Car park issue weighs on Anchor Mill deal
Reporter: by JANICE BARKER
Date published: 18 August 2008
THE problem car park which is divided between the Anchor Mill and Millennium Centre, across Featherstall Road North
SEVEN years after almost £1 million of public money was spent on Anchor Mill, Coldhurst, another scheme has been launched to breathe life into the building.
The former cotton mill, last used by textile fibre merchant Frankenhuis, is five-storeys high.
And a consortium of businessmen is planning to turn the Featherstall Road North site into industrial units, a cash-and-carry and a first-floor conference centre or wedding venue.
But there is a stumbling block over the car park, part of which still belongs to Oldham Council.
Ten years ago, Oldham Council planned to turn Anchor Mill, built in 1881, into a multi-service centre for business, community facilities, a learning centre, nursery, workshops and studios.
But although it secured £563,000 in grants from the EU and the Westwood Single Regeneration Budget, and made a contribution of £241,000 towards fitting out offices, it did not have enough money to buy the mill.
Instead a series of private owners came and went. And their failure to complete a succession schemes has left the council accountable for more than £500,000 which it could be asked to repay.
But Councillor Mohib Uddin, cabinet member for regeneration, said: “Work is going on and we met the new owners last week. They completed the purchase in March or April.
“They intend to turn it into a multi-use building, and they are local lads — people who have grown up in Coldhurst.
“There have been problems with anti-social behaviour, drugs and prostitution in the area, and the new owners want to fence off the whole car park.
“But half of it belongs to the council, and they are trying to resolve this.
“We are aware that a lot of money was spent on this mill, and a lot of Single Regeneration Budget funding.
“There have already been three or four different owners and people in Coldhurst are very keen to bring the site back into use.
“We are happy to work with them.”
