Restoration of civic pride in civic centre

Reporter: Janice Barker
Date online: 29 April 2009

First big refurbishment in 30 years, but spending comes under attack

Oldham Council’s civic rooms are to get their first major refurbishment for 30 years to bring them into the 21st century.

The aim is to improve the civic centre’s meeting rooms, the Rochdale Road reception and waiting area, and the first floor civic area with the borough’s silver collection, with a six figure sum.

But the idea has been attacked by the Labour group, whose leader Councillor Jim McMahon, said the cost could be £500,000.

He added: “We have seen savage cuts to vital services, hundreds of staff made redundant and an increase in council tax. “The thought of spending such a gross amount of money on refurbishment beggars belief.”

The work will go to tender shortly with local companies invited to apply, and parts of the Rochdale Road building will be closed after Mayor Making in May until early autumn.

The council’s deputy leader, Councillor Jackie Stanton, said: “The cost is significant but it is not £500,000.

“We need to treat buildings as assets and not liabilities.

“Just good enough is not enough — we need the best and we can’t deliver what we need to do from a 1970s building.

“We are dealing with things that should have been dealt with over the last 20 years. When people come her from other Greater Manchester authorities, you feel quite ashamed that we are bringing them into this building.

“We want to promote the Mayoral office as part of our civic pride, and we will work with some of the former mayors from all parties.”

The areas being reviewed include the public entrances off Rochdale Road and behind the Queen Elizabeth Hall, foyer, front entrance steps and balcony facing Oldham College, the two main meetings rooms, the Lees and Crompton suites, toilets, stairs and reception desk.

Chief executive Charlie Parker said the meeting rooms have rising damp, smell musty and are bad for people with respiratory problems.

Acoustics and lighting are poor, there is no induction loop for people with hearing problems, and slide or film presentations are difficult because the low ceilings mask the screen. Furniture is old and uncomfortable and some is damaged or stained, he added.

“The front steps are a security issue, there is drug activity, petty crime and skateboarders,” he said.

“We are not just doing this because we want to spend money, it is about facilities for staff and the public, and people who use this building.”

The mosaic coat of arms in the foyer floor is cracked and may be covered over.

Councillor McMahon added: “This money could keep Broadway Library open for 10 years.

“Most reasonable people will look at this and think Oldham Council is out of touch, out of control and out to feather its own nest, while the rest of the borough crumbles.”

What do you think? E-mail janbarker@oldham-chronicle.co.uk