Introductions were made and all were welcomed to the meeting.  The code of conduct was circulated.  All attendees were asked to abide by the code for the duration of the meeting.

Slattocks Roundabout Lighting – Update
A resident previously requested the lighting be inspected at Slattocks roundabout as he stated at night he had witnessed vehicles coming off the slip road and flip over as he felt the area was badly lit.
Townships requested the Street Lighting Department contact Eon to carry out a site inspection which resulted in them finding some of the high mast lanterns were out.  Eon arranged for them to be repaired.

PCSO Doran gave an update to the forum.  The GMP Castleton Community Centre Christmas party was held on 19 November 2019 and featured food, a raffle and singing.  It was well attended and a great success!

Two ‘Op Considerates’ have been carried out recently by officers in the ward to target speeding, use of mobile phones, non-use of seatbelts, etc.  Over 200 vehicles were stopped and more operations will be held in the future.  A safe number plate initiative event will also be held on the car park of Castleton Community Centre soon.

PACT meetings in the future will be changed from monthly to quarterly due to the numbers in attendance being low, although GMP officers will still be holding mobile police surgeries at different locations around the ward – and the public are welcome to make suggestions on such locations.

Residents again discussed speeding in Castleton, mentioning the Nixon Street corner as being a hot spot, along with Queensway which GMP advised they had consulted with Highways and no further restrictions can be put in place on the road.  PCSO Doran stated she and PC Farmer had leafletted houses requesting residents assist them in doing a speed watch operation, but they had no responses yet.  Questions were posed to GMP including that of querying current crime levels in the ward, safety when walking along the canal, whether the theft of cars was on the increase and also enforcement concerning drivers parking on pavements.

An update was given that the Council’s Public Protection Department are still trying to look into points of concern previously raised by residents, ie removal of razor wire, improvements to boundary walls, general tidy up of the yard area and light pollution.

Residents again voiced their ongoing concerns regarding use of the site for the storage of chemicals and also the impact on roads around the site by HGVs.  Update provided after the forum regarding the COMAH status; HSE information is that the Tetrosyl site on Royle Barn Road is an upper tier COMAH site.  The web link https://notifications.hse.gov.uk/COMAH2015/Search.aspx contains the publically available information.

Councillor Hornby spoke on behalf of the three Ward Councillors to advise residents that they support their concerns.  She stated that there is hope that with the extension of nearby Stakehill Industrial Estate in the future, the companies situated around the area of Royle Barn Road could have better scope location-wise and choose to relocate, however, the Council cannot require or force them to engage/relocate.

Cyclists using pavements and update - Castleton Cycle Scheme
Residents expressed concerns over cyclists using pavements and the danger to pedestrians it causes – an update then was provided on Castleton’s Cycling Scheme.

Officers from Rochdale Borough Council’s Highways Service are continuing to complete the detailed design process for a walking and cycling scheme through the local centre of Castleton.  The scheme will aim to reallocate highway space with a layout that will include more room for walking and cycling.  The detailed design process is currently scheduled for completion in March 2020.  Transport for Greater Manchester’s Urban Traffic Control Unit are leading on the detailed design for two junctions along the route as part of this process.

A number of new crossing points will be introduced along the route and one of the aims is to make it easier to cross over junctions.  The Manchester Road/Nixon Street junction will also be upgraded; this existing traffic controlled junction will have additional walking and cycling crossing facilities included.  Following the completion of the design process, Rochdale Borough Council’s Highways Service will hold a public engagement event for residents and stakeholders to view plans, make comment and consult on all aspects of the proposals.  Upon completion of this process, the Council will produce final plans, addressing points made by local stakeholders wherever possible.  Rochdale Borough Council will then aim to have approval of a full business case in the summer of 2020, with delivery commencing later on in the year.

The Chair, along with Councillor Hornby, urged residents to make their opinions known when the consultation becomes live.

Kav’s Corner – removal
Residents again asked when this temporary memorial site will be removed.  An update was given that the Council, along with the landowner, GMP and the family are still in discussions/mediation regarding this sensitive matter.

Castleton Hotel external lighting
A resident queried why the external lights around the hotel were switched on at all hours of the day.
Action 1: Townships to raise the matter with the Council’s Environmental Health Department to investigate.

Slattocks Roundabout road surface
A resident asked whether the road surface around the Slattocks roundabout could be either changed or grit/salted as they had witnessed vehicles losing control due to slippage on diesel fuel spillages when it had been raining as a result of lorries filling up at nearby Stakehill.
Action 2: Townships to raise the matter with the Council’s Highways Department to investigate the situation.

Castleton EC Residents
No update.

Friends of Carnegie Castleton
No update.

Friends of Castleton Station/Support the Oldham, Rochdale & Manchester Rail Lines/East Lancs Railway
The group are looking for funding to purchase new planters on the railway station.

St. Gabriel’s
The panto held at the end of last year was very well received and attended.

Rochdale Township in Bloom
The Annual General Meeting will be held next week and Castleton Railway Station has been entered again in the ‘In Your Neighbourhood’ category.

New Riverside Retail Development
Councillor Hornby updated the forum that the new retail shopping centre will be opening next month on 10 April 2020 and it will feature high street brands; Marks and Spencer, Next, Nando’s, H&M to name a few.

Tuesday 2 June 2020 at 7pm at Castleton Community Centre