavy snowfall.
“We’ve achieved a great deal of success in keeping the borough moving during previous harsh winters thanks to our forward planning but it’s also important that we all do our bit. We are doing as much as we can with the resources that are available to us, but everyone can help out in their own way, such as helping your neighbour grit their path or simply knocking on their door to see if they are okay and fancy a brew.
“We will be making every effort to keep residents informed about what is going on. I would urge residents to log onto the council website and listen to road and weather reports so that they can keep up to date with the latest news. We’ve stockpiled more than adequate supplies of road-gritting salt and we will be adding to them over the coming months. As in previous years we acquired our grit supply earlier in the year when prices were lower – providing value for money for residents.
“Our fleet of gritters, which last year gritted thousands of miles of adopted highway, are again ready for use to keep our roads clear. As far as reasonably possible, we will keep the primary highway network free of ice and snow at all times in order to help ensure a safe journey for commuters and residents.”
Resources are initially directed to gritting seven priority routes, including the trans-Pennine roads and most of the principal, classified and major bus routes.
Over the coming weeks workers will also be out filling the 596 grit bins which are dotted around the borough so residents can make sure their paths – and those of their neighbours – are free from ice and snow.
To keep residents fully informed of any developments the Oldham Council website – http://www.oldham.gov.uk/winter – will be updated continually and feature the latest news on school closures, gritting routes, locations of grit bins and grit sales.
The First Response service will use its Twitter account @oldhamalert to inform followers of school and road closures or incidents. These will also be retweeted for residents using the Council’s account @oldhamcouncil and updates will appear via the local media. Schools also have a text messaging system to inform parents if they are closing for the day.
If you require further information about gritting ring 0161 770 4421 or email gritting@oldham.gov.uk and if you would like to buy grit please email gritsales@oldham.gov.uk
Fraudsters trick and assault an 83-year-old man in Greenfield
Two men claiming they wanted to check the water pressure in a Saddleworth home stole money from an 83-year-old man.
At around 1.45pm on Friday 7 November 2014, two men knocked on the door of house on Carr Lane, Greenfield and said they needed to check the pressure. They were invited inside and while one of the men spoke to the man and his 87-year-old brother, the second went upstairs.
He searched rooms before taking money and coming back down. The victim noticed he was hiding something in his top and when he was confronted, the victim was pushed, causing him to fall to the floor. Both men left, running towards High Street, Uppermill.
One man is described as being white, in his late 30s/early 40s, of stocky build, 5ft 10in tall with short grey hair and clean shaven. He wore a dark jacket and spoke with a local accent.
Detective Sergeant Tim Taylor said: “These men tricked their victim, believing they were there from a utilities company. Not only did they deceive him and take his money, when he was confronted, they pushed him over. Thankfully he was not physically hurt.
“I would ask anyone who may have seen these two men in the area or you believe you have been approached by them, to contact us.
“I would like to remind the community to ask for identification before letting people into your home. Even if they do and you have your doubts about them, you do not have to let them in.”
Anyone with information should phone police on 0161 856 9080 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
Diggle’s Rainbow Coloured Eggs
A close relative of Tyrannosaurus Rex, the Diggle Chicken
by Diggle’s Junior Reporters
Entrepreneurial Pupils at Diggle Primary aren’t chicken when it comes to business.
A group of 10 – 11 year old children in year five have, with their teachers, devised a business plan for the production and sale of rainbow coloured eggs.
With support from the school’s governors, teaching assistant Beverley Cocker and site manager, Chris Ryan, the group have built, on the school’s grounds, chicken coops, pens and purchased over twenty chickens.
They plan to produce a range of multi-coloured eggs, which can, in the Spring, be sold to the public. The money raised will be used to fund and further develop the project. Parents are fully supporting the project and have been given an opportunity to buy shares in the business. Shares are being sold to parents for £5 each and are restricted to 10 shares each.
The group of young class five entrepreneurs includes: Lottie Redfearn, Joshua Russell, Hope Moynihan, William Yarwood and Tom Brierley.
Joshua said: “We’ve bought twenty five chickens; ten Warrens, three Aracanas, two Silkies (they’re our pets, called Thelma and Louise), one black Leghorn, three black and one blue Maran , two White Star and three cream Legbars. The chickens are producing eggs but they have only been sold to teachers as we won’t produce enough for the public, until March. We don’t get many eggs at the moment, as spring is their main laying season.”
