Saddleworth News

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Reporting Team

Ruby Anstee - Editor
Stuart Littleford - Reporter
Allan Roach - Reporter
George Wilson - Reporter and IT
Judith Grinter - Reporter

Past Articles

Saddleworth Parish Council severs links to convicted councillor Mike Buckley

Cllr Mike Buckley

In view of Councillor Mike Buckley’s recent conviction and sentence for downloading indecent images of children. At last night’s ordinary meeting of Saddleworth Parish Council, held at the Civic Hall, Lee Street, Uppermill. In front of both press and public, members overwhelmingly voted to remove him from all sub-committees and other bodies on which the Parish Council has delegated representatives.

Following two motions tabled by Councillor Paul Fryer he was removed from the Planning, Estates, Finance, […]

Saddleworth Historical Society presentation on ‘Richard Oastler & Yorkshire Slavery’ at Dobcross Band Club

Saddleworth Historical Society has an illustrated presentation by Dr. John Hargreaves entitled ‘Richard Oastler & Yorkshire Slavery’ at Dobcross Band Club.

The presentation takes place on Wednesday 10 February 2016 at the club on Platt Lane, Dobcross.

It starts at at 7.45pm and all are welcome - especially new members.

There is a £3 charge on the night for non-members.

Tea, coffee and bar refreshments will be available.

Saddleworth clog fighting tales feature in exhibition at Gallery Oldham

A cloggers workshop

The latest exhibition at Gallery Oldham explores the facts and legends around the brutal sport of clog fighting.

In these contests working men would engage in man-on-man combat, kicking unprotected shins with their heavy clogs.

‘Purring – Sport of the People’ opens on January 9 and is the result of research by artist Anna FC Smith who has spent time talking to residents and researching the subject in the Oldham Local Studies and Archives.

Clog fighting […]

Diggle Dandelions is celebrating once again after its latest inspection by Ofsted

One of the top pre-schools in Oldham is celebrating once again after its latest inspection by Ofsted.

Diggle Dandelions has kept its ‘outstanding’ judgement from the education watchdog – but has now become even better by achieving the highest possible rating in every category.

The setting was praised by Ofsted for its “consistently outstanding” quality of teaching, for ensuring children are “extremely well supported” and because children make “excellent progress”.

The report adds that there is a “warm, welcoming environment” […]

Special meeting to consider Saddleworth School planning applications

Oldham Council’s Planning Committee is set to consider all four applications relating to the proposed new Saddleworth School at a special meeting next month.

This so-called ‘extraordinary’ meeting will consider only these matters and will take place in the Council Chambers on Thursday, February 25 at 6pm.

Three separate and one revised planning applications were all submitted in week commencing December 21 - triggering a statutory 21-day public consultation that ended on January 13.

However, because of the confirmed Committee […]

Saddleworth Parish Councillor says he is now ‘considering his position’ but will not resign from parish council

Cllr Michael Buckley

Reporter: Stuart Littleford

Saddleworth Parish councillor Mike Buckley has told Saddleworth News this morning that he is now “considering his position” on the parish council but will not be resigning.

Cllr Buckley said the campaign to try and make him resign is “politically motivated” and stems from his involvement with the Save Diggle Action Group (SDAG).

Speaking exclusively to Saddleworth News editor Stuart Littleford, Cllr Buckley said: “I took on the whole political establishment at Oldham […]

Greenfield Primary School drop-in session for public views on new build plans

An early architectural impression of the new-build Greenfield Primary School.

Oldham Council is inviting members of the public to give their views on plans to build a new Greenfield Primary School.

Residents, staff and parents are being urged to attend a drop-in session on Thursday, January 14 which will showcase the proposals that aim to boost primary school places in the Saddleworth area.

The local authority is responding to an unprecedented rise in the number of children needing primary […]

RSPB launch major new blanket bog restoration project at Dove Stone

Golden Plover - Summer Plumage on the moorland

The RSPB has launched a major new blanket bog restoration project at Dove Stone in Saddleworth after securing a grant of more than £228,000 from landfill tax charity WREN.

Blanket bog is a globally scarce habitat, which plays an important role in storing carbon, improving water quality and giving wildlife a home.

The upland areas of the Peak District used to boast thriving blanket bogs but a combination of industrial pollution, […]

Saddleworth journalist honoured with lifetime achievement award

Ken (right) receives his award from Liverpool Press Club secretary Chris Johnson

Distinguished Saddleworth journalist Ken Bennett has been honoured with a lifetime achievement award by Liverpool Press Club, recognising a 60-year career in the profession.

Ken, who lives in Dobcross, started at a St Helens weekly newspaper as a junior reporter, aged 15, before joining a freelance news agency working for national media.

He reported on the biggest news stories of the 20th century, including The Moors Murders […]