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ALONG the watchtower ...could the fire station face closure?
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A no-brainer
Bethan Dorsett12/ 1/2008
ROCHDALE’S historic fire station could be shut down – all because of a council move to protect the 70-year-old building.
The Maclure Road station is protected by a conservation order, brought into force over fears that the structurally unsound landmark hose tower might have to be bulldozed.
But, this week, fire bosses said the service would have to look for a new base if the conservation order was not scrapped adding that saving lives should be put before conservation – calling the decision a ‘no-brainer’.
Tim Cheshire, Greater Manchester Fire Authority’s estates manager, made a last-ditch appeal to the stunned Rochdale Township committee as they voted to extend the existing conservation zone.
He claimed the council had ignored complaints from the fire service and now the cost of a major revamp of the station had soared from £1M to £2M, with over £150,000 needed to repair the ‘structurally unsound‘ 115ft tower.
“The effect of the conservation area is that it has disabled a £1M refurbishment ,” he told the meeting.
“The fire station will have to close and the authority may also lose the museum that is housed there.”
Mr Cheshire later told the Observer the authority had first complained when the conservation area was created in December 2006.
The fire service was now in talks with the Impact Partnership, an organisation linked to the council, to find suitable land for a new station.
Mr Cheshire stressed after the meeting the new station would be in Rochdale.
In the meantime, 80 staff will continue to operate from a building in need of repair, putting up with leaking roofs, a poor heating system and out-of-date facilities.
“We can’t make any major improvements without asking permission from the council,” he added.
“And we are not in the position to spend £160,000 on the drill tower.
“Would the public prefer us to spend that money on a tower or on life-saving facilities? It’s a no-brainer.”
Mr Cheshire’s announcement came as councillors were voting in plans to extend the conservation area to protect the nearby roundabout and St John’s RC Primary School.
These plans will now be put on hold until the township committee meets in six weeks’ time.
Township chairman, Councillor Elwyn Watkins told Mr Cheshire: “I consider it very inappropriate for us to be handed this information at the eleventh hour.
“I am very suspicious about the facts that have been given to this committee.”
Labour leader Councillor Allen Brett also called for all elected members to be given more guidance on the implications of creating conservation areas, which are used to protect areas of historical interest.
“These conservation areas have been rushed through,” he said.
“We've had three in quick succession, one on Broadhalgh Avenue, one on Mellor Street, which overturned a planning decision and Maclure Road, without anyone understanding the implications of making such an order.
“We seem to be backing ourselves into a corner.”
But planning officer Paul Ambrose told the meeting that the conservation area had won the support of organisations including English Heritage, though the views of the fire service had been included in a report to the committee.
He added that the cost of maintaining a building inside a conservation area should not prevent an order being made.
Planning boss Ken Smith confirmed the council had received a letter of objection from the fire service in December, which was summarised in a report to the committee.
“Therefore members of the Rochdale Township Committee were fully aware of the concerns of the service,” he said.
“The timing of this conservation area was dictated by the imminent demolition of the drill tower, which was consequently saved from demolition.
“The loss of the tower would have forfeited the architectural harmony and landmark strength of the composition of Maclure Road to such an extent that a conservation area would have not been appropriate.”
He said the council had notified all interested parties and various groups had ‘supported its designation for its architectural, landmark and gateway contribution to the town.’
“The designation of this conservation area has been carried out correctly,” he said.
“Finally, if the Greater Manchester Fire Service wishes to discuss this conservation area with officers of the council and their future plans for the site, then a meeting can be arranged.”
Most recent 2 of 9 user comments
15/01/2008 at 22:17
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This shows that the whole town centre consultation is a done deal.
Does that mean that in a few years time someone from the council will try to reduce the Town Hall's maintenance budget and let the building go into a steady decline?
Who knows, in 2050 there might be a headline saying that the old Town Hall clock tower must be demolished?
Stranger things already seem to happen in this town.
16/01/2008 at 10:22