A plan to create a temporary campsite with 40 pitches on land near Brun Clough Reservoir, beside the A62 above Diggle, has drawn objections from people concerned about fire risk on Saddleworth Moor.

The applicant hopes to run the site on selected weekends until the end of October this year. In a letter, they acknowledge concerns over the use of agricultural land, especially given recent moorland fires.

The campsite would be tents only. The applicant says guests would generally arrive on Friday and depart by Sunday. The site would have two moveable toilet units with integral handwashing facilities, with waste emptied and disposed of by a professional toilet hire company. Two 1,000-litre tanks would provide non-potable water for general washing and cleaning only, with clear signage stating the water is not for drinking or cooking. Guests would need to bring their own drinking and cooking water.

Open fires and disposable barbecues would not be permitted anywhere, the applicant says. Suitable fire-safety measures, designated fire points and signage would be provided, and emergency vehicle access kept clear at all times.

Main public access would be via the top gate, and a central lane would be used by vehicles and for emergency access. A proposed layout has been provided to Oldham Council, which has noted the class BC application. This type of application does not require full planning permission if the land is used for 60 days a year or less.

However, objections have been raised, with many raising the issue of barbecues even though the applicant insists they will not be permitted. One objector points to Oldham Council's Open Moorlands Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO), which bans barbecues and open fires on Saddleworth Moor.

"Anyone who lives in or knows the area understands how fragile Saddleworth Moor is," the objector said. "We have seen devastating moorland fires over recent years that took weeks to control, destroyed habitat, put lives at risk, and cost emergency services hundreds of thousands of pounds."

"Because there are no cafes, shops, or facilities nearby, 40 groups of campers will use campfires and barbecues to cook meals. Disposable BBQs are a major trigger for moorland fires in this exact area."

"Oldham Council implemented an Open Moorlands Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) specifically to ban barbecues and open fires on Saddleworth Moor. Placing a large campsite right on the edge of the moor directly contradicts the council's own fire-prevention policies and quite frankly is ridiculous."