Old town hall ‘will not be demolished’

“This administration will never sign up to the demolition of the old town hall.”

That was the guarantee given amid concerns about the future of the crumbling Grade II listed building.

Freda Millet, chairman of Oldham Civic Society, quizzed the council about the future of Oldham’s former town hall which is to get £700,000 injection to make it stable and weatherproof - the first step to attract an investor.

She is also concerned about the Lyceum building and the former museum and art galley, all on Union Street.

Councillor Jackie Stanton, cabinet member for Customer Services, made the pledge about town hall which has been empty since 1995 and was named one of the country’s top 10 endangered buildings by the the Victorian Society.

She said that attempts to turn the former library into a heritage centre with Lottery money has failed because of the lack of match funding.