Stoneyroyd Action Group

Green Corns and Stoneyroyd - Whitworth

The following article was published in the 'Whitworth Valley News' Issue 5 - June 2006

An action group was recently formed following the discovery that a Rochdale based company, called Green Corns, had purchased a semi-detached property in Stoneyroyd Whitworth.

This company has purchased around 30 similar properties in the Rochdale area, which are then used to house children between 8 and 18 years with behavioural problems. These children are kept under the control of two carers on a 24/7 basis.

However because of a planning loophole, Green Corns do not have to apply for planning permission to change the use of these households from a domestic to a business purpose. As a result of this and the fact that this company has a history of poor communications with the affected neighbourhood, problems that have arisen from behaviour problems of the children, have caused major concerns within these communities.

The fact that local authorities are paying Green Corns between £3000 and £8000 per week to care for each one of these children, has a further significance when you realise that on these 30 properties alone, the company has a 'sales' income of over £7 million and a gross profit of over £6 million, money which surely could be used more effectively.

By raising awareness, exercising public pressure and involving local councillors and our MP Janet Anderson, the Stoneyroyd Action Group have forced Green Corns to abandon their plans and they have now put the property back on the market.

The group will continue with their campaign, to ensure that the actions of companies like Green Corns are controlled and monitored and that children who require special care are accommodated and cared for in better ways. We would also like to ensure that the situation we had in Stoneyroyd is not repeated in Whitworth, or for that matter anywhere else. If there is a house near you for sale, at the moment, there is nothing to prevent this situation occurring again.

The enthusiasm and determination of this group has once again shown that the spirit and commitment in the village is second to none.

We would like to thank Whitworth Band Club for providing a place to gather and the resulting socialising has moved the group onto another project - improving the landscape of Stoneyroyd's uncut hillside lawns. We'll be having a street party next.

(Stoneyroyd Action Group Committee)

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