AN AREA of land in Hyde will be sold off as speculation a new McDonald’s restaurant will be placed there grows.
The fast food giant’s proposal to build on the suite of the Viceroy, at Grafton Street, was seemingly shelved.
But after Tameside Council’s executive cabinet voted to include it in its latest list of surplus assets to be sold off, the way appears to have been cleared for it to come in.
Documents state: “Contracts have been exchanged to sell small plots of council land.
“On the advice of Planning and Highways, the scheme would be supported if additional land was acquired that would facilitate road closures.”
Almost 1,500 square metres nearby at Clark Way – described as public open space – will also be disposed of, as well as seven others across the borough.
They include land at 147-151 St Anne’s Road – site of Stepping Stones Pre-School – and land at Pilling Street/Foster Street in Denton.
The site of the former Butchers Arms pub and car park, next to Droylsden Football Club, is also included.
And area at the junction of Union Street, Cowhill Lane and Albemarle Street in Ashton-under-Lyne, around Providence House and close to St James’ Church, will be marketed.
Land standing next to Stalybridge’s former Palace Cinema, at the junction of Market Street and Waterloo Rd, and at Ward Street in Hyde – close to where Hyde and District Amateur Boxing club stands – is also included.
An area south of Hyde Road and to the west of Hawthorns School in Hattersley will be disposed of.
But documents add: “This a proposed site for a forest school adjacent to the new Hawthorns School.”
According to Tameside Council: “Once sites have been declared surplus, officers would look to dispose of these sites.
“In proceeding to dispose of an asset, the council would generally look to advertise the opportunity on the open market to be transparent and fair.
“The council would typically look to obtain best value for any property sold, underpinned with an independent valuation.”