Diggle News has now become part of inSaddleworth
We’ve still got all the same Diggle News stories, all the great photos, but now also have all the extra features of inSaddleworth like Notices, News, Business Directory, Events and Galleries
Mayor refocuses planning debate on town centres
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham is refocusing the planning debate on town centres and infrastructure led development in response to public concerns expressed in the first consultation on the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework.
The first step in the next stage of the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework (GMSF) has been taken as all responses to the first round of public consultation are published.
More than 27,000 people responded to the initial consultation on the draft GMSF. Responses included around 17,000 letters and 18 separate petitions, as well as thousands of comments made through the GMSF consultation portal.
All responses are now available to view on the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) website at www.greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk/gmsf
Andy Burnham said: “We had a huge public response to the first round of consultation on the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework and we have listened carefully to what people have told us. The plan does need radical change and we will consult every step of the way as we develop the next draft that responds to those concerns. There will still be difficult decisions to be made but we will take those decisions in an open, transparent and consultative way.
“I want the new plan to refocus the debate on the transformational development opportunities for our towns, and in the coming weeks I will set out details of a new town centre challenge. Each borough will have the opportunity to nominate a town with regeneration potential. Our aim will be to kickstart the regeneration effort so we can breathe new life into our smaller towns.”
Both positive and negative issues were raised during the initial consultation. These included:
Concerns about the amount of greenbelt land allocated for development. This was the single biggest issue which was raised during the consultation process.
Others recognised the need for new housing of all types and welcomed the ambition in the plan to provide much-needed housing
Concerns around effects on the environment and air quality
The potential for job creation which the GMSF highlights was welcomed.
The need to link developments to infrastructure improvements
The types of housing and jobs being created.
The redrafted spatial framework will aim to make the most of Greater Manchester’s brownfield sites and reduce the impact on greenbelt, making sure that we capitalise on our existing town centres and transport links. The plan will ensure the right mix of homes across the city region, including truly affordable housing to allow young people to find a home in communities where they want to live.
Paul Dennett, Greater Manchester Combined Authority Lead for Planning and Housing and Homelessness said: “The Spatial Framework is our plan to provide the land for jobs and new homes that will help make Greater Manchester a global city we can be proud of and is a huge part of securing the future success of Greater Manchester.
“To do justice to the tens of thousands of responses we received as part of the initial consultation, and to demonstrate continued trust and transparency in the process, Greater Manchester Leaders agreed a timetable last month with a series of steps leading up to the publication of the revised plan in June 2018. Publishing all of the consultation responses is the first step in this process.”
The next step in the GMSF process will come later in the year when the GMCA will publish data and associated sources of information such as the population and household projections produced by the Office of National Statistics, the new national methodology for calculating housing need, reviewed economic growth forecasts, transport studies and information on brownfield land.
Paul added: “We will, of course, continue to listen to and engage with the public as the new draft of the plan is developed, as well as keeping people updated on progress. This includes meeting with interested groups in the coming months. We recognise that to make our vision a reality, the process must be shaped and informed by local people”
The second draft of the plan will then be developed in the new year, with a publication date of June 2018. Following publication of the plan, there will be a 12-week public consultation period.
The GMSF consultation portal has been improved following feedback from respondents. We are currently reviewing our systems to make them more user-friendly ahead of the consultation that will take place from June next year.
SADDLEWORTH SCHOOL PLANNING APPLICATIONS ‘GO LIVE’
W.H. Shaw Pallet Works site
It has just been announced by Oldham Council that four planning applications related to the proposed new Saddleworth School are ‘going live’ for public consultation and comments from today, Wednesday September 27th, at https://www.oldham.gov.uk/planning
Oldham Council has received a new Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) submitted by Interserve – the construction partner selected by Government on this project.
The new EIA, published today, relates to four planning applications that were subject to a Judicial Review last year.
These have now been re-submitted and are open for public comments for the next 16 weeks until Wednesday, January 17, 2018.
The planning applications are for:
A) Building the new Saddleworth School on the WH Shaw Pallets site in Diggle;
B) Demolishing the existing buildings on the WH Shaw site, excluding the listed building;
C) Demolishing the link bridge attached to the Grade II listed building on the WH Shaw site;
D) Providing a parental drop off area plus residential car parking as part of the wider highways scheme in Diggle.
Following consultation it is anticipated these four applications will be considered by members of the Planning Committee in early 2018.
All relevant paperwork can be viewed or downloaded from the planning section on the Oldham Council website at https://www.oldham.gov.uk/planning
Related stories:
The New Saddleworth School – Public drop-in event to take place over the Christmas break
Debbie Abrahams will not oppose moving Saddleworth School to Diggle
Saddleworth School produces a Q & A re: the proposed new Saddleworth School
Proposed highway works for Diggle – or does it?
OMBC Approves School Plans
HOW A CUP OF TEA SHAPED OUR COMMUNITIES
Women picking tea on an estate near Srimangal, the town at the centre of Sylhet’s large tea industry.
Photo by Tim Smith.
Part of the exhibition River of Tea: From Bengal to Britain.
A new exhibition is coming to Oldham, telling the untold story of how our love for a cup of tea has helped shape our towns and cities today.
