Wrangle over baths ornate stonework

Heritage stones on Royton Baths to be saved and restored. PRESERVATION plans . . . Dale Hughes (D Hughes Demolition), right, and Councillors Marie and Steven Bashforth

THE demolition of Royton Baths has been temporarily halted after the discovery of a “minor but incorrect” note on the planning application.

The application is to demolish the entire Royton Baths building — which became Royton Sports Centre in 1993 — and turn it into a car park for the new Royton Leisure Centre, which opened in September.

But the original application is believed not to acknowledge a requirement to preserve the baths frontage’s original stonework.

The hitch was pointed out by retired mason Colin Burrows (75). Oldham Council has now put the demolition of the front of the building on hold until and amendment can be confirmed.

The council’s intention is to remove the arch and stone detailing from the front of the building and reuse it elsewhere in Royton.

Councillor Dave Hibbert, cabinet member for housing, planning and transport, said: “A planning amendment will be processed in the next few weeks. Royton Local History Society has also been invited to attend when the stones are removed so they can film it as part of the work to catalogue the history of the district.”

Although Mr Burrows is happy the stonework is being preserved, he says he would be much happier if the whole building was left. He has drawn up a 360-signature petition to save it.