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‘Historic school has no future’

28/12/2005

COUNCILLOR Jeremy Sutcliffe has sounded the death knell on the old Eustace Street School and accused opposition councillors of caring more about a "crumbling Victorian edifice than 21st Century people".

He launched his attack during questioning about the fate of the historic school, in Chadderton, at a recent full council meeting.

Saddleworth councillor Mike Buckley asked Cllr Jeremy Sutcliffe, cabinet member for the environment, about the future of the 19th Century building, after a council planning committee decision to demolish it was reversed in November.

The decision delighted campaigners who have battled for the building to be given a fresh lease of life since it was closed in 2001.

Cllr Buckley was told at the full council meeting that there is no "viable use" to ensure its conservation, and it would cost £170,000 a year to provide security for the site.

Cllr Sutcliffe added: "Effectively, the last hope went out of the window with the failure to secure money from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) for a project to develop it as an extension of the adjacent Falcon Centre."

He added that the Government Office North West's decision to overturn the application to demolish the building was based on a failure by Oldham Council to have an alternative use for the site.

Many local people want it to become a community centre, although they have been told it could cost £1 million to renovate the premises

Cllr Sutcliffe said: "I doubt there is any funding stream that would be willing to put up that sort of money.

"Its fabric has deteriorated significantly and it poses a risk to inquisitive children and to adjacent houses should arson ensue.

"We have to be realistic."