Gallery Oldham’s latest exhibition opens on 16 September. River Of Tea – From Bengal To Britain is an exhibition of photographs by Tim Smith.
Tea enjoys a special place in British culture and the industry has played a key role in our history. Behind Britain’s cup of choice is a fascinating story that is rarely told; how the early tea trade sparked a migration that has helped to shape our towns and cities.
Tim Smith is a photographer based in Bradford and for over 35 years he has worked with a range of communities to explore issues of migration and identity.
For this new exhibition he has worked with the Bangladeshi community in Oldham and other British towns to explore the story of how the tea trade built early links between Britain, India and Bangladesh.
Over 500,000 British-Bangladeshis now live in Britain. Over 90 per cent are of Sylheti origin, from a region in Bengal that was once part of Assam Province in British India. Sylhet now lies in northern Bangladesh, just south of India’s Assam State.
The connections between Sylhet and Britain were forged when the British established tea plantations in Assam in the 1830s. They relied on river transport to get the tea from plantations to the port of Calcutta for export.
It was the Sylhetis, master sailors and boat builders, who first provided this transport. Sylheti sailors then joined ships bringing the tea to Britain, and some of these sailors then found work ashore in Britain. It was these pioneers who laid the foundations of the communities of today.
This exhibition explores the history of Sylhet and Bangladesh, focusing on the region’s
Women grading tea at the Tezpore and Gogra Tea Estate in Assam. The estate is owned by McLoed Russel, the world’s largest tea producing company. During the 1800s the British discovered Assamese people making a drink from a wild plant, which proved to be a variety of tea. India’s first tea estates were established in Assam, a region which has since become the world’s largest producer of tea.
Photo by Tim Smith.
Part of the exhibition River of Tea: From Bengal to Britain.
links with Britain and the impact these have had on people and places in Bangladesh.
Tim said: “Drinking tea is such an important part of British, Indian and Bangladeshi culture, yet the story of how tea arrived in Britain and the people it brought with it is rarely told.
“It was a real privilege for me to be able to retrace this journey. I photographed life along the rivers and in the tea estates of India and Bangladesh, in the bustling cities of Dhaka and Calcutta, and in Sylhet itself where I met loads of people from all over Britain.
“Although it was a personal journey it was one guided by many British Bangladeshis, who suggested where to go and who to meet. Everywhere I went I encountered extraordinary help and hospitality from local people.”
Cllr Barbara Brownridge, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods and Co-operatives, said: “We all love a cup of tea but most of us probably never stop to think about where it comes from and what impact it has had on our country.
“This really is a fascinating story about how our love of tea helped shape the communities we have today.”
River of Tea opens on 16 September and runs until 6 January. After this launch in Oldham the show will tour to several other venues around the UK. The exhibition is supported with funding from Arts Council England.
Join Tim Smith for a talk in the exhibition on 20 September at 2pm.
Man smelling the quality of tea on the Monabarie Tea Estate in Assam. Owned by McLoed Russel this is the largest tea estate in Asia. During the 1800s the British discovered Assamese people making a drink from a wild plant, which proved to be a variety of tea. India’s first tea estates were established in Assam, a region which has since become the world’s largest producer of tea.
Photo by Tim Smith.
Part of the exhibition River of Tea: From Bengal to Britain.
JOB OPPORTUNITIES ON OFFER AT OLDHAM’S FESTIVAL WORK
More than 500 job-related opportunities will be on show to Oldham residents as the annual Get Oldham Working (GOW) Festival of Work event returns.
With a wide-range of jobs, apprenticeships and work experience openings on offer from various employers across Oldham and beyond, this is a great chance for residents to present their CVs to someone who could turn out to be their next boss.
So whether you are job hunting for the first time, looking for a return to work, or you are searching for the next step in your career, this event is open to everyone and it’s free to attend – just turn up on the day, no booking is required.
The day runs from 10am until 2pm on Thursday, September 21 at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, Oldham, OL1 1QJ, with parking available just outside the venue and Metrolink’s Oldham King Street stop only a two to three minute walk away.
Staff from the GOW team will be available on the day to advise you about jobs, careers and access to training across a wide range of sectors within the borough. There will also be plenty of space for you to complete any job applications that you pick up on the day, with additional support on hand in case you get stuck with any questions.
Spindles Town Square Shopping Centre and Yodel will be among the employers offering opportunities in retail and HGV driving respectively.
There will also be positions available in the care, construction, metalwork and security industries; office, customer service and administration roles and other driving and warehouse opportunities, among others.
This event comes as Oldham Council has recently been nominated for the ‘Supporting People into Employment Award’ as part of Greater Manchester’s 2017 Skills for Business Awards. Award winners will be announced on Thursday, November 30 at The Point, Emirates Old Trafford.
Councillor Shoab Akhtar, Cabinet Member for Employment and Skills, said: “Year after year, these events have proved to be an extraordinary success.
“With residents having gone on to work for employers such as Greater Manchester Police and First Manchester through our Festival of Work, I strongly encourage you to attend if you are looking for a new career opportunity.”
Mike Flanagan, Spindles Town Square Shopping Centre Manager, said: “Spindles Town Square is the heart of the retail community across Oldham and it is the place to be for shoppers across the borough and beyond.
