QUESTION I ASKED ABOUT THE ABOVE AT WEDNESDAY’S COUNCIL MEETING

GMCA 68/13 – Town Centre Challenge: Future High Streets Fund Prospectus – page 36 in Council Agenda

Back in March of this year you will remember I asked the Leader about the persisting issue of St. Paul’s Methodist Church in my ward of Shaw.

The unfortunate collapse in February saw the closure of roads and a commendable response by emergency services for containing the situation.

What we now need to do is ensure council services sort out the issue of the derelict site and work with the Methodist church to provide a viable and workable community solution.

The building is now being cared for and undergoing repairs by the Methodist Church, but what is the future of this Place of Worship grade II listed building?

Following road closures and the ongoing repair work, would it make more sense that the site could be fit into Oldham Borough Council’s housing framework and serve as a lived-in example of how we should think of using our existing buildings and not continuously attack our finite green belt.

Up and down the borough there are empty buildings in a similar condition to St. Paul’s, I gave reference in March, to empty Banks, post offices and Pubs.

Is St. Paul’s to become yet another tombstone of Shaw town centre?

The council has left Shaw out of its Phase 1 application for a Government financed Future High Streets Fund.

I strongly feel if the Council does not take this issue seriously Shaw will miss the deadline for summer 2020 as well, and the subsequent regeneration provided by such a grant.

Back in April 2019, myself and Liberal Democrat Councillors colleagues were in contact with the Methodist Church and Historic England and we have been informed the building will become safe as a result of the repair work.

However, as we could still be left with yet another disused space in our community, what is being done about the long-term future of St. Paul’s or will money continue to be sunk money into a pile of old stones which will be an ongoing blight on Shaw and Crompton?

Councillor Howard Sykes