FORMER Oldham Council leader Richard Knowles has called on the borough’s planners to act now to safeguard hundreds, possibly thousands, of Saddleworth trees.
Greenfield-based Mr Knowles, who has previously served the borough as Mayor, is concerned over the future of trees in an area of Saddleworth earmarked for large scale residential development.
So, he has now asking for a blanket tree preservation order to be allocated to “the whole of the area within the site described in Policy GM Allocation 18 ‘Robert Fletchers’, Greenfield, Oldham.
Under proposals submitted as part of the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework, 170 homes and 10-15 holiday lodges are planned for sites at Fletchers and Waterside Mills.
Ex-councillor Mr Knowles said: “Local residents fear mature trees might be felled in this area in advance of any final decisions on sites to be included for development in GMSF.
“This Tree Preservation Area Order needs to be expedited to stop the risk of trees being cut down arbitrarily that would pre-empt public consultation on GMSF.
“In accordance with Town and Country Planning Act 1990 Section 198(1) it is “expedient in the interest of amenity to make provision for the preservation of trees or woodlands in their area.”
Mr Knowles says site forms the gateway to the Peak District National Park and is in direct line of sight from the moorland rim from Alphin Pike round to Indian’s Head and Ravenstone Rocks, and from Dovestone reservoir, all of which are situated in the Peak Park.
He adds that “there are thousands of trees on this site” and it is “home to a wide range of flora and fauna.”
“I am making this request for a TPO for the whole area of GMSF after consultation with the Greenfield greenbelt campaign group who are campaigning on behalf of the community to ‘Save Chew Valley’ from unnecessary and unwelcome urban development.”
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