“With a warm and welcoming environment around our centre, Spindles Town Square wouldn’t be what it is today without a fantastic team behind it that makes every shopper’s trip, one to remember.
“So if you want to be a part of our team, we look forward to seeing you at the upcoming Festival of Work.”
Darren Walker, head of recruitment at Yodel, said: “Yodel is looking to recruit around 200 people in the Greater Manchester area over the next three months as we gear up for our busiest time of year ahead of Black Friday and Christmas. We look forward to participating at Get Oldham Working’s Festival of Work, and hope to see many local residents on the day to talk about working for Yodel.”
Make sure you follow the Get Oldham Working team via social media in the build-up to the Festival of Work event. Facebook: Get Oldham Working and Twitter: @EmployOldham
If you cannot attend on the day it’s now even easier to contact the GOW team, which has supported the creation of 6,000 employment opportunities in less than three years.
They are located on the first floor of Metropolitan Place, Hobson Street, Oldham, OL1 1TT – across the road from the Job Centre Plus.
The base is operating an ‘open door’ policy, which means residents of working age can go along – without an appointment – and speak to a careers advisor, weekdays 9am until 4pm.
Over the next five years GOW is looking to engage with 6,000 residents and fill 5,000 work-related opportunities, so if you are looking for work it is a good time to get in touch.
Contact the GOW team via their website www.oldham.gov.uk/gow, by email employability@oldham.gov.uk or by telephone 0161 770 4674.
Record numbers of wading birds at Dove Stone
Wading birds gathered in record numbers at Dove Stone in the Peak District this breeding season, thanks to an ambitious ongoing bog restoration programme.
Over the summer, RSPB staff and volunteer surveyors recorded 49 pairs of dunlins at the Saddleworth site, up a quarter from the 39 pairs observed in 2014 and up five pairs on last year’s previous record of 44.
The RSPB also saw golden plovers increase at Dove Stone by a fifth, rising from 92 in 2014 to 110 this year.
Dunlins are small wading birds that love breeding in wet hilly places and have been gradually increasing at Dove Stone over the past decade after virtually vanishing from the Peak District in the early 2000s. Golden plovers are medium-sized wading birds that also favor nesting on wet bogs and, likewise, their numbers have been steadily growing at Dove Stone in recent years.
The RSPB, which manages Dove Stone in partnership with landowner United Utilities, has discovered a direct correlation between this increase of breeding wading birds and the restoration of blanket bog at the site.
Healthy blanket bogs, which are found on wet hilly plateaus, can provide great benefits both for people and wildlife. As well as provide insect food for birds, they lock up harmful carbon, improve water quality by acting as a natural filtration system and prevent flooding by slowing down the water flow.
However, like much of this habitat in the UK, Dove Stone’s had been damaged by past industrial air pollution with the surface vegetation and peat-building sphagnum mosses having almost completely died out, leaving large areas of bare, dried out peat.
Since 2005, United Utilities and the RSPB have been working to restore Dove Stone’s bog by covering the bare damaged peat with new vegetation, blocking gullies to raise the water table and sowing new sphagnum moss. The increase in breeding waders appears to be rising in direct response to the improving habitat.
Dave O’Hara, RSPB site manager at Dove Stone, said: “It’s no coincidence that numbers of breeding waders at Dove Stone began to increase at the same time we began to restore the blanket bog with our partner United Utilities. It’s gratifying and inspiring to see our continuing restoration work paying off with more and more wading birds nesting here every year.
“Thanks to generous funding from WREN, we are currently in the middle of Sowing the Moss, a three year project where we are working with volunteers to plant more sphagnum, which will help rebuild the bog. Restoring Dove Stone’s bog is a huge long-term undertaking but it’s such an important habitat that brings so many benefits for wildlife and people that it’s well worth all the effort that everyone has – and continues – to put in.”
Ed Lawrance, Catchment Partnership Officer at United Utilities, said: “The moorland restoration work is a long-term project, originally driven by our approach to improve water quality in a sustainable way, reducing treatment costs for our customers. It’s wonderful to see the dramatic result it has had for wading birds at Dove Stone. It’s a brilliant example of a win-win partnership and we are very proud of what’s been achieved.”
Related stories:
Action needed to help save our bees
National Park grouse moors are a black hole for birds of prey
Paving the way for a brand new resident at Dove Stone
WILDFIRES highlight the vulnerability of the diverse and valuable South Pennines habitat
SCHOOL PUPILS ARE ‘SNOW’ JOKE WHEN IT COMES TO PICKING GRITTER NAMES
Weather warning issued by Met Office
Passengers using public transport are being urged to plan ahead and allow more time for travel this evening and tomorrow morning after the Met Office issued a weather warning for strong winds.
Gusts of 55-65 mph, potentially reaching 75 mph in some places, look set to hit the region at 8pm on Tuesday night and continue until 10am on Wednesday morning.
The weather is likely to increase journey times across all modes of transport, with damage to trees and restrictions on roads and bridges possible.
You can keep up-to-date with the latest weather updates from the Met Office here.
John Fryer, TfGM’s Transport and Event Planning Lead, said: “We advise all passengers to take extra care tonight and tomorrow when you’re out and about, no matter what form of transport you use.
“Please plan ahead and allow more time for your journey as disruption to journey times is likely.
“Follow TfGM’s social media channels and check with your operator for the latest travel and transport updates.”
