£17,000 repair work to raise the roof

SPRUCE up . . . Uppermill Conservative Club

EXTENSIVE repairs to Uppermill Conservative Club mean it will raise the roof with extra gusto at exciting community events.

In a project costing around £17,000, the entire roof on the 200-year-old building was lifted to enable felt be laid and support timbers and woodwork replaced.

New slates have been added, all lead work redone and new gutters are in place to solve problems which troubled the building for years.

The repairs were made possible by a £10,000 Big Lottery Fund grant — a donation from the Association of Conservative Clubs and local fund-raising events.

Peter Archer, a member of the club’s management committee, said: “About five years ago we redecorated upstairs but then it rained in and everything was ruined. In really bad weather, water poured down the inside wall downstairs too.”

The High Street club stayed open throughout the work to welcome guests as well as Saddleworth Homewatch, Friezland Band, church groups, language classes and live music events.

Peter added: “We wouldn’t usually be eligible for a lottery grant but as we are a community hub, they awarded us the money.”