TAMESIDE Council is to set to place part of country park’s former centre it owns on the market.
And if there Is sufficient interest, the facility at Park Bridge in Ashton-under-Lyne will be auctioned off.
The authority owns most of the building and declared it as surplus in October.
Now a meeting of its executive cabinet on Wednesday, July 30, will be asked to place it on the market, first by way of private treaty – the same as almost all house purchases.
Documents explain: “The property comprises a vacant restored 18th century stables of the former Park Bridge ironworks, which has later been converted comprising stables, a museum, kitchen, small office and storage rooms.
“The property has a cobbled courtyard in the centre with space for circa five cars.
“There is a residential apartment to part of the ground floor and the first floor of one section of the building (on the southeastern elevation) that is not owned by the Tameside Council and is occupied.
“The balance of the property, owned by the authority is vacant.”
Tameside Council’s executive cabinet will be asked to put the Park Bridge property through ‘Route To Market.’
That is described as helping ‘to deliver a solution in respect to the vacant land and property and generate a one-off capital receipt for the authority.’
And it will be told: “It is recommended that the authority instruct specialist agents to place the property on the open market and invites bids by private treaty.
“If there is significant interest in the property, we seek authority to close bids through an auction process.
“This is recommended. Experience shows that a sale can be concluded efficiently and quickly by way of an auction contract. “
If it decides private treaty is not the best way to go, the property will be put directly into auction.