The Chair introduced himself and officers present and welcomed all to the meeting.  He referred to the code of conduct and he asked all to abide by the code for the duration of the meeting.  A minutes silence was held to pay respect to members of the community lost since the last meeting including Councillors Biant and Clegg and MP David Amess.

The minutes of the previous meeting held on 3 March 2020 were approved as a correct record with a correction noted for Alpine Drive to ‘Albury Drive’ on Shawfield Lane Speed Signage.

MATTERS ARISING AND UPDATES
Rochdale in Bloom
The team have welcomed several more volunteers on board since the last forum meeting and they were pleased to announce that Rochdale recently won gold at the annual event.  Norden featured as a stand-alone new entry this year also winning gold along with Jubilee Park.  Moss Row Allotments was awarded outstanding.  Every exhibit for Norden scored top marks.  The forum applauded the efforts of the team for their achievements.

Crime statistics
GMP advised on the following crime statistics for Norden from July 2021 up until last week:

UPDATES

Burglaries
Arrests have recently been made against two individuals for thefts from motor vehicles and a new neighbourhood tasking force has been set up to make burglaries a priority with officers being proactive with their response time and arrests.  Residents were reminded to be vigilant throughout winter months and keep their vehicles and property secure, reporting anything suspicious.

Organised crime
Twenty warrants issued and nineteen arrests were carried out by officers across the borough this week in an operation to tackle organised crime.

Pub Watch
Four new licensees have joined up from the Norden/Bamford areas and a WhatsApp group has been set up with the first in-person meeting since March last year to be held next week.

Speeding
PC Giblin advised the forum that Operation Considerate was held in August in an attempt to tackle speeding issues in the ward.  More officers are being trained in the use of the speed gun so that less reliance can be placed on the traffic officers, however, these are being doubled in number in the future.  A resident raised a concern with GMP over speeding vehicles on the cobbles on Rooley Moor Road in the adjacent ward of Spotland.  The chair and PC Giblin advised they would take this matter to the area forum.  The chair and forum thanked GMP for their efforts in the Norden area since the last forum.

The forum were updated on township funding for the Norden Ward and they were advised of some possible future schemes as follows:

·           Memorial Garden at St Paul’s Church (£3,000 approx.) - the forum agreed support to fund half of this amount when the scheme is submitted.

·           Furbarn vehicular inhibitor gates (£2,244) – the forum did not agree to fund this scheme citing potential drainage issues; the matter was held over for further discussion.

·           Norden in Bloom signage in three locations (cost yet to be confirmed) - the forum was not able to agree this item.

Councillor Gartside
Buses
Councillor Gartside advised the forum he had received several complaints from local residents regarding missed buses and the general infrequency in the services in and around the village.  He confirmed five new bus stops will be installed along Caldershaw Road.
Action: Councillor Gartside to escalate the matter to a colleague at Transport for Greater Manchester

Norden in Bloom
If any residents wish to join Norden in Bloom as volunteers please advise.

Woodhouse Lane resurfacing
This resurfacing has been confirmed to take place in 2022/23

Councillor Winkler
TBA
Councillor Winkler advised the forum he will ensure all concerns regarding the sale of this site will be escalated appropriately and the situation monitored for the future.

Winter Gritting Schedule/grit bins usage
The winter gritting programme is underway and residents were reminded to only use grit from the yellow bins for the roads and not for private use on their own land/driveways.

Councillor Holly
TRO proposals at Bury and Rochdale Old Road
Cabinet has now approved proposals to introduce a Traffic Regulation Order (double yellow lines) at Bury and Rochdale Old Road.

Speed warning signs
Signs have recently been installed at the locations of Elmsfield Avenue and Edenfield Road.  Caldershaw Road will be considered next for speed reduction measures.

Councillor surgeries
Councillors are attempting the restarting of surgeries at the locations of Birtle Church, St Vincent’s Church Hall and St Paul’s Parish Hall.  Details to follow.  All Councillors wished residents a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Forsyth Street, Norden highways safety issues
Several residents from Forsyth Street attended to show concern regarding highways issues experienced on Forsyth Street, Norden.  The street is a no-through road so cars cannot easily turn around, but drivers regularly go down the street and cause issues for other road users.  Residents also spoke of an issue concerning some newly erected gates and the concern over cars regularly mounting the footpath.  Councillors requested the matter be forwarded on to the Council’s Highways Department to address and see if they can come up with any solutions.
Action: Townships to raise the matter with the Council’s Highways Department

Norden Primary School – Request for School Crossing Patrol
A resident made a request to the forum for a school crossing patrol outside Norden Primary School due to vehicles parking on double yellow lines.
Action: Townships to raise the matter with the Council’s Highways Department

Bamford Green Belt Action Group
Mr T O`Brien attended and updated the forum regarding a planning application to build 450 properties for a greenbelt site in the neighbouring ward of Bamford.  The Action Group has raised a number of formal objections to this proposal via the PfE portal.  The effects of this proposal will be considerable in the Norden Ward.

Alan Rawsterne from Rooley Moor Neighbourhood Forum (RMNF) gave apologies but sent an update document which was circulated for forum members to read.  The document included updates on recent activities including moorland restoration, the Greater Manchester Clean Air Zone and Spring Mill, Whitworth.  The document details the long-term joint initiative of this forum and RMNF, designed to curtail off-road motorcycling on local moorland.  A copy of the full text of this document is available from the Township Office.

M Coats attended and advised the forum of the recent sale of the 72 acre site located in the neighbouring ward of Spotland.  He stated that the action group have concerns that any future developers need to address safety concerns regarding the remediation of the site including the disposal of asbestos when considering any development on the site.  A meeting to be held at Number One Riverside will be attended by representatives of the new owners and local residents.

A number of residents attended and on their behalf Clive Wilson advised the forum of the ongoing drainage issues at the Greenbooth Village Estate, situated on the former Rainshore Mill site off Overtown Lane, off Edenfield Road.  A request was made to Councillors for the Council to support residents in their fight against the former developer of the site and to confirm whether or not the road is now adopted.  The water is also causing issues with the road becoming icy in the winter months so a further request was made to the Council to include the area on the gritting route.  Residents at the forum again expressed their concern and anger at the whole situation and stated that they felt the Council should assist residents in their efforts to get the developers to put right their failings. 

Action: Councillor Gartside to escalate matters with the Council’s Highways Department

S Cresswell attended again to give an update on the ongoing planning applications submitted by a developer to gain permission to build a property on green belt land in the grounds of former Bamford Hall (Norden ward).  Fourteen forum attendees expressed their continuing opposition to any proposal for this site (by a show of hands) - there were no members in support of proposals.  Thanks were given to local Councillors for their ongoing support in the matter.

Tuesday 1 March 2022 at 7.00pm
Norden Methodist Church, Edenfield Road, Norden