For information on public transport across Greater Manchester visit www.tfgm.com, call 0161 244 1000 (7am-8pm, Monday to Friday, and 8am-8pm at weekends and bank holidays) or follow @OfficialTfGM on Twitter.
Commuters warned of two days of rail strike disruption
Transport for Greater Manchester travel advice for Friday 1 and Monday 4 September – tfgm.com/industrial-action
Commuters, parents and school returners are being warned to plan ahead and expect disruption on Friday 1 and Monday 4 September as staff on Northern rail services hold two one-day strikes.
The strikes will run from 0001 to 2359 on each day.
Most Northern services are not expected to run and any that do operate, working to a revised timetable, will be extremely busy.
All public transport and Greater Manchester’s roads are expected to be busier, especially at peak morning and evening times, with key commuter routes forecast to face the most pressure as people affected by the strikes make alternative arrangements.
Monday 4 September is expected to be the most affected day as the majority of Greater Manchester schools return for the new academic year.
No rail services will operate between Manchester and Preston via Bolton as the line is currently closed due to a burst water main and a severely damaged bridge at Moses Gate. This is also causing local road disruption and bus and route diversions are in place.
Customers are advised to check the details of their journey atwww.nationalrail.co.uk or by following @northernassist.
In addition the A6 through Stockport is currently closed for essential engineering and thus the surrounding road network is expected to be very busy. TfGM’s travel advice for the A6 closure is beta.tfgm.com/travel-updates/stockport-a6-bridge-works
Transport for Greater Manchester, which is helping to co-ordinate the region’s response, is urging people to plan ahead and consider carefully their travel arrangements.
It is working to support Northern’s own customer communications effort and has created a special travel information page on its website to help keep Greater Manchester commuters on the move: tfgm.com/industrial-action.
TfGM’s Transport and Event Planning Lead, John Fryer, said: “We are taking action to minimise the disruption to the transport network but we know it will still be very busy, particularly as many schools across the region return.
“Commuters can play their part to minimise disruption and our advice is simple: plan ahead, be prepared, and think about all your travel choices.
“Can you travel at a different time or does your employer allow you to work from home? If you can travel at a quieter time, or in a different way – by bus, tram, bike, foot or a mixture – it can make a massive improvement not just to your journey but to people who simply don’t have a choice.”
As well as working with other transport authorities across the North, TfGM has taken action locally to help people who have to travel on the days of the strike, including;
- Ensuring as many Metrolink trams as possible will be in service
- Deploying additional staff on Metrolink and at key bus stations to help commuters
- Advising rail customers with monthly or greater season tickets that they can travel for free on Metrolink
- Publicising various park and ride sites to allow customers to complete their journeys by different transport options
- Working with bus and other train operators to maximise capacity across the network, particularly on the busiest commuter corridors
- Enhanced monitoring at its network control centre so traffic flows can be optimised by altering signal timing
- Working with local highway authorities to temporarily suspend roadworks where possible on the region’s main commuter routes
John added: “Our control room will open earlier and work later on the strike days and we’ll have additional customer service support on the phones and online to help people who have to travel, but our strongest advice is: expect disruption and plan ahead now.”
For detailed information about the Northern rail industrial action please visit www.northernrailway.co.uk/industrial-action.
For information on public transport across Greater Manchester visit www.tfgm.com, call 0161 244 1000 (7am-8pm, Monday to Friday, and 8am-8pm at weekends and bank holidays) or follow@OfficialTfGM on Twitter.
Paving the way for a brand new resident at Dove Stone
A new path at Dove Stone reservoir near Oldham has proved a hit with visitors and wildlife alike.
Following months of hard work by RSPB Site Wardens and a hardy gang of local volunteers, visitors to Dove Stone can now enjoy a walk off the beaten track through a woodland setting, taking in wildlife ponds and reservoir views.
The new path has been created through one of United Utilities’ mature conifer plantations (known as Pennyworth Plantation) and allows all visitors, including those with all terrain wheelchairs to experience a different setting to the main circular trail.
Staff and volunteers will next be planting trees such as oak, rowan and birch to create a wonderful mixed woodland of the sort that would naturally grow there.
RSPB Site Warden Kate Hanley said: “People often wonder why a conservation charity would cut trees down, but dense conifer plantations like this one are dark places making it hard for a variety of plants and wildlife to thrive. The conifers have been thinned out to allow more light in and we are already seeing tiny trees appearing.
“Of course some wildlife, such as goldcrests, like conifers so we are not removing them all. Dead wood is also an important aspect of woodland management, so we create habitat piles for insects, small mammals and birds like robins and wrens, and leave some tree stumps standing upright for a variety of insects and birds like woodpeckers.”
In fact leaving dead wood has proved to be especially important for one tiny creature – a brand new resident at Dove Stone which has appeared directly as a result of this work.
RSPB volunteer and local naturalist Ken Gartside suggested holes were drilled into some dead conifer stumps to create artificial rot holes which hoverflies breed in. The team at Dove Stone are very excited to report that Ken has already found the rare furry pine hoverfly for the first time ever at Dove Stone as a direct result of this work
This particular hoverfly is nationally scarce and is mainly found in pine forests in Scotland. There have been a small number recorded elsewhere in England but it is a new find for Dove Stone.
