Pleased that SAVE Britain’s Heritage has added both Harry’s Bar and the Werneth Park Music Rooms to its national ‘Buildings at Risk’ register.
I raised concerns with SAVE about the threat facing Harry’s Bar because we shouldn’t be wiping away our history in the name of progress. Its inclusion on the register reinforces the value of the interwar building and makes the case that restoration and reuse should always be properly considered before demolition.
That’s why I’ve called for a clear strategy from Oldham Council to protect our historic pubs. Once they’re gone, they’re gone. I’m looking forward to a follow up meeting with council officials on this soon.
I’ve seen what’s possible by working with SAVE before, including on Holy Rosary Church where we’re making progress towards bringing an important historic building back into community use rather than losing it. Still a lot to do here but there is a real energy to save it.
In Oldham we’re proud of our rich heritage and as we continue to regenerate our borough, let’s make sure we protect the buildings that tell our story too.
You can see the register of buildings at risk here https://www.savebritainsheritage.org/buildings-at-risk
Jim McMahon OBE MP 