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New ground site under spotlight
Date published: 05/01/2010
Dusty volumes dating back more than 80 years could help decide whether a controversial Failsworth site earmarked for the new Oldham Athletic stadium development is charity land.
Yellowing record books from the 1920s, detailing the minute details of how land was bought and paid for to extend the Lower Memorial Park, will be examined by bosses from the Charity Commission.
They are being asked to rule if the land, off Broadway, is part of a charitable trust, or simply open space acquired by the former Failsworth Urban District Council.
The commission, which protects the interests of charities and their legal status, has already checked the park deeds and advised at that time that the extension land does not appear to be a charity.
But campaigners like Failsworth Historical Society, open space champion John Arnold and Councillor James McMahon, have argued that records of the time appear to show differently. Now Oldham Council has sent copies of minutes from Failsworth Council through the early-1920s period, plus more archive information about the Failsworth War Memorial Committee, to the commission.
It will check whether anything new affects its ruling that the land has no charitable status.
There was outrage in Failsworth when plans for the new 12,000-seater stadium were revealed by Latics chiefs in July.
That was followed by an Oldham Council resolution to provide open land between the Lancaster Club and the Lower Memorial Park bowling greens as part of the stadium site.
Before agreeing to this, council officers checked the status of the land with the Charity Commission.
Councillor Mohib Uddin, Cabinet member for regeneration, said: “We have submitted these additional documents as it is vitally important for all parties concerned that we ensure that all decisions and actions taken are legally sound.
“We will not be making any further comment on this matter until we receive a final ruling from the Charity Commission.”
No detailed plans have been submitted by the League One side, but the club is expected to apply for planning permission soon.
Have Your Say
the memorial needs to be given the respect it deserves, and if this means a delicate re-location then it needs to be done with the utmost attention to detail, however i find it hard to believe that the locality will stop their effort to kill professional sport in this town if that was to happen. They just dont want it on their doorstep. NIMBY's
It appears that Oldham Council won't be happy until they've destroyed every bit of green, open-space that is available to residents of heavily populated regions. It's a shame but a truth that this council worship money above everything else no matter how worthy is the intrinsic value to the affected population.
Old-Mancunian.. i think you will find latics ahve already purchased the land for a sub-stancial amount.. im sure if you read the report from the meeting at radcliff they openly admitted the cost and the out lay that had already been put into play to secure the site! abviously from failsworth which has not been part of manchester for over 30 years this is o.m.b.c not manchester city council. O.A.F.C!!!!
Ruggy. They did not buy Chapel Road, it is on peppercorn rent for 99 years. Yes they bought the old Lancaster Club land, but they have not paid a penny for the Failsworth Memorial land as the Council have not yet worked out who owns it. They were not planning to pay for it anyway, it was intended to be a freebie from Oldham Council.
Old_Mancunian you seem to have a great amount of information on the plans for the "Failsworth Memorial land" and council's intention to give to Latics as a "freebie" your name would happen to Alcock would it !!!!!!!
OHH not done their homework again at Latics, well that is a suprise. Its has come to the stage were i do not know either to laugh or cry at the running of Latics, if the earlier records are correct and it is charity land what next, i agree with a earlier comment that it would be cheaper to revamp BP, costs less to rebuild two stands than it would for four and we still own the land... DON'T WE?.
Mad4it. I dish it out so I should be able to take it, but calling me a councillor is a bit below the belt !! lol. No I just happen to use the local interest centre, library, public records office, Council minutes and pay a lot of attention to local matters. I can also recall 20 years worth of OMBC and Latics scams so I know what to look for.
Ruggy, Failsworth has never been part of Manchester.
As for the development itself, I'll reserve judgment until DETAILED plans are submitted.
MarkH - this is nothing to do with plans. Its about the memorial ground. Some say it shouldn't be touched, some say it should be used and, if so, should it be free or paid for.
detailed plans are pointless if you don't have the land.
Even if it is shown not to be charitable land, this scheme is a disgrace. Latics have already got hold of Chapel Road playing fields. How much more public land do they want for free? If they want land they should buy it like everybody else would have to.
By Old_Mancunian @ 05/01/2010 12:54:35
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