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The former Oldham Batteries site.
The former Oldham Batteries site.

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Travellers’ site election ‘hoax’

by Adam Derbyshire
2/ 4/2008

POLITICAL hoaxers are believed to be responsible for notices claiming a travellers’ camp was being established at the demolished Oldham Batteries site in Denton.

Denton MP Andrew Gwynne has blamed political mischief makers for attempting to stir up tensions before the forthcoming local elections. The notices were pinned around the site suggesting permission was being sought to transform the flattened factory into an instant caravan city.

Mr Gwynne said: "This has all the hallmarks of a far-right scare story. It is complete rubbish.

"There is no way on earth permission would be granted for a travellers’ camp in a prime town centre location like this, if indeed anywhere in Tameside. It would be refused without question."

More than 100 jobs were lost when manufacturing was switched to France six years ago and the factory was bulldozed.

The fenced-off site currently resembles a rubble-strewn eyesore after developers Langtree became entangled in a legal wrangle with property developers Morbaine.

Four years ago a convoy of travellers pitched up on Howard Lane at the rear of the site but swiftly moved on.

Morbaine had a legal challenge thrown out by the High Court last year, paving the way for Langtree to finally begin work on a leisure and retail park.

Detailed plans are set to be submitted to Tameside Council next week.

Mr Gwynne added: "Eight years ago just before the local elections, notices were pasted on the boarded-up Barcliff bingo hall, which used to stand at the entrance to the Crown Point retail park. It claimed plans had been submitted for a mosque. I suspect the far right were behind that and it would come as no surprise to discover they are trouble-causing again."

Nigel Allen, head of planning, said: "This notice is entirely fake and seems designed to deliberately mislead and confuse the local community.

"This land is to be developed for retail, leisure and office use and not for a traveller site. We are investigating to try to find out who is behind this."


| Submit CommentSubmit Comments | View CommentsView Comments(4)


Most recent 2 of 4 user comments

   I know the who the culprit is, he´ll be bragging about it in the Denton Labour Club over his beer, not hard to find.
Cinnamon Shimmerbomb
5/04/2008 at 13:37
   Before Mr Gwynne accuses anyone should he not prove his point or that another MP`s privilege,similar to having three press pictures of his "finger" in local newspapers cos he got a bite from a dog when he was posting election leaflets.Besides needing to pull his finger out anyway what about pictures of the poor bloody service folk returning from a false pretences war, no limbs,in wheel chairs,and shattered bodies.Its time you got your finger out of the press Mr.Gynne. One of his disadvantaged constituents.
J.Hall, Tameside
3/04/2008 at 13:04
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