Formal complaint over ground row

Lancaster Club Failsworth

A row over the status of Failsworth parkland which could be swallowed up under Oldham Athletic’s new stadium plans has led to a formal complaint to Oldham Council.

Opposition Labour leader Councillor Jim McMahon said research clearly showed the land at Failsworth Lower Memorial Park was paid for by the Failsworth War Memorial Committee from subscriptions to commemorate more than 200 local deaths in the First World War.

Councillor McMahon has drawn up a file of documents from old council meetings going back to 1923 which he says show the land was additional recreation ground paid for by the war memorial committee, which had already paid for the more formal area of the park, off Broadway.

He said: “What really sticks in people’s throats is that the land is not being seen to have any connection to the war memorial committee, set up after more than 200 people from Failsworth lost their lives in the war.

“This is still very relevant and the council has failed completely to acknowledge this.

“I am baffled. I want the council to hold its hands up and acknowledge that the part of the Lower Memorial Park they want was put there by the people of Failsworth, and that will dictate what will be done to balance this loss.

“We can rightly expect something commensurate in return. Unless they admit this, we can’t even begin to talk about it.”

The minutes from 1923 show that the land was conveyed to the council by Miss Solly Flood, but the purchase money and conveyance costs were payable by the War Memorial Committee.

In a statement to the Chronicle, the Cabinet member for regeneration, Councillor Mohib Uddin, said the deeds showed the land was a transfer from a private owner directly to the council.

There are no restrictions on the deeds, and the Charity Commission has confirmed the land is not a charity, he said, adding: “On the basis of that clear reply from the Charity Commission, the council is continuing its discussions with Oldham Athletic.”

The response has angered Councillor McMahon, who has made a formal complaint to the council’s chief executive, Charlie Parker.

He said: “The question has never been whether or not the land is held in trust — I have never mentioned this. This is nothing more than a deflection. My point has always been to challenge the response from council that the land has no connection to the war when the evidence is overwhelming.

“I do feel the officers involved have underestimated the serious breach of trust this has created and regardless of the outcome I do not consider the council has acted in the public interest.”