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.

Minutes were not discussed due to amount of time elapsed since last meeting.

PCSO Daley gave an update to the forum.

Burglaries
GMP noted an increase in burglaries over the last few months, but it seems levels are returning back to normal.  There is a new burglary team in place to deal with reports and residents are encouraged to ring in with any reports or issues.  14 offenders across the borough have been recently arrested for crimes associated with burglary.  GMP advised residents to pay special attention to security awareness around their homes, cars and property in the autumn/winter dark months by the use of light timers, removing items and keys on show and ensuring windows and doors are kept locked at all times.  Burglary will remain a high priority for GMP in Castleton.

Speed watch
GMP will be carrying out a speed watch initiative in Castleton in the next few weeks and any residents interested in getting involved can contact PCSO Daley.

GMP staffing
PC Michelle Farmer is replaced with PC Joseph Lucas and another PCSO will be starting late November.  The forum gave a huge thanks to PC Michelle Farmer for her years of hard work and commitment to Castleton and its residents.

Tesco carjacking incident
GMP advised residents that although no-one had been arrested for this offence yet, officers were still working through enquiries and patrols had been put in place in hotspot areas of Tesco and Manchester Road.

Castleton Community Centre Christmas
On 10 December 2021, officers from GMP will visit vulnerable members of the community delivering them a hot Christmas dinner to their homes and a quiz will be held online.  This is instead of the usual dinner/party which will not be held at the centre this year.

Test purchasing
Residents and Councillor Sheerin raised the issue of underage sale of e-cigarettes.  GMP advised they had carried out test purchasing recently and they asked residents who have any details of shops of concern to raise them direct with officers.
Action: Query raised with the Council as to why they have stopped test-purchasing?
Townships raised this request with Environmental Health who advised that although they had not undertaken any test purchasing since the start of the pandemic, they were hoping to be back up and running in the New Year when they have renewed their surveillance equipment.

Anti-social behaviour
Residents disclosed several locations being used for suspected drug dealing to GMP.  It was also noted that trail bikes are being ran to the rear of Crescent Road/dirt path Kingsland Road areas and onto the green with anti-social behaviour issues close to the allotments.  GMP will monitor the situation.

Proposed cycle lane/Bee-line
Residents discussed the proposed scheme and a question was also raised in writing by a resident prior to the forum; ‘Where are all the cycles which are going to use the cycle lane now proposed for the village, parking front of shops are more valuable especially for those with limited ability.  Why are the Councillors not voting against this proposal’?

The Council’s Highways Department advised that the initial report is going to the Communities, Regeneration, Environment Overview & Scrutiny Committee on 6 December 2021.  This paper will explain how the consultation has been undertaken, but it will not approve or change the scheme.  Highways will then propose a final report for approval of the scheme at Cabinet on 14 December 2021.  Councillor Sheerin advised the forum he has withdrawn his support for the scheme.

Castleton Post Office
A question was raised in writing by a resident prior to the forum;‘When is Castleton Post Office due to re-open as it acts as both a post office and a bank and is of vital use to all age groups’.

Councillor Sheerin advised the forum that he had last had an update from the Post Office in late July and agreed with the resident’s point of concern that it is totally unacceptable.

Email statement received from Royal Mail; ‘We understand how important Post Office services are to communities and I’m very sorry that customers may need to travel further to access our services whilst Castleton Post Office is closed.  The branch closed on 7 May 2021 for operational reasons.  Unfortunately, we do not yet have a re-opening date for the branch, however we will inform customers and local representatives as soon as we have any updates.  As you may know, the nearest alternative branch is Sudden Post Office, which is located at 408 Manchester Road, Rochdale, just over a mile from the branch.  I’m very sorry for the inconvenience and concern caused to customers and I hope my response reassures you that we’re working to restore service as soon as possible.

