Oldham to plant almost 7,000 trees but not in these wards

As the end of the financial year approaches, Oldham Council must plant 6,950 trees to honour a pledge made in the summer by leader Cllr Arooj Shah to become the “greenest borough in Greater Manchester”.

However, despite there being thousands of trees to allocate throughout the borough, six wards, including the two from Failsworth, have been left out of the council’s plans as it revealed where the saplings were to be planted.

“I’m absolutely gutted, and I will be asking questions,” said Independent Cllr Brian Hobin, of Failsworth East ward.

“It just shows once more that Failsworth is ignored by this administration. For years, and years, and years, Failsworth people and Saddleworth people have felt like we get neglected because we’re on the outskirts – I think that’s what’s contributed to the Independent movement in Failsworth.

“I’m absolutely disappointed at the fact that we’ve not been allocated any trees.”

He added: “I will do everything I can to make sure we’re not forgotten about. It is really, really disappointing.”

The six wards not to receive any of the 6,250 saplings and 700 trees, with the council classifying a tree as three foot or over, are Chadderton North, Crompton, Failsworth East, Failsworth West, Royton North and Waterhead.

Labour Cllr Peter Dean, of Waterhead ward, explained that there have been approximately 150 trees planted in his ward in the past three months.

He said: “We’re looking for spaces to plant trees, but in the last three months there has been significant planting happening in Waterhead already.

“So, I think we’re doing quite a lot, also we’re always happy for people to come forward and ask us to plant trees somewhere.”

The Oldham Times understands that the trees planted in Waterhead do not contribute to the 6,950 trees planted in the borough.

St Mary’s ward has four separate locations in its area where trees will be planted, these are: Higginshaw Road, Egerton Street, Moorhey Street (Linear Park), and Oldham Parish Church.

Alexandra and Royton South wards will receive the joint-second most trees with three locations earmarked for both wards, these are Alexandra Park, Abbey Hill Road, Holts Valley for the former ward, and the latter will see them at Shaw Road End park, Higginshaw Road, and Oldham Edge.

Oldham Edge (Image: Google Street View)

Reacting to no trees earmarked for his ward, Lib Dem Cllr Louie Hamblett, of Crompton, said: “I’m not necessarily disappointed as such – we’ve had a load of trees planted during the jubilee year.

“The council’s policy is that if a tree is lost it is replaced on a two or three-for-one basis.”

He added: “We’ve had a number of trees planted in higher Crompton, and I’ve not that long ago spoke to residents who told me they would love some more fruit trees.

“We as ward members we try to utilise some of our allocated funds to get some trees in certain patches where residents ask for them.”

In Chadderton Central ward trees will be planted in Crossley Playing Fields and on Fields New Road – also in Chadderton South, Coldhurst will receive some in the town centre, Hollinwood in Limeside Park, Medlock Vale in Copster Park.

Shaw could see some planted in Oldham Edge – so too for St James’ ward, in Werneth, Werneth Park is earmarked for planting.

Over in Saddleworth, the north will receive some trees on Besom Hill, the south in Churchill Playing Fields, and Saddleworth West and Lees will see trees planted in Leesbrook.

In addition to these trees, a further 118 will be planted on streets and open spaces across Oldham.

A spokesperson for Oldham Council said: “Last year the council planted 445 individual trees and nearly four hectares of new woodland (10,000 saplings).

“This year, along with our partners, including the charity City of Trees, we will be on target to plant 700 trees and create another 2.5 acres of new woodland with 6,250 saplings.

“However, that’s not the full story. Many planning applications have a condition requiring a landscaping scheme to be submitted for approval (which might include the planting of trees)."

They continued: “Additionally, where any trees have to be unavoidably removed as part of a development, the council has tended to require their replacement on a three-to-one basis as part of the planning permission, either on-site by the developer or through a financial contribution allowing the Council to provide the trees off-site nearby.

“A good example of this is the improvement work we are currently carrying out at Woodhouses Park, which was paid for by contributions from a development required under their planning permission, and also includes the planting of trees.”