Hall goes under the hammer

Royton Assembly Hall.

THE future of Royton Assembly Hall was due to be decided today as the controversial building went under the hammer.

A deadline for sealed bids has closed and administrators Begbies Traynor LLP will now organise for them to be opened and the new owners announced.

It should end a saga that has rumbled on for years and left Royton with a half-finished eyesore rather than the restaurant, banqueting hall and conference centre that was supposed to be open before the end of 2004.

It is believed a number of bids have been made, and Oldham Council leader Councillor Jim McMahon confirmed the council had “expressed an interest” with the administrators.

The news comes after the council bought the former Oldham Conservative Club in Yorkshire Street for £150,000 at auction.

Councillor McMahon said: “We haven’t got a blank cheque book but if the hall goes into private hands, the council will work constructively with any new owners. The administrator had to put this property on the open market in order to secure the best possible deal for creditors of Whispers Developments.

“We remain committed to securing a speedy solution.”

Manchester-based Whispers paid £215,000 for the loss-making Market Street building in 2002, with the aim of turning it into a top-notch function venue. In May, 2010, the firm was fined £3,500 for failing to secure the site and obstructing pavements. It was also ordered to pay Oldham Council £6,699 for the cost of clearing up the eyesore. Neither were paid.

The firm then failed to attend summit meetings with the council in a bid end the saga.

The council took enforcement action in August for damages and to force Whispers to clear the site. But it was unable to serve an injunction because the owner was believed to be in holiday in Pakistan.

A winding up petition was also brought by the Inland Revenue and administrators put the property on the market.