The protectors

THE former Chadderton Library and police station

Society’s bid to list buildings is slammed
HERITAGE campaigners are making a bold attempt to protect three historic buildings in Chadderton.

But the council has hit out at the move to list the former Carnegie library, Art Deco baths and Edwardian police station in Middleton Road and Victoria Street.

It says say that it could delay plans to market the empty properties and also make them less attractive to developers.

Chadderton Historical Society has made the application to English Heritage because it fears that the buildings could be demolished if they are not protected.

Chairman Mark Johnson said: “They should have been listed years ago.

“We would be failing in our duty as a historical society if we did not press for them to be listed. We have already lost Broadway Library, the grammar school and Eustace Street school in Chadderton.

“The council can’t be trusted. That’s three buildings gone now.”

The society is angry that the buildings, which have been superceded by Chadderton Wellbeing Centre and the new police station, have remained empty.

It had planned to open a heritage centre in the former library, but the council pulled out of the agreement at the eleventh hour.

The buildings are in a conservation area which English Heritage placed on its “threatened” list, warning that there was a danger of them becoming derelict and an eyesore.

A development brief for the properties is due to be agreed by Oldham Council and Greater Manchester Police in the coming weeks. The council would then market them as a whole in a bid to get the best deal.

Councillor John McCann, Cabinet member for regeneration and environment, said the application to English Heritage had delayed the process.

He added: “If you have a listed building it is limited as to what the developers can do with it and it decreases the value because they are of local, but not of national importance.

“It also makes it harder for the council to market them and get a commercial solution that would retain the most important features. I personally do not think it is helpful.”

A spokesman for English Heritage confirmed that it was assessing the buildings and would put forward a recommendation to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, which makes the final decision, in the spring.

Councillor Mike Buckley, the council’s heritage champion, said that he supported the application.

He said: “The buildings add a lot of character to the conservation area. The library is a very fine example of a Carnegie library of that period, the baths with its art deco detail is worth considering and the police station is a fine building.”