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Society, dancing school and bands left homeless

A historical society, two bands and a dance school are homeless after Oldham Council closed Chadderton library.

The books and staff transferred to the new Wellbeing Centre from today but Chadderton Historical Society is furious that its plans for a heritage centre in the old building are in ruins.

Members say they were given only 19 days to clear their archive from the Middleton Road library, which was funded by the American philanthropist Andrew Carnegie.

Samantha Greenwood, owner of Samantha Jayne School of Dance, is still running classes but trying to find a new home for the New Year.

The library, which is in a conservation area, was also used by the Chadderton and Westwood Over 50s bands.

Mark Johnson, historical society chairman, said: “We have spent well over 12 months forming a business plan to use the library as a heritage centre with community use. We thought at a meeting two weeks ago that we would be presented with a lease — instead we were told we had 19 days to clear the building.”

Mike Lawson, society secretary, added: “This has been shoddily handled. We have been evicted and abandoned.

“No-one has taken responsibility for this, no-one knows who is responsible, we have not even had it in writing. We have had to put our archive, which includes furniture and large objects, into storage in barns and garages.”

Samantha Greenwood has owned the dance school, set up 30 years ago by choreographer Sheila Carter, for nine years.

She said: “The council was quite happy to take £700 a month rent off me.

“I have been offered one hour a night in the new dance studio in the Wellbeing centre, but the floor is not suitable for tap, and the rent would treble.”

Councillor Philip Rogers, president of Chadderton Band said: “This is a big shock and I am very disappointed.”

Councillor Mark Alcock, cabinet member for environment and infrastructure, said the closure will save on maintenance and running costs.

He said: “The new Chadderton Wellbeing Centre is going to cost us more than £800,000 a year to run — £700,000 more than was budgeted for. This will already put a considerable strain on our resources. Oldham Council does not have £300,000 to spend on keeping a building open that is in such a state of bad repair.”

The library will be marketed for sale early in the New Year, he added, and officers hope to work with the local groups to find alternative accommodation.