Almost 100 residents in Oldham have united to urge the Council to clear up 'a mess' that is plaguing their local area and stalling their vision for a community garden.
On one side of Library Lane sits the vibrantly inviting Wonderlust Bakery and Bistro, which not only serves up a delicious menu of sweet treats but is home to a textiles business, a car garage and a growing garden.
The stunning site, which pays homage to its Bangladeshi heritage, is operated by a local family with Saarah Chowdhury running the bistro while her mother, Shelley Rahman, has successfully built her textiles business from the ground over the course of almost 30 years.
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Its garden patches and polytunnels are filled with homegrown produce, from raspberries, apricots and rhubarb to blueberries, potatoes, apples, pears and cherries, to name just a few, and nothing is wasted.
Yet directly opposite, the street is plagued with fly-tipping, litter and a persisting problem of Japanese knotweed that horticultural expert and onsite gardener, Aaron Rowles, says has got out of hand.
The site is also flanked by the West End Street weather pitch which the pair say has also fallen into neglect from the Council - not only with broken glass and even 'drug paraphernalia' but yet more weeds that are now encroaching onto the Wonderlust site.
Showing the scale of the problem to The Oldham Times, Aaron pointed out a gigantic knotweed bush as well as several other poisonous plants and weeds like ragworts, bindweeds and ash dieback trees, which he said are "tree killers".
He said the problem with these weeds is that they "take over", are "very difficult to control" and means staff are fighting a losing battle with weed killer - which also means the site's produce is no longer organic - and they have no choice but to burn the weeds in steel barrels.
He said: "We'd like to turn this area into a growing patch for the community, we have such a strong Bangladeshi and marginalised community here which is so important, and we'd like to set up some more flower beds to make it look nicer.
"People want to buy produce from us and we want to grow our own crops organically.
"The scale of the knotweed is too big a job for residents to sort out. I've never seen it this big before.
"Shelley just wants to give back - she deserves an MBE."
The pair said while the issue is unsightly, it is also stalling big plans the business has to 'give back' to their local community, many of whom are supporting the business to transform the area.
A paper petition to urge the Council to clear the site has 73 signatures from residents in the surrounding area while a digital petition has 50 names at the time of writing.
Aaron said residents told him that they'd love to see the area cleared up, with one saying that they don't feel comfortable sending their children out to play while another said: "I wish there was an area near my home that I could enjoy with my family".
In several emails seen by The Oldham Times, Aaron has contacted Oldham Council, the Environmental Team and even Jim McMahon MP about the issue "for months" on end to no avail.
He claims he is being "fobbed off" to various departments with no one actually taking ownership to take it on while Shelly said she has been fighting the problem since 2014.
Shelley said: "I've spent so much money on the area and I'm willing to invest, but the Council needs to help.
"You can see our side of the street is spotless, but the other side isn't and the weather pitch has fallen into neglect.
"I just want the Council to do something to help the neighbourhood and clean the area, to combine our efforts together."
Aaron added: "It's a shame the Council won't take us seriously."
When contacted by The Oldham Times, the local authority said the problem is that the root of the Japanese knotweed is on private land.
The landowner has been served a notice to remove the "obstruction" and clear up the area by Monday (August 5).
However, the Council did not respond to questions about the weather pitch or other weeds on the public paths around the site.
Shelley, who grew up in Shaw is as equally passionate about supporting the community and her staff who she considers "family".
Her business goes beyond providing jobs - the staff are given 'little treats' and have an abundance of opportunities to pick up new skills and courses, such as gardening, textiles, cooking, and even English language support.
She even helps struggling staff with their housing concerns and makes sure they are fed, often sending them home with meals or leftover produce.
The 50-year-old said: "I'm proud I'm a different kind of employer.
"Everything I do has to give back to the community - I can be ruthless in business but this community matters.
"I've grown up in Shaw and come from abject poverty. I've had to pull myself up by the boots.
"I know how hard it is and how poverty can be a vicious cycle.
"It's my ethos that we look after our staff and it's these little changes that make a big difference."
Clearing up the area is important to her as she said it would allow her business to expand into a community hub, providing jobs, support and skills to people from disadvantaged backgrounds as well as supporting charities that help young ex-offenders and women fleeing domestic abuse.
Meanwhile, Aaron is keen to level up his own expertise with an MVQ and teach gardening classes on the site, which would mean those who engage in the course could leave with skills, qualifications and a reference.
Shelley continued: "I'd like to set up activities for women and children to come to the area - I'm hoping some charities would like to get involved with that - and young offenders who have perhaps not had the best start or positive guides.
"There is such poverty in Oldham - whenever we have a job advertised, so many people come, they're queuing around the corner. It's like the Great Depression.
"I could just make more money, but I think it's all about fixing your own corner of the world and doing something worthwhile with life than chasing material things.
"If I can live, eat, pay my bills, support my grandson, why not help someone else to get a leg up?
"Times are tough but we want to do something good and make a difference."
Councillor Chris Goodwin, Cabinet Member for Don’t Trash Oldham, said: “We are aware of the complaints regarding Library Lane and our officers have been in contact with Mr Rowles to update him on our investigations and the action we are taking.
“While it isn’t an offence for Japanese knotweed to be on your land, landowners are responsible for its control and in this case, the main root of the plant is on private land, and it is obstructing the highway.
“As a result, we have requested the property owners to remove this obstruction and further action will be taken if it is needed.
“We have also served notice on the landowners to remove the litter and waste on site by Monday 5 August, to ensure this site is kept clean and tidy.”
Got a story? Email me Olivia.bridge@newsquest.co.uk
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