Protect town’s heritage

ACTION must be taken to protect three of Chadderton’s historic buildings — that was the demand from the inaugural meeting of the Chadderton District Partnership.

Chadderton’s £5million health and well-being centre will open at the end October, replacing the former Art Deco baths and Carnegie library on Middleton Road — causing concern that these will be targeted by vandals — while the future of the former Edwardian police station, also on Middleton Road, is unclear.

Nick Andrews, from the council’s economy, places and skills department, admitted that the buildings may have to be boarded up if they do not attract a developer.

However, Councillor Dave Hibbert said: “It’s a totally unacceptable approach. The council should be putting some departments into the buildings, even if it is on a temporary basis.”

Michael Lawson, secretary of Chadderton Historical Society, told the Chronicle that the town centre had some of the borough’s nicest buildings.

He said: “If new developments are going to replace buildings of historic architectural interest, there should be a use in mind for these buildings.”


CHADDERTON will get an extra £1,000 to spend on improvements.

It is one of two areas chosen to receive the extra money on top of the £18,000 handed to each of the borough’s seven new district partnerships.

Forums for residents and businesses, set up to cover each of the north, central and south Chadderton wards, are to come up with suggestions about how the money should be spent — with a survey suggesting people’s priorities for Chadderton are clean streets and cutting crime.

Each district partnership will also receive £28,000 to spend on crime and environmental projects while every councillor had a budget of £3,000 which they can choose to pool.


The first ward meetings will be: Chadderton Central: Apfel Lane Community Centre, July 23; North Chadderton: North Chadderton Upper School, July 28; South Chadderton: Washbrook Community Centre, July 29, all at 7pm