Building with a grim past to be demolished

Doomed . . . the old village mortuary in Uppermill

A GRIM reminder of one of Saddleworth’s bleakest times is to be demolished to make way for car parking.

The old mortuary, near King George V playing fields at Uppermill, was where the first of the moors murderers’ child victims were taken in 1965.

The unassuming building, which closed years ago, was the centre of world media attention when the bodies of children killed by Myra Hindley and Ian Brady and buried on Saddleworth Moor were examined by pathologists.

Councillor John McCann said: “I am very pleased that, as part of the review of parking in Uppermill, this grim building is to be demolished.

“It has been unused for a long time and the space is to be put to better use to enlarge the car park behind Uppermill library.”

Parish councillor Royce Franklin, chairman of Saddleworth Parish Council’s traffic and transport sub-committee, said the long-term aim is to encourage people to park near the baths, less than five minutes walk from the village centre.

“Knocking the mortuary down will increase the car park capacity and this will ease the situation in the short term.

“Once the baths car park is complete, it is likely there will be time-limited parking on the car parks other than the baths in Uppermill.

“The Square is to be given priority because stall holders have on occasions recently been unable to get their stalls erected properly because cars have been parked there.”

He warned: “If we don’t encourage this flow of parking movement it will lead to the death knell for businesses.

“Uppermill has some excellent shops and it is important their significance is maintained, particularly with the threat of Tesco at Greenfield on the horizon.

“There are many workers who park their cars all day on the car parks in Uppermill, taking up spaces which could otherwise be occupied by shoppers for a relatively short time.

“The aim is to encourage all-day parkers, and tourists, to park on the unrestricted car park near the baths.

“And, to ensure there is a constant availability of spaces for shoppers, other car parks will have some time restrictions placed on them — but without charge.

“However, no restrictions will be imposed until after the baths’ car park is complete and the mortuary is demolished.”

The parking plans were contained 10-page document compiled by Councillor Franklin, in response to Oldham Council’s proposal to limit on and off-street parking in the village.

It came after suggestions by Saddleworth Business Association that limited waiting restrictions could be introduced at various car parks in the centre of Uppermill.

The association says that, visitors, workers and residents use the car parks for an unlimited time — causing an adverse effect on trading at local shops because of the lack of available parking spaces for customers.