Bursting with civic pride...
Reporter: by Marina Berry
Date published: 06 October 2009
OLDHAM’S new look civic centre was back open for business today after a £500,000 revamp.
And the council plans to put the building to good use — inviting local groups, charities and businesses to use it for meetings — at a “reasonable” cost.
The reception and main public areas were closed in June as work began to make the neglected 1970s building fit for the 21st century.
It is the civic centre’s first major overhaul in 30 years, and builders had to rip up floors and knock back walls to cure a major damp problem.
The reception area, two meeting rooms and toilets were refurbished before the end of the September 30 deadline.
Structural work swallowed up around half of the £500,000 cost of the scheme, and once complete, workmen set about refurbishing the ground floor.
It involved installing state-of-the-art audio equipment in two main meeting rooms, moving walls, and installing a mounted television screen in reception to keep visitors up to date with the work of the council.
Antiquated heating and ventilation systems were updated, new carpets were laid, and new furniture delivered.
Councillor Jackie Stanton, deputy council leader said she was “delighted” with the work, which was “long overdue.”
The civic centre has thousands of visitors each year, from members of the public to representatives of groups and organisations and Government departments.
Councillor Stanton said: “It is a very busy reception area, and this is about the impression it gives to people.”
She described the building before the revamp as tired, neglected and run-down, and promised it would get regular maintenance and no longer be allowed to return to the dowdy state which prompted major refurbishment.
“The civic centre belongs to the people of Oldham and we are its custodians,” said Councillor Stanton.
“There has been a tendency to treat public buildings in this town as a liability rather than an asset.
“The civic centre is now somewhere we can be proud of, it makes the council a serious player in the borough, and it provides better working conditions for staff.
“Its refurbishment is the start of a rolling programme to update all of our public buildings so we can make sure we don’t face this situation again.”
