No room for table tennis

Chadderton’s £17 million new well-being centre has no place for table tennis tables for a pensioners’ group.

The over-50s who have played at the old Middleton Road sports centre for 20 years now have to use Oldham or Failsworth sports centres.

The players, aged 65 to 70, all from Chadderton, are writing to local MP Michael Meacher to see if he can help.

The 20 regulars use three table tennis tables on Monday mornings, but played their last games at Middleton Road last week as the centre closed on Friday.

Spokesman Alan Wynn (75), an Oldham Table Tennis League player for Honeywell Lane Methodist Church, said: “Three months ago we inquired about what would happen to us when the sports centre closed down. But we only managed to speak to the manager on Monday.

“Along the way we have been told there might be a room in the old Chadderton Library, but now they want that for more commercial uses, and at one time going to Chadderton FC’s ground was suggested.

“Now we have been told there is room to play at the new well-being centre.”

Councillor John McCann, Cabinet member for community services and housing, said: “I entirely sympathise with the problems this group are experiencing and assure them that we are working hard to find a solution.

“The new centre is a different kind of facility.

“There is extra and bulky equipment on site for the new types of dance and fitness classes we’re offering, which residents had indicated they wanted in the consultation process. This means that storage space is at a premium.

“After a meeting with representatives from the table tennis group we were initially exploring the possibility of housing them in the old Chadderton Library.

“It has since emerged this is no longer possible, however, we are still exploring other potential solutions which we hope will be both local and also an improvement on the provision they used to enjoy.”

The new Chadderton Wellbeing Centre was due to open today.