Labour plea to end assembly hall saga

IN a mess . . . trees chopped down outside Royton Assembly Hall

ROYTON Assembly Hall should be brought back into public ownership to put an end to the on-going saga, according to a Labour councillor.

The hall was purchased by Whispers Development in 2003, but work to refurbish the site has been slow.

Last September, Oldham Council drew up a schedule of work for the company, but took enforcement action a month later after it failed to carry out agreed work.

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

After the company failed to pay the council’s costs, it was taken to Oldham County Court, which this month ordered the company to pay Oldham Council £6,699 for the associated work, court fees, legal costs and interest. Labour welcomed the court’s decision but said it still left Royton with an unfinished, decaying eyesore.

Labour councillor Steven Bashforth said: “The only way we are going to see this problem solved is to take the building back into public ownership.

“The Lib-Dems are prepared to let the hall rot.”



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