£2.2m facelift for Failsworth Town Hall

Reporter: BEATRIZ AYALA
Date online: 01 February 2010

Historic building at centre of major scheme

A MAJOR regeneration scheme is to bring Failsworth Town Hall back into use.

Around £2.2million will be spent on refurbishing and extending the town hall building, next to the former Carnegie Library in Oldham Road.

Oldham Council’s Cabinet approved the plans – including new shops and employment opportunities – on Wednesday.

Built in 1880 at a cost of £2,600, Failsworth Town Hall housed a range of council services while in use but closed three years ago when Social Services, the last remaining tenants, moved out.

Work will begin in the next few weeks to refurbish and extend the building to accommodate a range of existing and new community facilities.

Failsworth Library Service will move from Main Street into the building, as will all current tenants and users of the Failsworth Community Centre.

The newly refurbished town hall will also boast a function hall with bar, and plans for a café are being considered.

Oldham Council is investing the money from existing funds generated by the original Tesco development at Failsworth.

As part of the scheme, a new retail development will also be created in the North Bank area, which lies between Rochdale Canal and Ashton Road West.

Failsworth Community Centre will be demolished and seven new shop units will be constructed – plus an Aldi supermarket, drive-through KFC, associated car parking and landscaping works.

Funding details for this part of the scheme are subject to commercial agreements and have not been released.

Councillor Howard Sykes, council leader, said the town hall would once again become the hub of the local community.

He said: “This is an ambitious and exciting regeneration scheme for Failsworth.

“It will bring a range of community facilities together under one roof for the first time, and is also sympathetic to the historic features and heritage of this building.”

He said the plans are part of a long-running strategy and vision to redevelop Failsworth’s district centre.

He said: “I am sure this will greatly improve the quality of life for local residents.”

Cabinet will now enter into a formal agreement with Oldham Property Partnerships Ltd (OPP) to deliver the scheme.

Following demolition of the community centre and existing retail parade, OPP will begin the construction of the Aldi store, while the building of the fast food outlet will complete the scheme.

Existing retailers at the district centre have been offered space within the new scheme.

Councillor Jim McMahon, Labour group leader and Failsworth East councillor, described the town hall redevelopment as “fantastic news” but queried the project’s finances.

He said: “Failsworth has given up its town centre to what will end up being a below-average retail park, not to mention handing over Whitekirk Hall and its Community Centre.

“The income to the council is well over £4million and this does not take into account the Whitekirk Hall site.

“It does beg the question where the remaining money will end up - certainly not in Failsworth.”