THE new Odeon cinema was opened by Labour MP Jim McMahon on 21st October after the £37 million redevelopment project in the Town Hall.
The grade II listed building had been empty since the 1995 and was named in Britain’s top ten most endangered buldings of 2009. It was riddled with dry rot and pigeons before the revamp plans were put in place.
Work to preserve the building will continue with the leisure complex set to feature a Nando’s and Gourmet Burger Kitchen in the following months.
Oldham council leader Jean Stretton stated the council had contributed £26.3m towards the project, but said the investment was a ‘no-brainer.’
She said: “It is a lot of money but the cost of stabilising and securing the building just for it to be disused would have been £16m over the next 25 years.
“It is already having an impact because we have 230 new jobs and 80 per cent of those people live in Oldham and it will contribute more than £5m a year into Oldham’s economy.”
Jim McMahon MP said: When you go inside have a look at the heritage and the history of Oldham but more importantly have a glimpse of the future, never ever accept second best for Oldham again, Oldham deserves the best.”
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