Dave O’Hara, RSPB Site Manager at Dove Stone commented: ‘I’d really like to thank the local volunteers, aided by United Utilities staff on their work parties, who have transformed the woodland habitat as well as creating the new path. The hoverfly discovery is a great reminder of how quickly nature can respond if we create the right conditions, and was a fine example of well thought-out habitat creation by Ken. The ponds created are also attracting dragonflies.”
Although many visitors have already found and enjoyed Pennyworth path, an official opening was held on Friday 11 August, following the installation of wooden way markers and interpretation by local artists Richard Dawson and Jacqui Symons from Woodend Artists.
With one of their members being a regular volunteer for the RSPB, Oldham Mountain Rescue also attended with one of their landrovers which was a great source of excitement to the children on the day.
As well as the new path through the plantation, staff and volunteers have also improved access at Binn Green with a new wheelchair friendly path to the viewpoint and bird feeding area.
Dove Stone reservoir is owned by United Utilities and the water company works in partnership with the RSPB, who manage the estate. The partnership aims to encourage public access and recreation, while protecting water quality and wildlife for future generations.
Furry pine hover fly
Eight months of improvement work on Trans-Pennine Rail Routes
Between September 2017 – May 2018, Network Rail will be undertaking essential work in preparation for the upgrading of the TransPennine railway, which will deliver faster and more frequent services and improve connections between key towns and cities across the North. Vegetation will be removed to a distance of 6.5 metres either side of the tracks or up to our boundary.Mossley – Tuesday 29 August – George Lawton Hall, OL5 0HR
Stalybridge – Wednesday 30 August – Stalybridge Civic Hall, Trinity Street, SK15 2BN
Greenfield – Monday 4 September – Greenfield Methodist Church, 9 Chew Vale, Greenfield, OL3 7EQ
DEAR OLDHAM…
Oldham Council is asking young people to help shape Oldham’s future.
As part of the Your Oldham campaign we are encouraging children from across the borough to write a ‘Dear Oldham’ letter to the town, or, if they prefer, they can submit a drawing or a collage instead showing their ideas.
The letter, or drawing, could include what activities children want in the town, what they want Oldham to look like, or just simply what they want to do in the future.The best and most creative submissions will be made into a special booklet and showcased at the Your Oldham Festival, which runs from Sunday, September 3 until September 9. Just grab a piece of paper, start the letter with ‘Dear Oldham’ and get the little ones to write or draw what they want to see.
Councillor Barbara Brownridge, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods and Co-operatives, said: “We want the younger generations to help shape the future of Oldham and ensure we include the views of everyone.
“This campaign will hopefully give children a chance to be creative and express what they want from their home town later in life. Dear Oldham is part of the wider Your Oldham campaign and festival in September. The festival will give everyone a chance to showcase the brilliant co-operative work that’s been going on over the past year.”
Once your submission is completed, write the name, age of the child, your contact details and send it to: Dear Oldham, Room 317, Oldham Civic Centre, West Street, Oldham OL1 1UG Or alternatively, take a picture and email it to: dearoldham@oldham.gov.uk The deadline to enter is Friday 26 August.
The Your Oldham Festival aims to celebrate and showcase the fantastic co-operative activities happening across Oldham. We have a number of family friendly events taking place across the borough for you to discover over the week-long celebration. From the Castleshaw Centre Outdoor Adventure Day, to our EPIC Talks series and Your Future day, there’s something for everyone to enjoy and it’s all free.
As part of the campaign we are also encouraging residents to organise their own street party with neighbours or the local community. Organise your party before Monday 14 August and you could win a bespoke party hamper from Oldham Tesco stores.
For more information about the festival, campaign, or street parties, visit: www.oldham.gov.uk/youroldham
Sam Road, Diggle closed for 1 week for resurfacing work
Notice issued by Unity Partnership
Please be advised that essential carriageway resurfacing works are programmed to start on 7th August 2017 for 1 week on Sam Road, Diggle.
To enable Unity Partnership to safely carry out the carriageway resurfacing works both safely and in a timely manner a road closure will be in place. A signed diversion route will be in place for the duration of the closure.
During this closure period Unity Partnership will provide access to properties within the closure outside of working hours.
Working Hours 08:30 – 16:30 Monday to Friday
Full access will be given to emergency vehicles throughout the works.
Should you have any queries or require further information please do not hesitate to contact Nigel Molden, Unity Partnership, Henshaw House, Cheapside, Oldham OL1 1NY
M: 07481102914 | T: 0161 770 1952 | W: www.unitypartnership.com
Unity Partnership apologise for any inconvenience that this may cause but please be assured that these works are essential to maintain the safety of road users.
Diversion in blue. Closure in red.
Road closure in red
South Pennines’ Walk and Ride Festival 2017
Pennine Prospects Holmfirth area
The South Pennines is the perfect place to enjoy the great outdoors, from the unspoilt beauty of the moorlands to the fascinating heritage of the industrial revolution, there’s so much choice, for families, cyclists, horse riders and walkers.
“Sometimes it’s difficult to know where to begin,” explained Adele Adams, festival co-ordinator. “That’s why the South Pennines’ Walk and Ride Festival is the best place to start. With over 130 events taking place between Saturday, September 9th and Sunday, September 24th, you will find an event for you; in fact you may find many.