Tom said: “The chicken is the closest relative to Tyranosaurus-Rex but they are much friendlier! Mrs Cocker and Joshua Russell are the softest people with the chickens. The chickens have learned to wait for them to come in a morning to give them their corn. The chickens love mixed corn, even though it is a treat “it’s like chocolate for chickens.”
Lottie said: “In the future we might get a couple of cockerels (which will be kept at Mr Ryan’s farm). We can then put any eggs they fertilise under the Silkies. We hope they will become broody and hatch out some cute little chicks.”
Hope said: “We can start selling eggs because we’ve added treatment to the water to make the eggs safe to eat.”
William said: “We are hoping to generate a profit for the shareholders and also raise some money for our school.
“We will have to get more hens in the future as they will eventually stop laying as they get older.”
Deputy head Stephanie Moore said: “The children have really impressed themselves with this project. Having chickens teaches them about the whole food process and gives them a real insight into operating a business.
“Their business plan gives an inventory of the poultry including Aracanas which lay pale blue eggs and copper Marans and cream Legbars which lay other coloured eggs.”
Diggle Band Club’s Christmas Fayre 2014
Saddleworth Christmas Lights Switch On 2014
See details below for the Saddleworth Christmas Lights Switch-ons.
Saddleworth North Monthly Crime Figures: Oct 2014
Supplied by GMP
| Cime | AUG | SEPT | OCT |
| Burglary (Of homes) | 5 | 0 | 2 |
| Burglary Other (Shed, Garage, Business) | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Theft from a vehicle | 4 | 3 | 4 |
| Theft of a motor vehicle | 0 | 6 | 1 |
| Criminal damage | 5 | 4 | 4 |
| Robbery | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Saddleworth North Monthly Crime Figures: Oct 2014
Burglary Dwelling
Slackcote Lane , Delph – Offenders gained access to the building via an insecure porch door and stole property.
Oldham Road, Denshaw – Offenders used garden furniture to reach a rear lounge window. They smashed the window and alerted the home owners. The offenders fled the scene.
Burglary Other
Restaurant, Gatehead Business Park, Delph New Road, Delph – Offenders used bodily force to open the front entrance doors to the restaurant. Once inside they conducted an untidy search and damaged three internal doors. A television was stolen. The offenders left but returned in a vehicle, approximately an hour and a half later, and stole further items.
Huddersfield Road, Denshaw – Offenders broke into the detached garage setting off the alarm, The home owner was alerted. He discovered two males in his garage. He tried to hold the garage door closed to keep the men inside but they manage to barge through the door running off in different directions. The owner then drove around the area to see if he could find the offenders. On returning to his property he found a male hiding behind a wall. The offender was detained and arrested on police arrival.
Wool Road, Dobcross – Offenders used a concrete slab to break the outer pane on a rear door in an attempt to gain entry to the building. They then used the same slab to smash a rear ground floor window. Entry was gained and items were taken.
Huddersfield Road, Diggle – Offenders gained access to a building site removing and stealing tools from inside a locked secure container.
Vehicle crime – Theft from a motor vehicle
Vehicle, Knarr Lane, Delph – property was stolen from the rear of a flat bed vehicle.
Vehicle, Woodbrook Road , Springhead – A built-in sat-nav and a portable sat-nav were stolen from a parked secure vehicle.
Digger, Huddersfield Road, Diggle – Offenders entered a building site and stole fuel from a digger after forcing the cap off the fuel tank.
Vehicle, Woodbrook Road, Springhead – Offenders removed tools from the boot of the vehicle. They were disturbed by the owner and fled leaving the tools in situ.
Vehicle Crime – Theft of motor vehicle
Nicker Brow, Dobcross – Offenders stole a locked and secure motorcycle. It was recovered, nearby, three days later.
Criminal Damage
Denshaw Road, Delph – Metal road sign were damaged by youths.
You can contact PC 09098 Mark Clough, PCSO Monica Seville, and PCSO Kath Crompton at: oldhamborough@gmp.police.uk or call 0161 856 8825.