Doubts have been raised about Council's ownership of Hare Hill House in Littleborough

Doubts have been raised about Rochdale Borough Council's ownership of Hare Hill House in Hare Hill Park, Littleborough.

The Council believes it owns the house, it having been purchased in 1901 by Littleborough Urban District Council from the Newall family.

However, a Littleborough resident says she has copies of the deeds which show the house and the grounds were "betrothed to the people of Littleborough and not bought by the Unitary District Council but rented to them".

Liesl Beckles added: "There is a clause in the deeds stating that if rent arrears occurred then the house and gardens would be taken back by the family. From my sources I have been told that RMBC did have rent arrears therefore it is not their property to sell but belongs to the people of Littleborough who were given it in the first place or the family who owned it."

A spokesperson for Rochdale Borough Council said: "Hare Hill House is owned by the council. It was purchased in 1901 by Littleborough Urban District Council from the Newall family."

The future of Hare Hill House is currently in the balance and the MoorEnd Development Trust has been working to improve the House into a state where it can be used by the community. The Trust successfully secured a six month license to occupy the house from Rochdale Council. The council has indicated that providing the Trust can demonstrate that it has a viable and robust business plan and is able to show where the money for the repair and refurbishment will come from, that they will consider an asset transfer to the Trust at the end of the six month period.