We won’t give up on our village-hub hope

HOPING for a swift solution: Raad Al-Hamdani and Jenny Daubney from the Lees Community Association want to take over Mellor House

HOPES to create a new village hub in Lees have hit a stumbling block after the council put the proposed venue up for sale.

Lees Community Association was hoping to take over the management of Mellor House in Cross Street.

However, the council has now put the property, which once housed council offices, on the market — with an asking price of £135,000.

Disgruntled locals now face a race against time to get their plans in order before a buyer is found.

The group even received a grant from Saddleworth & Lees District Partnership to have a survey carried out.

Chairman of the association, Raad Al-Hamdani, said: “We have had a lot of interest from local groups including councillors, Lees Brass Band and various organisations who would like to make use of the building.

“But we can’t promise anything until we know we’re allowed to use it. It’s a chicken-and-egg situation. We need to know so we can get an accurate account of whether we could cover the costs of running the building.”

The building is advertised as suitable for a number of uses, of 1,620sq ft, with period features and parking space for five vehicles.

But Councillor Dave Hibbert, Cabinet member for housing, transport and regeneration, has reassured locals that it is still a viable option.

He said: “Oldham Council is continuing to work with the community association. However, it is important that the council makes best use of its assets at all times so a ‘twin track’ approach is in place which will see the building offered on the open market.

“The council has a duty to make the best possible return from property sales and has to balance the potential benefits of community use against this.”

He said it was important a solution for the empty building is reached soon to stop the council incurring maintenance costs and the building deteriorating further.

Mr Al-Hamdani added: “It would have been better to put back the decision to sell the building until after our application but we don’t feel too hard done by.

“We just want to try our best to get this off the ground and don’t want costs wasted on marketing the property when we’re racking up costs getting a survey done.”