“Look out for our brochure in visitor centres, libraries, shops and many other places throughout the South Pennines for more details or visit the festival website,” suggested Adele.
“Cyclists can learn new skills on the Get Dirty MTB half-day course designed to build confidence for those new to off road biking, or they can learn how to lead or supervise cycle rides during a full day of theory and practical training. For those cyclists wishing to just cycle there’s so many different rides to choose from; there’s the Holme Valley MTB Challenge, with three routes of varying difficulties and duration, or a more moderate cycle in Shibden Valley, or even the challenging 47-mile Mary Towneley Loop Endurance ride,” Adele added.
Walkers also have an array of events from which to choose, from gently health walks to strenuous hikes. Why not explore the Calder Woodland Way, as featured in Christopher Goddard’s recently published book. This linear walk from Brighouse to Walsden taking in some of the finest woodland landscapes in the Calder Valley can be completed in four separate circular walks or in one day for those who enjoy a challenge.
Whilst enjoying the scenery there are many walks that will also introduce you to the area’s rich history, such as the Halifax Music Heritage Trail, the Chartists’ Way, or the Archaeological Nordic Walk on Crompton Moor. Families can learn about fungi in Hardcastle Crags and there’s an opportunity to learn how to rock climb in Littleborough. You can even find out how the Calder Valley Search and Rescue Team train their dogs.
Horse riders can meet at South Crosland Airfield, Huddersfield and choose from several led rides with Kirklees Bridleways Group to enjoy the stunning South Pennines’ countryside along bridleways and quiet roads. For those who may not have any equine experience but who would like to ‘give it a go’ there’s the Ponies for People open day at Peers Clough Packhorses in Rossendale. Meet these native breed fell ponies and have a taster ride.
For disabled outdoor enthusiasts there’s the opportunity to join the Huddersfield Narrow Canal Mountain Trike Ramble, organised by Experience Community. Suitable for everyone including those using mountain trike off-road wheelchairs people can also hire mountain trikes if they don’t have their own.
Events are taking place throughout the South Pennines from Ilkley to Marsden and from Saddleworth to Keighley. Many of the events are listed in the printed brochure, which will be available from shops, tourist information centres and other outlets across the region this summer. For the most up-to-date information and all events’ listings please visit the website at www.walkandridefestival.co.uk
To help fund this year’s South Pennines Walk and Ride Festival and ensure its future a Just Giving page has been created. Please donate to secure the festival’s future at:
https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/southpennineswalkandridefestival
A new vision to redevelop Oldham town centre
New Cinema
An ambitious new vision to deliver the Oldham town centre of the future is set to go to public consultation before being marketed to potential development partners.
Oldham Council has been developing a masterplan looking ahead to 2035 with key schemes across five strategic town centre sites totalling 21 acres. The benefits would be the provision of new homes, 55,000 sq metres of new and refurbished employment space, and economic activity worth an additional £50m per annum to Oldham’s economy.
To see a PDF of the master plan click here.
The masterplan seeks to remodel Oldham town centre to match the local authority’s aspirations for it to be a vibrant place with high-quality attractions, an excellent cultural and shopping offer and a night-time economy that make it stand out as a destination within Greater Manchester. Key to that is transforming the area into a thriving place where more residents want to live and spend leisure time. This is to be supported by housing and schools better reflecting communities’ needs and producing high-skilled residents working in a stronger local economy where businesses want to invest. If every masterplan element is delivered it could be worth an estimated 560 full-time jobs during construction, plus up to 700 new operational jobs in Oldham.
The plan is the first step towards creating a town centre that works better and is aspirational for everyone – from residents to families, public sector partners and businesses/traders of all sizes. A priority proposal in this plan is to deliver a new Tommyfield Market on the existing site with a new 600-capacity multi-storey car park adjacent to attract additional footfall, plus complementary new retail/leisure units and quality public spaces.
A new Civic Hub is also proposed using land including the former Oldham Sports Centre to host a multi-agency public sector centre providing more effective accommodation and cost sharing, plus new commercial office space. The current Civic Centre, Magistrates Court and Oldham Police Station sites could be the location for a refurbished QE Hall with a new hotel, plus offices and homes. Additional homes could go at the current Rock Street car park site and the surrounding area. Subject to Cabinet approval on July 10, work would begin to present these opportunities to market and share risks/costs with the private sector.
The masterplan identifies a large number of publicly-owned sites that are under-used or no longer fit for purpose. These include Tommyfield Market, the Civic Centre, Oldham Police Station, the former Oldham Sports Centre and Oldham Magistrates Court, and the current Oldham Coliseum Theatre. Existing movement and footfall in Oldham town centre has been analysed and anticipated future pressures on housing, school places, public services and infrastructure are also factored in.
Jean Stretton, Oldham Council Leader, said: “This is the biggest forward planning exercise we’ve ever had for Oldham town centre – it’s exciting and it’s about the kind of place we want it to be in the future. Many positive regeneration schemes are already improving our town centre – like the Old Town Hall, the Cultural Quarter with a new Coliseum Theatre, and the Independent Quarter – but we cannot make the mistake of standing still.
