Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said all options should be considered after a council revealed plans to sell off a disused heritage centre and café.
Tameside Council wants to put Park Bridge Heritage Centre up for sale but the decision has sparked uproar amongst Park Bridge Residents’ Action Group and Fund (PBRAGF), which labelled the move “a disgraceful act of betrayal”.
Rayner, who is the MP for Ashton-under-Lyne, said the site was “of significant historical importance” and it was imperative that all options were considered.
A spokesperson for Tameside Council said it valued the location’s heritage and wanted to work with all stakeholders in bringing the site back into use.
Town hall bosses officially listed the heritage centre as “surplus to requirements” back in October 2024, but made the decision to sell it off at their latest meeting.
The action group said the heritage centre could provide much-needed local jobs, cultural enrichment, access to services and a boost to the local economy.
A spokesperson for the PBRAGF said: “Tameside Council’s decision to relinquish responsibility for this building undermines the area’s history and the potential value it holds as a community asset for future generations.
“Speaking to residents, many of them young families, the area is crying out for a space like the heritage centre to host local groups, such as Scouts and Brownies, mums and tots, and yoga classes.”
The action group is urging the council to provide funding and collaborate with local residents and groups to develop a proper plan to restore the site for community use.
An online petition has more than 500 signatures.
Ms Rayner said she had asked the council for an update regarding the decision to sell.
“I have also asked if any other options, such as a youth offer, were considered and what consultation with local groups and residents was undertaken,” she added.
A spokesperson for Tameside Council said “We are proposing to market the Park Bridge Centre to understand market interest and see if we can identify an appropriate purchaser and use for the property that’s complementary to the location,” the spokesperson added.
