Register office is one of the best

Reporter: by JANICE BARKER
Date online: 30 October 2009

Oldham register office’s move to Chadderton Town Hall is paying off after it was described as one of the best in the country.

The operation, which upped sticks from its former town centre base in Hobson Street to the historic building on Middleton Road in 2007, offers marriages and civil ceremonies, as well as baby-naming and wedding vow renewals.

It was also the first in Greater Manchester to offer civil funerals.

In 2002, the Government began modernising the strictly regulated services. It gave more powers to front-line staff to design ceremonies for local people, with more customer choice.

Responsibility for running it was transferred from London to local councils.

The last inspection of the office in February assessed it as a high-quality operation.

The hall, which was originally built in 1912, boasts a stunning stained-glass window, marble pillars and chandeliers.

Countless couples have already marked their special day in the imposing ceremony room, which once housed meetings of the Chadderton Urban District Council.

It will move to the new way of being governed from April, next year.

Delighted

And instead of inspections, there will be a less frequent and more wide-ranging assessment of standards.

Councillor Mark Alcock, Cabinet member for environment and infrastructure, is delighted with the news.

He said: “The staff are absolutely fantastic.

“Things like this show the residents of Oldham what good services they are getting.

“We spent a fair amount of money on the move to Chadderton and it is paying dividends.”

The council is now looking into whether more services can be offered at the hall.