“This is about agreeing the type of place we want Oldham to be and having a clear plan to achieve it. The plan will be shaped and refined further as residents, partners, business and traders have their say in extensive consultation over the coming year. The plan looks to improve connections in and between different sites so that footfall and movement works better. It also strives to increase town centre resident, visitor and user numbers to make it a place that thrives round the clock. We have the opportunity to do what other local authorities have done and look to share assets and cut costs with public sector partners to benefit everyone.
“We also have a fantastic opportunity to attract private sector development partners into a joint venture to deliver this scheme, or specific elements of it, and we’re confident this will be attractive to them. It is one of the biggest and most ambitious town centre schemes in Greater Manchester. Due to the amount of land that is publicly owned, there are relatively few issues around site assembly, and these plans can deliver a return on our investment back to the public purse. When consultation gets underway I would urge everyone to do your bit, get involved and give us your views and ideas. We all have a stake in Oldham town centre’s future and this is a fantastic opportunity transform its prospects over the next two decades.”
Subject to Cabinet approval, Oldham Council would take this opportunity to market by the end of 2017 with a view to appointing a preferred delivery partner(s) by summer 2018.
A Curious Turn at Oldham Art Gallery: Moving Mechanical Sculpture
A new touring exhibition curated by the Crafts Council comes to Gallery Oldham from July 8 to September 2.
A Curious Turn features 30 pieces of extraordinary automata, and is the first major review of its kind since 1992.
Automata are moving mechanical sculptures that are brought magically to life by sequences of cogs, cams, and levers. They have delighted and bewitched people for centuries. Visitors will be able to turn, push and crank to see many of the pieces in action, while newly commissioned films will show other pieces in motion.
A Curious Turn presents automata by leading makers of the last 40 years that range from the humorous to the macabre and from the playful to the satirical. Works on show take a look at key automata makers such as Rowland Emett, famous for creating the elaborate inventions of Caractacus Potts in the film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968).
Pieces and makers on show include;
- Sam Smith, widely seen as the grandfather of contemporary automata, has influenced generations of automata makers. His beautifully painted colourful ‘toys’ at first glance look playful and harmless, but on closer inspection they explore the darker side of human life.
- Paul Spooner, an automata maker who has been perfecting his making process for over 30 years. As well as being a skilled carver, Spooner is an accomplished illustrator and some of his drawings from the Crafts Council Collection will be revealed in the exhibition for the first time.
- Melanie Tomlinson, whose automata are printed with beautifully intricate drawings of folklore and fairy tales, which are brought to life when the sculptures move. Tomlinson works hard to keep secret the mechanisms that make her characters come to life, making her decorative work even more intriguing.
A Curious Turn also looks at the central role that Cabaret Mechanical Theatre and its founder, Sue Jackson, have played in the revival of automata from the 1970s onwards. Recognising the potential popularity of moving sculptures, Jackson actively encouraged a group of makers in Falmouth, including Peter Markey, Paul Spooner and Ron Fuller to make automata to sell in her local craft shop, Cabaret. She often actively guided their creative direction, looking for wit and entertainment in the automata that she collected.
Councillor Barbara Brownridge, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods and Co-operatives, said: “This is a fascinating exhibition and something a little bit different. I’m delighted that these unique objects will be on display at the Gallery and the interactive element will allow visitors to get a real hands on experience.”
Sarah Alexander, Director, Cabaret Mechanical Theatre said: “The appeal of automata is now truly international, and this timely exhibition gives us a chance to show the very best of British creativity in this field. It is also a fitting tribute to my mother, Sue Jackson, who sadly died suddenly earlier this year. She left a wonderful legacy.”
Details of a public event at Tandle Hill Park, Royton on June 23rd
The families of Alison Howe and Lisa Lees are inviting the people of Royton to join them for a Picnic in the Park to pay tribute to their loved ones.
This event will be taking place at Tandle Hill Country Park from 5pm onwards on Friday, June 23 following funerals earlier that day at St Anne’s Church.
Alison and Lisa were taken from us in the Manchester Arena attack and we have since been overwhelmed by offers of support and condolences from across the community.
We are inviting local people to bring picnics to Tandle Hill to join an event to honour and celebrate the lives of two angels who represented “the best of all of us”.
Entertainment will be provided by local musicians on a stage from around 6pm onwards until 10.30pm.
Our families hope that many others will join us to show that – while our hearts are broken – the community stands together.
Please note that we politely ask people to arrive on foot to minimise disruption/ parking issues in the neighbourhood.
People can bring their own food and drinks but barbecues, Chinese lanterns, tea lights or other flammable objects will not be permitted in the interests of public safety.
This event is supported by Oldham Council, Greater Manchester Police and a range of partners in the area.
2017 Diggle Blues Festival
To see a gallery of images taken during the 2017 Diggle Blues Festival click here
Turnpike Challenge riders raise over £900 for Prostate Cancer UK
by Jon Stocker
The Turnpike Challenge just gets better and better.
This year with the fantastic sunny weather the event saw its highest number of entrants. Eighty six riders turned out for the challenging 25 mile ride up into the Pennines.
As might be expected, the hot weather took its toll on some of the riders but, thanks to the Clarion Cycling Club and their motto of “no one gets left behind”, everyone made it safely around the course.
All participants were treated to much needed refreshments at Diggle Band Club and Jo Castle’s famous meat and potato pies were a lifesaver.
