You have not been forgotten
Reporter: BEATRIZ AYALA
Date published: 13 October 2010
HMR boss: Werneth is a key priority
FEARS of districts in Oldham being left abandoned following cuts to Housing Market Renewal funding have been refuted by HMR bosses.
Oldham West and Royton MP Michael Meacher claimed that cutbacks had led to houses that were due to be demolished — in areas such as Freehold — being abandoned by Oldham Council and the Government, leaving the area derelict and some families stranded.
Werneth councillor Fida Hussain said it was “very disappointing” that the renewal scheme had ground to a halt half-way through the project.
However, Alastair Graham, director for the Oldham Rochdale Housing Market Renewal Pathfinder, has reassured residents they have not been forgotten and are at the top of the to-do list.
He said: “Werneth has certainly not been abandoned and remains a key priority in the Housing Market Renewal programme for Oldham.
“Much positive work has already been done in the area, including the fully-occupied Olivers Court development of 57 properties, and we hope to start work soon with our development partners Keepmoat on the second phase of 64 homes.
“More than 360 homes in the area have been refurbished and in all, a total of 81 new homes have been built, ranging from one-bed apartments to five-bedroomed family homes.
“We are continuing our site remediation and demolition plans to make land ready for new homes.”
Mr Graham said any empty properties purchased have been properly boarded up and safely secured until they can be demolished.
He said: “It’s fair to say that budgets this year were much less than anticipated when our programme began, with a £4.4 million cut across Oldham and Rochdale.
“However, we are determined to minimise the impact of this on local residents by making savings in areas other than residential acquisitions or by deferring work, such as the purchase of Hartford Mill which would have taken up a large chunk of the money available.
“We are also investigating other sources of funding and some of this is beginning to look quite hopeful.
“We are pressing the case for Oldham and Rochdale as strongly as possible in the discussion of funding allocation to the Housing Market Renewal Pathfinders.
“It is vital that we are allowed to finish what we started and I appreciate our MP’s help in bringing this into the spotlight.”
Jackie Stanton, deputy council leader, said: “We would all have preferred things to move faster, but I am really pleased with the progress of Housing Market Renewal across Oldham and Rochdale and look forward to the much-needed new build developments coming soon.”
