Only the best for Oldham’s young people

The first to see the plans . . . from left, Youth Mayor Mohammed Adil; Jeremy Glover, chief executive of On Side; the Mayor, Councillor Jim McArdle; William Lees-Jones, project chairman; Norman Stoller; architect Mark Serventi and Adam Poyner, project manager from On Side

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OLDHAM’S youth deserve the best.

And thanks to the foresight and perseverance of local benefactor Norman Stoller, the best is what they will get.

The accolade came from the Mayor of Oldham, Councillor Jim McArdle as he joined a select group who were the first to view architects’ plans for Oldham’s £5 million lads’ and girls’ club.

They met on site at Marjory Lees Health Centre, Egerton Street, yesterday, to pour over the plans, and a delighted Councillor McArdle said: “I am looking forward to this becoming a reality, it can’t come soon enough.

“It is what we need in Oldham, and to have someone like Mr Stoller to drive this forward has been wonderful.”

The Stoller Foundation gave the project a £250,000 kickstart when it was first mooted last year, to help prepare a £5 million bid from the Government’s My Place fund.

The plans were unveiled by architects Eric Wright Construction to some of the project’s key players, including chairman William Lees-Jones, Jeremy Glover, chief executive of the On Side youth initiative and also the Bolton Lads’ and Girls’ Club, on which Oldham’s is based, and Oldham’s Youth Mayor, Mohammed Adil.

Mr Stoller said: “I am absolutely delighted to see these first pictures of something that when it is opened is going to be one of the finest occasions in Oldham’s history.

“It is the start of great things for Oldham’s youth, and the people who come to this town who see we have a youth mayor from the Asian community demonstrates more than words how people can come here and assimilate and grow, and that speaks volumes for the future of Oldham.”

The Youth Mayor worked with the architects as part of the My Place Development Group, and was keen to see the plans, saying: “I am over the moon.”

Mr Glover said the club will be of 21st century quality, and gone were the days when young people would put up with tired and run-down buildings for a youth centre.

“They want bright, modern and fit-for-purpose buildings, and this new lads’ and girls’ club will bring young people together and keep them active. It’s simple, but it works.”

The plans will now be used to further consult with young people and interested parties before they are submitted to town planners towards the end of October.

The planning process is expected to take around 12 weeks, and provided they get the go ahead, work on demolishing Marjory Lees Health Centre and building the new club should begin next spring.