Prime Minister questioned on Rochdale Town Hall renovation

Rochdale Town Hall

The Prime Minister was questioned on the renovation of Rochdale Town Hall in the House of Commons this week, following a lottery grant application being turned down.

Addressing the Prime Minister, Rochdale MP Simon Danczuk read his question: “Grade one listed Rochdale Town Hall is described as a rare, picturesque beauty. A bid to regenerate this iconic building was rejected by the Heritage Lottery Fund in April.

“Of the five projects awarded grants, all five are based in the south of England. Would the Prime Minister consider supporting the renovation of this fantastic municipal building?”

The Prime Minister responded: “The honourable gentleman is right it is a beautiful building and it is a historic town that he represents.

“In terms of the Heritage Lottery Fund I think he’s being a little unfair on focusing just on those last five projects because if he looks more broadly, he’ll find in an instance that the Blackpool Museum received a grant of over £13m.

“It is, I believe, fairly balanced across the country, but I will look further and perhaps write to him about the general point and the specific issue of his Town Hall.”

Chairwoman of Friends of Rochdale Town Hall, Councillor Irene Davidson, said: “The friends of Rochdale Town Hall appreciate Simon Danczuk bringing up the matter of lottery funding, and to bring up our wonderful building at Prime Minister’s Question Time.

“It came as a nice surprise when Rochdale Online informed us of the question.

“As a group we were disappointed at the time, not just for us but for the council officers who had worked so hard to put the bid together. The good news is that we can try again in the near future and hopefully we succeed.”