TWO huge regeneration projects that were hailed as a "game changer for Oldham", but which have failed to materialise, have been slammed by the town’s opposition leader, who claimed taxpayers have been left footing "millions" in bills.

Liberal Democrat leader Howard Sykes demanded answers from the council over the fate of the Prince’s Gate project at Oldham Mumps and the Hotel Future plan for land next to Queen Elizabeth Hall, at a town hall meeting.

He said that a Freedom of Information request had revealed that more than £418,000 had been spent on the Hotel Futures project since 2011, despite it being abandoned in July 2017.

The Prince’s Gate scheme was due to open last year, but collapsed when flagship retailer Marks and Spencer pulled out despite a "£9 million-plus sweetener" to fit out their new store and a promise of rent-free occupancy period for at least six months, Coun Sykes told members.

Under then-leader CLLR Jean Stretton, a new development partner was due to be announced in the summer of 2017, but there had been "not a shout nor a sign" in the 12 months since, he added.

“Prince’s Gate was supposed to deliver 700 jobs and £21 million a year to the local economy,” Cllr Sykes said.

“Instead, it has so far cost the council taxpayers of Oldham many millions in undisclosed abortive costs spent on marketing, planning and regeneration professionals as well as the costs of site assembly and clearance.

“And what do we have to show for it? A very, very, very costly car park. Truly then a gateway fit more for a pauper than a prince.”

Turning to the plan to create a hotel and conference centre in the town centre, originally branded as "Hotel Future", Cllr Skykes described it as becoming "an unwanted old mongrel when once it was classed as a Crufts pedigree".

That project had first imagined a bespoke hotel training establishment, which became a chain hotel, and then the plan itself was dropped when the Queen Elizabeth Hall was scheduled for demolition.

“And now the new leader is holding the promise of refurbishing the Queen Elizabeth Hall, which I’d welcome, and perhaps putting the hotel back on site,” said Cllr Sykes.

“In any case, the joke has clearly been again at the expense of Oldham council taxpayers.”

Cllr Sykes said a Freedom of Information Act response had recently revealed that £418,670 has been spent on this project between 2011 and its abandonment in July 2017.

Council leader Cllr Sean Fielding said the town hall would not accept anything "less than the very best" for the Prince’s Gate site, but did not offer any detail about what form that would take, or whether the council had signed up a new business partner.

He also said that there was a need for a hotel in the town centre, but that it was "highly unlikely" it would take the form first envisioned under the Hotel Future plan.

Cllr Fielding said: “The two sites that councillor Sykes is referring to, and the difficulties that have been experienced over the years in bringing those to development, illustrate why it is imperative that we get something absolutely right and get something we can be confident will be delivered, not just in terms of happening but will deliver the outcomes that we want for the people of Oldham.

“Prince’s Gate is a key gateway into the town centre from some of the most affluent parts of the borough, and I will not accept anything less than the very best for that site.

“And so, among schemes that have been worked up that we can build on and enhance to ensure that we do get a gateway down there, I’m working with officers about what my and my new administration’s ambitions are for that site to ensure that we get the kind of gateway that we know Oldham deserves.”

He added there was a demand for a hotel, especially with the extension of the Metrolink, and proximity to tourist destinations such as Saddleworth and even the Etihad stadium, and it was "important" that demand was met.

“Now will that take the form of Hotel Future as it was first envisioned? I think we know the answer to that is highly unlikely,” Cllr Fielding told members.

“But key to all of this is that our regeneration schemes so far, including the old town hall, have had to be council led.

“We have used our funding to make these things happen because we know if we leave it simply up to the market then these things don’t happen.

“And that same approach is what is going to ensure that we meet that demand for hotel provision and that we secure a key gateway deliverable scheme at Prince’s Gate.”