Mystery deepens regarding Innes Centre sale

Date published: 31 March 2008

Last week Rochdale Online reported* that a public question for the Rochdale Township meeting had apparently gone missing.

Township Chairman Councillor Elwyn Watkin's confirmed that any questions relating to the proposed sale of the former Innes Centre were not put before his committee at its last public meeting.

The question raised by Christine Arrowsmith regarded the manner in which the former Innes Centre on Ings Lane was being disposed of by Rochdale Council.

It is understood that this council owned land was earmarked, several years ago, for a new community health centre. However Ms Arrowsmith was shocked to hear, from a council official at the recent Spotland Area Forum, that the land was to be sold off for housing.

It appears that no public consultation has taken place.

Questions also raised involved the speed and manner in which the Innes Centre site was put to auction. The website from Auctioneers Pugh & Co has an addendum stating that the sale of the land remained subject to the Secretary of State's decision to dispose of the playing field. It adds that if consent is not given then the contract with any winning bidder would be rescinded and any cash deposit would be fully refunded.

http://www.pugh-company.co.uk/auctions/lot.x?a=20080228&l=040&v=manchester

Selling playing fields for housing without public consultation or planning permission? Offering the land for sale before all the correct legal measures are in place? Offering full refunds if problems arise? Is this Best Practice in disposing of council assets?

Meanwhile the silence from Rochdale Council is deafening.

In addition there does not appear to have been any public consultation by Rochdale Council about any proposals to dispose of this playing field. The addendum published by auctioneers Pugh & Co states that the Secretary of State delayed a decision until 25 March. This date has now passed without any information from Rochdale Council being made public.

An apology has been emailed to Ms Arrowsmith for her question not being raised at the Township meeting and a promise has been made to get an answer.

However, it is now three working weeks from when the question was first asked and there is still no answer.

It is understood that enquiries are also being made to establish what has happened to the promised provision of new and improved local health facilities for the Spotland area.

When, and by whom, was the decision made not to use the former Innes Centre site as a new PCT funded health centre?


* www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/7907/