Whispers faces wind-up petition

ADMINISTRATORS have been called in to the owners of Royton Assembly Hall in the latest twist for the eyesore building.

And a winding up petition against Whispers Developments has been brought by the Inland Revenue with a court hearing provisionally set for August 25.

The firm had been taken to court by Oldham Council on August 3 in an attempt to collect unpaid fines of over £6,000 but the case was delayed.

They had failed to make the site safe and refused to pay up and so legal fees mounted, but now administrators Begbies Traynor LLP, are looking at the company’s assets.

The council has already registered the restrictions it is seeking, which will be heard as part of proceedings in the London court system.

Until the petition is heard, the council will continue to proceed in accordance with the normal administration process.

Chief executive of the council, Charlie Parker, said: “The council is looking to do everything necessary to protect its position and secure the site in order to help bring this long saga to a conclusion.”

The Land Registry record from 2008, suggests that Yorkshire Bank may have first grabs at the site.

The Manchester company purchased the loss-making building for £215,000 in 2002 but plans to turn it into a venue for functions have failed to materialise. The firm failed to turn up to meetings with Oldham Council officials to discuss the building’s future.