Whispers forced to pay up

Councillor Rod Blyth

The company behind the failed conversion of Royton Assembly Hall has been taken to court for the costs of securing the site.

Oldham Council says it is committed to dealing with the problem, despite not being able to contact the owners, Whispers Developments.

Council officers took action in October, paying for the the site to be made secure and safe and to ensure that public rights of way were not obstructed, when the company failed to carry out the work.

Whispers was fined £3,500 by Oldham magistrates in May when it admitted failing to secure part of the site and obstructing pavements.

Whispers was billed for the costs but failed to pay. It was taken to Oldham County Court, which ordered the company to pay Oldham Council £6,699 for the associated work, court fees, legal costs and interest.

Councillor Rod Blyth, cabinet member for community safety and public protection said: “Oldham Council is committed to dealing with the long-running issues about the lack of progress in refurbishing Royton Assembly Hall. This is a major development that has dragged on for far too long.

“We understand local residents’ frustration about this matter and this case clearly demonstrates that we will not hesitate to act where we can to ensure that necessary work is carried out. We will continue to monitor this situation extremely closely and liaise with Whispers Developments to make sure that a clear way forward is set out.”