Oldham’s council is gearing up for a crucial meeting. They aim to vote on withdrawing from a controversial housing plan affecting the borough.
Oldham: The local Liberal Democrats are pushing for an emergency meeting. They want to pull the borough out of a controversial housing scheme in Greater Manchester.
This meeting is scheduled for February 12. Councillors will decide whether to ask the Secretary of State to remove Oldham from the Places for Everyone plan.
Places for Everyone is a big development plan. It covers nine boroughs and promises over 170,000 new homes, including 11,500 in Oldham. But many locals are worried about using greenbelt land for these homes.
The call for this meeting comes after a long council debate. Since August, there’s been tension over whether to withdraw from the scheme. A previous review was rejected, leading to confusion about the next steps.
Now, the Lib Dems are taking action. Sam Al-Hamdani, their deputy leader, expressed frustration. He said the administration has delayed this decision for nearly a year.
He believes the current planning process favors developers. Al-Hamdani wants more social housing and better planning for healthcare and education. He insists homes should be built in the right places, not on green spaces.
Some areas in Oldham’s plan include parts of the greenbelt. However, housing lead Elaine Taylor argues that sacrificing a small portion helps protect the rest.
Arooj Shah, the council leader, called the Lib Dems’ request reckless. She warned that pulling out wouldn’t eliminate the need for housing and jobs in Oldham.
Shah pointed out that without a solid plan, the borough could face uncontrolled development. She criticized the Lib Dems for not offering a better alternative.
The extraordinary meeting will follow another emergency meeting about a separate inquiry. Some councillors are concerned about discussing two controversial issues on the same night.