Chris Moreman, Co-founder of the Turnpike Challenge, commented, “ As the event grows, it is attracting a broad spectrum of riders, this helps to create a great atmosphere and camaraderie during the ride “.
A big thank you should go to Jo Castle of the Diggle Band Club for giving her time to help run the event, to all the Clarion riders who provide support to the riders, to Saddleworth Rotary members for standing on the corners of the streets directing the riders down the correct route, to CycleTech for providing mechanical and medical support. Also we need to thank Becca and Marilyn for running the feed station which were in great demand and for the water and special flapjacks provided by the staff of North Ainley. Finally we must give a big thanks to all the riders who as of today have raised over £900 for Prostate Cancer UK – once again this is a record amount!
Young people to benefit from half price bus tickets
Almost 100,000 young people aged between 16 and 18 are set to benefit from half price bus tickets following a new offer agreed between the Mayor of Greater Manchester and bus operators.
The deal will see the cost of a day ticket for young people cut in half – reducing the cost of journeys and enabling young people to more easily access work opportunities, training, education and skills. Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, said: “Throughout the mayoral campaign, I promised to help our young people get on in life, and this is the first step in delivering on that. We will only build a strong and prosperous Greater Manchester by giving every young person hope at the end of school and help to take up new opportunities. The cost of travel is a major barrier to young people’s progress and I am determined to remove it. I look forward to working together with bus operators in the future to improve the transport offer in Greater Manchester.”
The scheme will see Greater Manchester Travelcards Ltd (GMTL), which represents all bus companies in Greater Manchester, extending its multi-operator 50% discounted 16 and under ticket and introducing a Junior Day Ticket to cover 16 to 18 year olds. Eligibility to use the ticket would run up to the 31 August after the user’s 18th birthday.
As with the existing igo card scheme for under-16s, ongoing eligibility will be linked to behaviour – with poor or anti-social behaviour resulting in the card being withdrawn.
Trevor Roberts, Chairman of GMTL, said: “GMTL, on behalf of public transport operators, is pleased to be able to assist in realising the Mayor’s aspiration, by introducing a new smart travelcard product for 16 to 18 year olds, building on the already successful range of its travelcards offered across Greater Manchester.”
Phil Medlicott, Managing Director at First Manchester, adds: “As one of the major bus operators in Greater Manchester we’re pleased to support today’s announcement as we continue to work in partnership to deliver reliable and value for money bus services across the region. This news supports our continued aim to ensure that buses are accessible to everyone, which is why we’ve recently launched new initiatives such as allowing parents to purchase mTickets and transfer these onto their child’s mobile phone. We look forward to continuing to work with Transport for Greater Manchester and the Mayor on new initiatives to improve bus travel in the region.”
Stagecoach Manchester Managing Director, Elisabeth Tasker, said: “We already offer the best value bus fares in Britain and we are delighted to work with the mayor to deliver this significant cut in the cost of travel for young people in Manchester. This is one element of a wider package of comprehensive partnership proposals which would deliver an improved transport offer for Greater Manchester. Critical to making these improvements a reality are urgent measures to tackle rising congestion. Reducing congestion would lead to more reliable bus services and faster journey times, helping boost the local economy and improve air quality for the citizens of Greater Manchester.”
Phil Cummins, Area Managing Director of Arriva North West, said: “We look forward to working with the newly elected Mayor and combined authority to provide the very best transport services to support residents and businesses in Greater Manchester. We recognise the need to work in partnership to make bus travel an even more attractive choice, and we are already working with stakeholders and partners on plans to further enhance services.”
Lisa O’Loughlin, Principal of The Manchester College where the scheme was officially launched, said: “We welcome the proposal to make travel cheaper for our thousands of students. Typically, over 85% of our students travel an average of more than three miles to get to our campuses for study, the majority using public transport. Minimising the burden of travel costs to young people can only be good in the long term, to encourage students to access the available opportunities in training and apprenticeships. This will benefit the future of the city, our training providers and the businesses which will be able to grow with a highly skilled and motivated workforce.”
To benefit from the discount users would be required to apply for a personalised 16-18 get me there smartcard (issued by TfGM). The new ticket and smartcard will be available from September 2017 with applications being accepted from August onwards. More details are set to be shared with schools and colleges ahead of the summer holidays.
Saddleworth Group of Artists Annual Summer Exhibition 2017
‘Niamh’. Oil. Artist – David Oag
Well known local artists will again be exhibiting their work for the Saddleworth Group of Artists Summer Exhibition at the Saddleworth Museum from Saturday 17th June to Sunday 16th July
Always a popular show, 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 sixty enthusiastic members. Some are full time professionals but all are seriously committed to their work.
Lottery funded refurbishment of the Saddleworth Museum last year has transformed the existing museum with improved access, enhanced displays and exhibitions and an engaging learning programme, all ensuring the museum’s future for many years to come.”
Check out our website – www.saddleworthartists.co.uk.
Saddleworth Museum, High St, Uppermill, OL36HS Tel. 01457874093.
Entry to the exhibition gallery is free of charge.
Assembly Winder’. Watercolour. Janis Bowie.
Whit Friday in Diggle
To see the full gallery visit: Whit Friday in Diggle
