Controversial St Pauls Church plans receive 150 objections

St Pauls Methodist Church fell into disrepair while under the ownership of the Methodist Church and was later partially demolished for safety reasons after it began to collapse.

Oldham Council has confirmed there is an ongoing investigation into the current owners over work allegedly done on the site without permission.

As it is a Grade-II listed building there is strict legislation in place meaning that the new owners must seek permission before beginning a number of works planned.

ALSO READ: 'I've lost everything' - Care leaver devastated as fire kills cat and destroys flat

Part of the building is already being used for worship by a local mosque with a planning application submitted on behalf of the new owners outlining plans to build a new gable, partially rebuild some of the building and restore graves and open a peace garden as part of a mosque and community centre.

They also show the addition of parking spaces, with up to 24 being planned at the site upon completion.

Part of the roof collapsed at St Paul's Methodist Church in Shaw in 2019. Picture Paul Marsy

But residents have raised concerns primarily over parking with currently 152 objections uploaded onto Oldham Council's planning website.

A woman who has created a campaign group against the plans and who wishes to remain anonymous said: "When the site was used before, as a church, there wasn't the amount of cars they are now. 

"And with them saying they can have up to 300-500 people- 24 parking spaces are not going to fill that criteria. 

(Image: Google)

"There was never an issue when the mosque was on Refuge Street as sometimes visitors parked at the nearby Aldi, and not many people visited there unless at prayer time.

"But it's become an issue now they've moved."

She was keen to stress that the campaign group does not have any issue with the intended use of the building being a mosque, but that parking is their main concern.

ALSO READ: Physician Associate concerns after death at Royal Oldham

She recently went up to the site during prayer time to get a view of the extent of the parking issue. 

She shared images from her visit which show a large number of cars parked along streets surrounding areas, including Chapel Street, Provident Street and Co-operative Street.

Images Dawn captured when she visited the site (Image: Dawn)

One person wrote in their objection: "There is no space to accommodate the proposals of the alleged 300+ members visiting the mosque on a Friday, where parking is already limited, and would do nothing but adversely impact the local householders, community and businesses of Shaw."

Another objection, also concerned about the parking reads: "I live close by, like many others I have my concerns around increased traffic at an already busy junction in an area that struggles for parking as it is.

ALSO READ: 'Dreams shattered' for Oldham's young elite swimmers as training club 'axed'

"The site isn't big enough to accommodate appropriate parking.

"The overflow of cars will negatively impact those like myself living close by having to negotiate even more parking problems and cause longer wait times at the junction for all those who live and commute through the area."

There had been previous objections over concerns the developer was intending to building on top of graves at the site but speaking to The Oldham Times they said that this was not their plan and that no graves will be removed. 

Don Hobson, agent of the owners, said that they hope instead to restore the graves and open a peace garden. 

The owners are also currently facing investigation for work done on the site without permission.

Oldham Council confirmed this with Cllr Elaine Taylor, Cabinet member for decent homes, saying: "The Council is committed to protecting all our listed buildings and this is the case at St Pauls. 

"There is an ongoing case in relation to unauthorised works to the building, but it is not appropriate for the Council to comment further on that case."

Design by Limited has been approached for comment.