Copy letter about the above is below. No answer has yet been received and a reminder has already been sent.
Date: 13 February 2017
Customer Services, BT Group plc, BT Centre, 81 Newgate Street,
London EC1A 7AJ
Dear Customer Services,
Re: 19 Rochdale Road, Shaw, OL2 8AD
This property was previously leased to Abacus Baby Ltd who have recently left the premises vacant. Councillor for Shaw, Howard Sykes has asked me to contact you with regards to the property 19 Rochdale Road, which I believe is leased out by BT.
Councillors for Shaw are concerned about the future of this building and are eager not to have a vacant leasehold in the centre of Shaw.
With this in mind Councillors have asked if you could please advise what your future plans for the building are?
I look forward to hearing from you soon.
I’ve often wondered if this could be partitioned off into managed short term office space for local businesses. We have more self employed people in Shaw and Saddleworth than anywhere else, however, our closest such facilities are in Rochdale and Hollinwood. With the right advertising, it would be used regularly and provide a business hub where we can also collaborate and use pay-as-you-go facilities.
If this was a viable solution (which I believe it is), I would be very interested in helping to make this a reality, and would be one of the first people to ask for a lease.
If this was my building or I had something similar this is just what I would do with it rather than look for one tenant to take on such a large space. My fear is remain empty and further blights our town centre with the former Legions opposite (in hands of receiver and not doing anything), and the former chapel at St Paul’s’. BT have yet to reply to me – nothing to prevent anybody writing to them if they have an interest or suggestion for its use.
I think this is an excellent idea.