Trust us on park land
Reporter: Janice Barker & Dawn Marsden
Date published: 22 July 2010
Last night’s full Oldham Council meeting
SPECIALIST legal advice was sought before a new committee was set up to look after trust land at Failsworth Lower Memorial Park.
The assurance was given to Councillor Glenys Butterworth by Cabinet member for regeneration, Councillor John McCann.
He was replying to 11 questions from Councillor Butterworth, who represents Failsworth West, about the Failsworth Trust Committee.
The committee will look after the best interests of the trust land, which is north of the Lancaster Club on Broadway, Failsworth, and earmarked for part of Oldham Athletic’s proposed new £20 million stadium.
Six alternative sites for the trust land have been whittled down to two proposals after public consultations.
Councillor McCann said the Failsworth Trust Committee has been given powers to decide the future of the land and the trust, after the council consulted a specialist barrister for advice.
An independent chartered surveyor will also advise on the value of the land.
Room for change on Clayton
NEW changing facilities including showers will be built at Clayton Playing Fields.
The Portacabin-style buildings will replace the old changing rooms which were knocked down in 2007 when they were declared unsafe.
Plans were approved by Oldham Council members last night.
The fields were given town green status in 2001, and the new development has to have the approval of the trustees.
The changing facilities will be paid for by money lodged with the council as part of the planning permission for homes at the Bluebell pub and Maple Squash sites on Broadway, Royton.
Rents of up to £530 a season could be charged to adult teams and the move could bring in almost £8,000 more per year to the council.
The trustees heard that although there are six full-size pitches at Clayton, there has been a steady decline in teams using them since the changing rooms were demolished.
The new cabins will have changing areas and separate toilets and showers. They will be let by Oldham Community Leisure and cleaned by a private company.
