Seven-day pledge on assembly hall

Royton Assembly Hall: “embarrassing eyesore”

Labour vows action to take over ‘eyesore’ building

OLDHAM’S new Labour administration has vowed to take its first steps to transform Royton Assembly Hall within seven days.

Councillor Steven Bashforth said the sorry saga surrounding the Market Square building had gone on long enough and confirmed Labour would do everything possible to see the “embarrassing eyesore” brought back into public ownership.

The Labour group has already held preliminary discussions over plans to reclaim the hall and says it will be one of its priorities once it takes control from the outgoing Lib-Dem/Tory coalition at the May 25 annual council meeting.

Manchester-based Whispers Developments bought the hall for £215,000 in 2002 with plans to turn it into a top-notch function venue.

But nine years later, the scheme has failed to get up and running and the building remains unused.

The owner never paid a £3,500 fine last year for failing to secure the site, leading to Oldham County Court ordering the company to pay the council £6,699 for the works plus mounting legal costs.

Today Oldham Council was unable to confirm whether it had received the payment.

Councillor Bashforth said: “Council leader Jim McMahon has confirmed his full support so we are eager to get the ball rolling and within the next seven days we will be getting a group together to hold talks with our legal team to start work on our options.

“This could be a relatively easy solution or a complex legal struggle, but we will pursue this with every intention of succeeding.

“We are at a very early stage but we are hugely driven and determined to succeed, but there may be a few obstacles to pass after years of inaction.”

He added that once the building has been inspected, the party will be planning for its future use with help from local residents and businesses.

Cabinet member Councillor Phil Harrison added: “What is important is that we move the situation forward.

“It is very much on our agenda and I am confident that Jim will deliver.”