Furious residents in Heyside are up in arms over a serious and deeply concerning planning proposal which they fear could permanently alter their quiet residential community.
A planning application has been submitted to Oldham Council for Phase 1 of the Beal Valley and Broadbent Moss masterplan development — a scheme that proposes more than 1,700 new homes across the area.
As part of this application, there are plans that would open up Bullcote Green — currently a decades-old residential cul-de-sac — and turn it into an access route for the new development.
The original plan was to have this opened on a temporary basis whilst Phase 1 of the new development was constructed.
This resulted in 63 out of 64 residents signing a petition against this proposal, which residents say was completely ignored.
Residents said they are devastated to discover only after the submission of the planning application that the proposal is to now permanently open up Bullcote Green.
Rebecca Heselwood, who lives on Bullcote Green, Heyside, Royton, explained: “Residents are beyond bewildered that this is even being considered, given the significant issues we already face with congestion and access.
“Over the past 18 months, Oldham Council has consulted on introducing double yellow lines on Bullcote Green to help relieve congestion. However, this was refused on the grounds that there was insufficient alternative parking for existing residents. The Council has also approved the annual full closure of Bullcote Green during the Heyside Cricket Festival due to traffic and safety concerns.”
Residents have documented severe congestion on the street almost every evening and weekend throughout the summer months (April to September), as well as during the Christmas and New Year period when events are held at Heyside Cricket Club, along with residents from the main road and other local businesses with no access to parking, using the street to park on.
Rebecca said: “Emergency services have struggled to reach properties. On one occasion, the fire brigade was unable to access a home, resulting in warning notices being placed on obstructing vehicles.
“On another occasion an ambulance could not get through so the patient had to walk to it."
Stuart Washington, another local resident of over 20 years, said: “We aren’t against new homes. But we are against what feels like desert infrastructure — destroying a safe, established community to create a cheap shortcut for a multi-million-pound developer.
“We moved here because it was a no-through road. Now they want to tear down that protection and invite thousands of cars past our front doors.”
Pictured: Councillor Marc Hince speaking to residents at a meeting last night (Mon).
Rebecca added: “A meeting with Councillor Hince was held last night and he reassured the residents that the planning application will be reviewed in line with the relevant policies and procedures, and advised us to appoint a spokesperson to represent the Bullcote Green residents committee at the upcoming public consultation, although at this stage we do not have a date for this.”
However, a spokesperson for Oldham Council said: “As this is a live planning application, the council cannot comment on the proposals or comments being made about them at this stage.
“But we do encourage anyone with interest in the development to review the plans carefully and submit any comments they have on planning issues related to the proposals so we can consider them formally.
“You can view the plans and submit your comments on our website by searching for the application reference FUL/355603/26 at
www.oldham.gov.uk/info/200351/planning/1866/search_for_an_application.”
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