RSPCA set to move

The former Strinesdale visitor centre is to be the new RSPCA centre.

LOCAL RSPCA chiefs have spoken of their excitement and sadness at their impending move out of Oldham.

The branch, which serves Oldham and Bury, has been at Rhodes Bank, Mumps, since 1987 but the site has been sold to Oldham Council as part of the new Prince’s Gate developments, and the charity will move to Strinesdale. Marks & Spencer is set to open in 2017, to become the main tenant at Prince’s Gate.

Branch administrator Marilyn Fisher said: “The council has been very helpful with the move and regenerating the area is a good thing - but it will be quite sad to leave. We’ve been here for years.

Our worry is that we are going to be quite out of the way. Having said that, it is a much bigger site in Strinesdale, meaning we can look after more animals.”

The charity will move into the former Strinesdale visitor centre in Holgate Street, once planning permission has been granted.

Vikki Walsh, animal centre manager, said: “There’s a reservoir next to the Strinesdale site and a lot of countryside so the dogs will respond well to that. Currently, we can take 48 cats and six dogs, but when we move that will go up to 58 cats and around 18 dogs.

“We started off very small and ended up growing and growing at Mumps so having a purpose-built site is a massive benefit of moving.”

Strinesdale renovations aren’t expected to be completed until next January, but the Mumps site will be handed over on August 31. After July 9 Oldham will offer no neutering services at Mumps, but at the end of August the RSPCA will have a reception centre in Retiro Street, ableto take asmall number of cats but no dogs.

The branch needs to raise £500,000 for building costs and is appealing for donations.

Visit www.rspca-buryoldham.org.uk for more information or to donate online.