Kav’s Corner removal
Residents again raised the issue over when the temporary memorial site will be removed.  An update was given by Councillor Sheerin that the Council, along with the landowner, GMP and the family are still in discussions/mediation regarding this sensitive matter.
Action: Townships to request a further update from the Council’s Community Safety Department.

Takeaway Restaurants
A discussion was held regarding the growing number of takeaway restaurants in the village.  Councillor Sheerin advised residents that he had previously raised concerns with the Council’s Planning Department when an appeal was lodged by an applicant and he was informed by the Planning Inspector that there wasn’t a proliferation of takeaways in Castleton.

Woolworth’s Social Club land
A matter was raised regarding refuse and vermin issues concerning land situated to the rear of The Green, owned by the proprietors of the Woolworth’s Social Club and a question posed as to whether the club would open up the access path through  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

Castleton EC Residents
Councillor Sheerin advised the forum he has ‘called-in’ the outline residential planning application for 550 houses which will therefore now be heard at the planning meeting of Councillors.

Friends of Carnegie Castleton
Update previously provided to the forum in writing by S Whitworth is as follows:

We haven’t been able to hold our usual activities, ie our Maypole and Clog Dancers, or our Bank Holiday sales, and/or raffles, or invite anybody in for a look at our “Three Corners” – “Carnegie Corner”, “Castleton Corner” and “Conflict Corner”, but they are growing fairly steadily, as another member and myself have recently been able to go in twice a week to carry out research.

In our “Conflict Corner” the research into Castleton men who died in war is coming along very well.  We are producing folders at the moment for those killed in WW1 and WW2, but there are other conflicts that need to be researched, ie the Boer War, Crimean and more recent ones Iraq, Afghanistan, but the research is not as easy as records are not as readily available.

I hope everyone has noticed the new wall around the Castleton Cenotaph Stone.  This is being provided by Peter Kelly from the “Commercial” Pub and we’re helping out with the names of those killed in the above conflicts.  Our thanks to Peter for making the spare ground into a place of commemoration for Castleton.

In our “Carnegie Corner” we have quite a comprehensive history of Andrew Carnegie, the benefactor who paid for the original library building for the people of Castleton in 1905, and we now have a model of the “Diplodocus Carnegieii” dinosaur named in his honour.

In our “Castleton Corner” we are compiling a history of Castleton’s industrial past and are researching the cotton mills, foundry, engineering works, etc, and have received a comprehensive history of Whipp & Bourne which is no longer there, having been replaced by a housing estate and “Ark Royal Avenue”.  As you can imagine, all this research takes a long time.  If anyone has an interest and wants to help out, please let me know and I’m sure we can find a project for you to be involved with.

Friends of Castleton Station/Support the Oldham, Rochdale & Manchester Rail Lines/East Lancs Railway
The group have been actively involved in the Rochdale, North West and Britain in Bloom competitions with two submissions for the Castleton Railway Station and the Castleton Memorial Strone.  Both entries were awarded as ‘Outstanding’ which is the equivalent to gold.

Concerning the campaign to restore the half hourly train service from Castleton to Manchester, STORM recently wrote to the local MP who in-turn wrote to the Minister of Transport and is awaiting a reply.

St. Gabriel’s
The pantomime ‘Mother Goose’ will be going ahead for Christmas next year (2022).

Rochdale Township in Bloom
See above update.  Councillor Sheerin was presented the award for the ‘Outstanding Contribution to Britain in Bloom’ award.  Funding will be sought for more planters to be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

Cowm Top Business Park signage
‘No HGVs’ signage will be installed to try to stop lorries and HGV traffic accessing the road at the Newchurch and Albion Street ends.

Councillors’ Surgeries
Surgeries held on Saturdays at 10.30am–11.30am at the following venues:

First Saturday in month – St Aidan’s Church Hall

Second Saturday in month – Castleton Community Centre

Third Saturday in month – Thornham Cricket Club

Fourth Saturday in month – Carnegie Library

Tuesday 8 March 2022 at 7pm at Mayfield Rugby Club