Community action sees car park open

Delph Methodist Church opens new car park

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The car park at Delph Methodist Church, Gartside Street, had been closed for more than a year because of its poor condition.

But the community rallied to raise the £30,000 needed to fund work on drains and a complete resurfacing of the site, popular with people visiting shops and patients attending the newly-opened Delph Surgery.

Delph Methodist Church minister James Skinner praised the community for their help and financial support.

He said: “The car park was not in a fit state to be used. Thank you everybody who has been involved in transforming it.”

Saddleworth councillors Alan Roughley, Garth Harkness and Derek Heffernan gave £4,350 from their Oldham Council allowance to the project, while health authorities and the church put in a third of the total.

The fund was boosted by a £10,000 grant from the Saddleworth and Lees District Partnership and a public appeal raised more than £6,000.

Councillor Roughley said: “I have used Delph car park for the best part of 50 years and it had gradually deteriorated.

“It is a very necessary car park in the village and I am pleased something has been done about it.

“It has been a real community effort and I congratulate everybody concerned.”

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