Projects at MoorEnd Development Trust

Hare Hill House

We have become aware that the Council is seeking to develop a multi service centre in Littleborough and as a result would vacate Hare Hill House.

Indeed we understand that the Pennines Councillors have already received a report in the past which included the House on a list of buildings to be declared surplus to requirements of Rochdale M.B.C. 

The Trust, who have experience of taking on and running community facilities, such as Butterworth Hall, decided that it was more than appropriate to begin the process of examining the feasibility, viability and practicality of looking at Hare Hill House as a community asset and/or community anchor/facility. To this end we have secured some support from GMCVO and established a small working group who have now met on several occasions.

The Group have decided that the first step is to undertake a structural survey and we have obtained grant to do this. Assuming that the building is structurally sound we will progress with our exploration.

The next stage is to determine whether there is an appetite within the community to secure the building for community and associated uses. We are therefore proposing to undertake an audit of users of the House and Park and others who are presently non-users. In undertaking this audit we will utilise the various events and activities that take place during the summer months, the Proms in the Park, the Rushbearing, Canal and Arts Festivals.

We will work to engage non-users using social media websites such as Facebook, My Space and YouTube. Our aim is to establish the level of interest in developing proposals for a new community base / use for the House.  The Pennine Councillors are aware of our intentions and have given tacit approval.  We must stress at this stage we have no definite proposals for the building, we have a range of ideas and I am sure you could add to those ideas as could the wider community.
 
If you have any ideas or wish to comment on the proposals or want more information please click here and you will be directed to a form on the Friends of Hare Hill House website.

Butterworth Hall Milnrow

This is the first project undertaken by the Trust. MoorEnd negotiated with Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council for the lease of the building and for the Council to provide money for, and to organise and manage the refurbishment of the neglected structure. The work was spread over two years, with the bulk of the money being spent in 2004 on the replacement of rotten windows and door, outdated electrical wiring, the repair of the leaking roof and refurbishment of the heating system.

In 2006 at the end of March into April, Butterworth Hall was closed to enable R.M.B.C. to complete the renovation works. This comprised the renewal of the floor covering in the hall, main corridor and disabled toilets and the painting of the main corridor and kitchen.
 
One of the management committee members donated a large sum of money which enabled the main hall to be repainted at the same time.

In April the management committee were informed that they had been successful in their Awards For All bid and received £5000. This has been used to convert the existing kitchen area into a smaller kitchen and an office during August and September. The kitchen will be renewed at the same time. The balance of the award will be spent on new furniture to enable the current lounge area to be converted into a small metting and presentation room.

There are several vacant time slots available for booking. People wishing to book space at the hall should contact Pauline Ashton 0n 647409 to check availability.

Littleborough Station

The Friends of Littleborough Station and MoorEnd are working with Northern Rail, Network Rail and Rochdale M.B.C. to provide a ramp as well as the existing stairways, to give access to people with disabilities and to improve the passenger facilities on the station by providing weatherproof shelters, instead of the type pictured here on the right.

Several groups interested in improving the historically important Station met on the 2nd of October 2006 to form a steering group to ensure we move forward in step. The other groups included Littleborough Historical and Archaeological Society and the Littleborough Civic Trust. Littleborough in Bloom was unable to be represented but we hope they will be able to help with advice if not practical help.

Bernard Pratt chaired the meeting and will represent our joint aims in negotiations with the rail industry. Access ramps are vital to the Littleborough Historical & Archaeological Society's aim of restoring the Victorian ticket office as part of their historical exhibition and archive space. All agreed with the Civic Trust’s concern that any ramps—which may be constructed within the next three years—are in keeping with the station buildings and existing structures.

Bernard met representatives of Network Rail Northern and Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive on 19th of October to find common ground and press the urgency of the work.
 
Sue Thornton, representing MoorEnd Trust, promised help in finding Heritage Lottery funding. It was gratifying to find that the ideas and suggested solutions to the problems at the Station, put forward by the Historical Society, so nearly matched our own. We look forward to a beneficial partnership.
 
The Gateway to Watergrove

The former Wardle Urban District at the present time boasts two football pitches, two tennis courts, a public bowling green and a private bowling green to serve a population of around 8000 people. This is quite unsatisfactory and reflects a similar situation being experienced throughout RMB, in that there is a severe shortage of playing pitches.

Land at the southern end of Wardle Road has for many years been left as a wilderness and dumping ground for rubbish. Around 1946/47 when the Ashbrook Hey Estate was still being built, with the aid of German and Italian prisoners of war, the local Councillors of the Urban District had a vision of culverting Ashbrook, from what was Sharples' Dye Works down to the old Egerton Club. Once culverted, the whole of the valley would be used as Wardle's land fill tip which when completed would be turned into playing pitches.

In the event culverting the stream was ruled out but the eastern side of the valley was used as land fill and subsequently turned into a children's play ground and a small cricket ground. The western side of the river, the steep hillside to the north as well as more ground in the North East were left to their own devices and have remained in this state for about 60 years.

All the land described previously is owned by RMBC together with the two football pitches, played upon by Wardle FC and a green corridor of grazing land stretching from Wardle Road to the High School grounds on Birch Road.

It would seem iniquitous to destroy that green corridor; by creating a Country Park using the stream as a focal point and connecting to the southern tract of land by means of footpaths and cycle tracks the whole of a relatively unused area can become a pleasant oasis.

A Pennines Festival

MoorEnd Development Trust is interested in your views on the merits of a Pennines Festival.

Throughout the Pennines Township area we have many excellent events and activities that take place such as the Rushbearing Festival in Littleborough, the Milnrow Carnival, Hollingworth Lake Fair, Over the Edge Bike Ride, and many, many more. These provide opportunities for residents and visitors to experience the unique qualities of our area. Could all these wonderful events and activities, together with new ones contribute to promoting a more positive image, provide both residents and visitors with new opportunities to participate in our rich cultural, social, artistic, musical and sporting heritage? This is one of a number of questions we want to explore over the coming months. 

We have secured a small budget from an organisation called UnLtd; a charity which supports social entrepreneurs, to explore and develop the idea of a Pennines Festival. At present I have a range of ideas ranging from the production of a calendar that provides details of all the events and activities that take place within the Pennines Township, to a social enterprise that would regularly organise events and activities for the benefit of both residents and encourage visitors to the area. 

We are now looking for your views, the views of those who either already organise events or those that have an idea for a new activity. We will be holding a series of meetings in the villages, inviting people to come and share ideas, watch out for local publicity or if you want to go on my mailing list please do not hesitate to contact: Nick Andrews, Director, MoorEnd Development Trust Tel: 01706 379252.
 
Should MoorEnd Development Trust help promote these activities? Are there activities or events currently not taking place that you would want to see happen in our area? Could MoorEnd Development Trust help you or your organisation put on such an activity or event? Should the Pennines have its very own dedicated festival that would compliment the many existing activities and events? We would like to hear your views, so why not get in touch. By phone, e-mail or better still by joining us. Contact us to find out more about our projects

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Opening cermony of refurbished Butterworth Hall




























Ugh!  Ugly and about as practical as an inside-out umbrella



Plaque commemorating the Station opening