Stuck Hyde Town Hall clock frozen in cost row

A TOWN hall clock that remains frozen in time because of a £12,000 cost, despite millions of pounds of Government money heading into Tameside, has sparked a quarrel.

The building has not seen repairs, even though the office of the town’s MP, Jonathan Reynolds, lies directly beneath the affected element.

However, Tameside Council has informed those hoping for a repair they will not pay the £12,000 asking price for the required part.

That has led to a plea from local councillor Phil Chadwick for a handout, which is paltry compared to the funds heading to nearby Ashton-under-Lyne.

However, those believing Hyde is falling victim to an Ashton-centric authority have been told they are wrong.

Cllr Chadwick told the meeting of Tameside Council on Tuesday, October 3: “At the very heart of the Hyde masterplan is Hyde Town Hall and maximising its uses.

“While I welcome the £40 million that has come from the Government into the borough, it’s seemingly always blooming Ashton that receives redevelopment investment to the detriment of other towns.

“Seen as Ashton is receiving £40 million of government funding, can Hyde kindly be given £12,000 to fix the town hall clock?”

Cllr Chadwick’s complaint was countered by leader of Tameside Council, Cllr Ged Cooney, who admits he gets the same himself.

And he admitted he would like to see the clock ticking, sooner rather than later.

He said: “I’m aware of the clock because Cllr Betty Affleck and others have mentioned it constantly.

“I get it as it’s a monument. We’re looking at it and hopefully when we do in future it will tell the proper time.

“In my own area, Droylsden, they kick off all the time and rightly so. I would. I see, ‘There’s £20 million going to Ashton again.’

“People say, ‘You’re a Droylsden councillor, what’s going there?’ But this money is being directed to us with an instruction.

“I wish £20 million did go to Hyde. I’d like I to go to Hyde, Denton, Droylsden, Audenshaw, Denton and Longdendale, we all would.”