A SADDLEWORTH village, distinguished by a tree growing out of an ancient mill chimney, is set to regain its full identity.
Austerlands on the main A62 Oldham-Huddersfield Road, has just two shops and a restaurant. But now three visionary councillors want to rekindle respect among the 1,600 households by encouraging them to form their own community association.
However, because the village and its neighbour Scouthead are too small to stand alone, they have suggested both lend their names to a joint association.
And locals are invited to attend an inaugural meeting of Austerlands Community Association on Tuesday, April 16 at 8p.m at Austerlands Cricket club to devise a new blueprint for the combined communities.
The move is key to a plan by local borough councillors which will see villages across their ward each receive a one-off cash windfall payment.
Saddleworth North Ward, which covers 25 per cent of the total area of Oldham borough, includes Austerlands, Scouthead, Denshaw, Delph, Dobcross and Diggle.
Their councillors – Derek Heffernan, Garth Harkness and Alan Roughley – have agree to use a proportion of their council money on projects allocated as lasting benefit to their respective wards.
Each village group will receive a £500 grant with Austerlands and Scouthead given the money to start a community body to represent both villages.
The councillors are paying for the hire of the cricket club and villagers will receive the £500 once they have decided on a community association name, elected a treasurer and set up a bank account.
The councillors say every village has different problems, interests and opportunities best explored and solved when discussed and progressed at local level.
Said Cllr Roughley: “We want to encourage grass roots democracy and are making it a condition each community group should be able to confirm everybody who lives in their catchment area – usually a polling district – will be a full voting member and there are no membership fees.
“We have already spoken to existing groups and they have all shown a positive interest which is very encouraging.”
Cllr Heffernan, who has lived in Austerlands for many years, said: “I am particularly pleased to be doing something positive to bring the community together.
“Local community-village committees can be the background to increased participation in local affairs. But they need to represent everyone – not just a small clique who maybe shout louder than others.
“That is why we want to use some of the small amount of money we have total control of to support local community associations but we need everyone to be represented and to be involved.
“Saddleworth villages are great places to live but we need more people taking part in what goes on in them. Villagers can then be the eyes and ears of local life. They know when things are going wrong and can look for help.
“We cover the biggest ward geographically in the borough but we cannot be in all our villages at one and the same time.
“A vibrant village will help look after their neighbours and local environment while hopefully looking for other ways of boosting our local identity.
“We need everyone to know where Austerlands, Scouthead, Springhead and all the other villages are – and recognise what we have to offer,” he declared.
“Local community groups are increasingly important as power is passed down as a result of the Localism Act and if we don’t do something now we will miss out.”
Cllr Harkness, who lives in Dobcross, said: “Saddleworth is a collection of villages whose problems can seem minor when viewed at borough level.
“However, I know they are not and every village needs its own strong voice. I know how difficult it is for volunteers to raise cash and these modest grants are intended to provide them with support and encouragement.”
Cllr Roughley added: “It is interesting how each village has different priorities though most are plagued by heavy through traffic, worried about possible new housing and concerned about the quality of local services.
“The more vocal community groups can be, the easier it is for councillors to work with them to make sure all our village communities get a fair deal.”
For further information, contact: Garth Harkness, 01457 875267, mob: 07762637350, email garth.harkness@gmail.com
Derek Heffernan 0161 652 3205, mob: 07790597287, email derek.heffernan@oldham.gov.uk
Alan Roughley 01457760074, mob: 07746377375, email alanroughley@talktalk.net
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