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Vandals rip roof off neglected cottage
Date published: 19 August 2009
VANDALS have stepped up attacks on a picturesque cottage in Daisy Nook country park — while council talks over its future continue.
Hencote Cottage, built in the 1800s, is a listed building owned by the National Trust. But it has lain unoccupied and neglected for 10 years and has suffered countless attacks of vandalism — the latest has seen its roof ripped apart.
In 2001, Oldham Council accepted a 10-year repair lease to maintain the property and grounds.
Now Failsworth councillor and Labour leader Jim McMahon is demanding action. He said: “I want the council to bring the lease to a conclusion and to commit to funding the repairs.
“I also want the council to come forward with plans to ensure this cannot happen again, and to apologise that this has been allowed to happen when better planning would have avoided it.
“Even if the council carries out the repairs it is still taxpayers money which could have been spent on other things.”
The National Trust said it was “very aware” of the state of disrepair at the cottage. Several meetings had taken place with council representatives but work specified under the lease had not been done.
A spokesman said a list of repair works that needed doing had been drawn up and given to the council in May.
The council had earmarked the cottage as the site of a visitor centre for use by local people with learning difficulties.
Comments
its amazing when you see all the money used on re-furbishing empty house like the ones on park road and they can’t spend on one cottage
Another piece of our heritage left to rot, at least the money saved will pay for more council officials to go on a 'jolly' to Harrogate next year
Like the forth bridge - the council fixes and the local numpties destroy - the only answer is to have a tenant in the cottage to act as the guardian - maybe rent free to look after this special building - will be cheaper than the repair bills to keep it standing.
Why is McMahon demanding action now? The town has had the lease since 2001 so why didn't he do something about it when his shower of do nowts were supposedly running things? Don't you just love this bit: '..apologise that this has been allowed to happen when better planning would have avoided it.' Better planning?? This is Oldham! Seven years the Lab group had to plan it. What did they come up with? Nowt, nada, nil, zilch. The same stuff that keeps their ears apart. They still know nowt!
For clarification. The cottage was occupied by the Country Park warden up until 8 months or so ago.
keith - as usual you never miss a chance to spread your myths and pursue your "agenda". If the LA is giving money to "refurbish" empty properties on Park Rd (who owns them I wonder), report them to the Local Government ombudsman, you should have his/her details as you know everything about everybody!!
Have Your Say
Let’s see OMBC agreed to maintained in 2001 and have done nothing from then correct me if I am wrong but this is the Labour party (Jim) shouting outrage but he and his group had over eight years to deal with this? Is it me or is this a case of pass the blame. get real Jim its down to you this one
By Barros @ 19/08/2009 13:47:20