A ROW over spending at Spindles Town Square Shopping Centre has broken out with concerns over the amount of money being forked out for future development.

Leader of the borough’s Liberal Democrats, Cllr Howard Sykes, has written to the council’s director of economy, Emma Barton, to say Oldham “already has a dedicated space for new creative industries and an unused food court, in Create Oldham and the Egyptian Room respectively”.

Cllr Sykes fears the local authority will be spending money on duplicating the same facilities in Spindles rather than “using what Oldham already has better”.

But the council said the creative hub in Spindles would not be a duplication, but a relocation which Creative Oldham may be part of.

Cllr Sykes said: “This is like seeing double. Oldham’s Labour council spent at least £1.5m to refurbish an old night club on Yorkshire Street into Hack Oldham/Wayra, now Create Oldham.

“This was established to be a space from which new creative businesses could work but it is underutilised for this purpose. So why are we not referring new businesses there rather than spending more of the public’s hard-earned money on creating a second hub?”

He added: “Why do we need another food court when a fortune has been spent on refurbishing and repurposing the Egyptian Room in the old town hall development? This has never been let, despite the huge expenditure.”

Cllr Sykes believes the council should focus on getting the Egyptian Room up and running before considering the Spindles food centre plans.

Royton North Conservative Cllr Dave Arnott added: “The Conservatives have raised our concerns over the Spindles plan, especially with regard to the prospect of spiralling development costs and commercial viability. We recently presented a motion in council calling for greater scrutiny and further public engagement. It is a further worry current plans appear to duplicate facilities that already exist.”

The council has said investment to move Tommyfield Market traders into Spindles will “complement the Egyptian Room and provide a diverse food drink offer”.

Oldham Council leader, Cllr Arooj Shah, said: “The redevelopment of Spindles Town Square Shopping Centre will create a thriving multi-purpose centre for the community. Discussions are well underway to co-locate creative business support within the Spindles, therefore this is not duplication, it is relocation.

“The redevelopment plans include the opportunity to establish a ‘one-stop shop’ for entrepreneurs and new business start-ups, where they can receive business advice, make use of co-working space and be supported to grow. We’re working closely with Create Oldham following a challenging 18 months for them during the lockdown periods.

“All options are being considered including incorporating the organisation into this new space within Spindles.

“Creative business support in the town centre is a key part of our economic recovery plans and this relocation would also free up their existing Yorkshire Street base – which has commercial interest, building on the investment interest in the town centre.

“The Egyptian Room continues to make progress despite challenges over lockdown periods and we are very excited to see this complete as it will be a destination venue, similar to Mackie Mayor.

“Tommyfield Market traders include food retailers and therefore their location within the redevelopment of the Spindles will complement the Egyptian Room and provide a diverse food and drink offer, which is what our community have asked for during recent consultation feedback.

“All of these projects have received external funding support thanks to Oldham Council’s successful bids to the Towns Fund (£24.4m) and the Future High Street Fund (£10.75m). To ensure Oldham town centre has a bright future we need to ensure it offers what people tell us they want – this includes modern workspace, a vibrant evening and leisure offer and family-friendly experiences.”