Gateway scheme shelved

The Pump Street area of Hollinwood

PLANS to transform part of Hollinwood into a key gateway into Oldham with a major hotel and office development have been derailed by the credit crunch.

Instead the Pump Street area — located at the junction of the M60, A62 and Metrolink — will be left a neglected eyesore.

It has been blighted by several years of uncertainty, fly-tipping and derelict buildings, but was due to benefit from the creation of a 100-bed hotel, offices, a pub and conference facilities.

As far back as 1998, a private company began buying up the land and the plans were passed in May, 2005, but have never progressed.

Oldham Council was to issue a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) to bring outstanding land under its ownership and push ahead with its own proposals.

But the authority has withdrawn plans for the CPO and written to the secretary of state for communities and local government explaining that the decision was taken because of the adverse economic climate.

Council chiefs say the Hollinwood Master Plan, which was originally suggested in the Oldham Beyond report and identified Pump Street as a key gateway site, remains their long-term regeneration objective.

But, following a detailed review of funding arrangements for acquiring the land and properties, it has had to withdraw the CPO.

Bardsley’s Dance Centre and the Hollinwood Dental Practice remain on the site.

Council Labour leader, Councillor Jim McMahon, blasted the decision as short-sighted.

He said: “The council has acquired quite a lot of the land and it has been left semi-derelict.

“It will impact on the dentist who will be trying to continue trading on what’s effectively an abandoned building site.

“If they are saying that it’s the single, most important regeneration site because of its size and location then surely the council, which is not affected by the recession in the same way as businesses are, should be looking further than the next couple of years.

“It’s as important as it’s ever been, possibly even more so, and they need to get into position for when the recession comes to an end.

“I would urge the council to continue the negotiations with landowners to try to require the site that way.”

Councillor Mohib Uddin, cabinet member for regeneration, said: “Oldham Council continues to support the general principles of this scheme and we will continue to review our options for developing what is an important strategic junction.”