DESOLATION ROW!!

Once more our intrepid hackers have journeyed into dark uncharted waters to bring you the true, the unexpurgated, (what a lovely word!), witterings of a simpleton!  Read our Bleeders Log where Little Jimmy Pudden-face lets it all hang out!

I’VE GOT mixed feelings about the demolition of the Park Road Warehouse last weekend.On the one hand it will stop all the moaning twats from the do-gooder conversationalists contortionists constipationers oh you know,  them as want to keep every crap old building in the town, on the other hand it increases our car-park stock immeasureably.

 

As a keen amateur local historian, I’m more inclined than most to preserve our heritage. But as a lying bastard I incline more toward demolishing anything that stinks of heritage, in favour of erecting buildings I can get my name on  we can be proud of. I recognise that years of decline have taken their toll and with the best will in the world some buildings are beyond rescue. Some of you have said the same is true of my  your council. What I can tell those folks is that we are trying, (ed. you're right there twatty, very trying!)

I accept that - people like me,  might look at our older buildings and see history – No you scrote, people don't like you and anyone looking  for  at our two remaining  'older buildings' are merely paying their last respects. For those living side by side with them they can be symbols of decline.Don't worry though folks these will shortly be replaced with bright, fresh, new symbols.

The fact that the Borough  was once home to more than 360 mills, yet has such a small number today, shows  that, whilst some have been taken over by local captains of industry  running  modern successful businesses such as, say, bespoke fitted kitchen manufacturers and suppliers others merely fell over and once we had cleared the sights  sites and the asphalt was laid, the Pay & Display industry moved in with it's wardens.

As the former cotton spinning capital of the world we have a large legacy   one or two of these mill and warehouse buildings. As the leader of the bull-shitting capital of the world I have to admit I've lost track of both of them. Oh, yeah here's the Hartford mill which I  rescued from oblivion and single handed restored to it's former glory, (no I didn't claim for it on allowances, I did it on my day off.) Look at the exquisite workmanship, note the authentic 'smoke' stain from generations of mill workers standing outside having a ciggy after their lunch break. Of course these ancient buildings were erected before the invention of glass. This gives the building an airy, open quality.

The days of a textile magnate building a mill and nestling homes around it to keep an eye on his workforce are long gone. As are all the mills and most of the houses. We saw to that with the HMR programmes where we demolished hundreds of houses or boarded up those we couldn't afford to demolish. In their place we built thousands  hundreds  dozens  one or two new modern homes with all mod cons that people displaced under HMR clamoured for.

People  no longer work en masse in mills at the end of their streets and they also don’t crave to live in an industrialised setting. (ed. They don't work anywhere you muppet! There is no work. There are no industrialised settings because there is NO industry thanks to you and succession of indolent self servers on what we laughingly call 'The Council.'

There are some mills in the Borough, like Earl Mill and Anchor Mill, and Albert Street near my own home where historically we’ve been able to find a new use for them. Investment in some , such as the Belgrave Mill, turned out more costly than we had envisaged.  But that doesn’t mean that every Miller mill here should – or can – be saved. The bastard!!

Even with the loss of Park Road Warehouse we still have the old Town Hall, former Library, Foxdenton Hall, Royton Town Hall,  Royton Assembly Hall, Mumps Bridge, Broadway Library, Werneth Fire Station, Chadderton Baths, Mumps Station, amongst those which require priority investment to ensure they have a long term future.

Failsworth Town Hall has shown what can be achieved when I'm the Supreme Being  who decides priorities, holds the purse strings and live in Failsworth.  We now need to move to ensure we have flagship buildings which show Oldham’s heritage in the best possible light.(ed. The only light which would improve most of the buildings in Oldham, is firelight!)

On a totally unrelated topic I must say I was delighted to be amongst more than 6,000 locals who travelled to Anfield on Friday night to see Latics take on Liverpool in the FA Cup.(ed. Well you paid enough to get a ticket!)

I will preface my remarks here by pointing out that I’m not claiming to be a diehard supporter. In fact, as anyone who knows me will confirm, my knowledge of football would take about ten seconds to explain.(ed. about nine seconds more than your knowledge of 'Heritage')

It was just a fantastic occasion and the main thing I will remember about it was the amazing atmosphere whipped up by Oldham fans. (ed. What a fucking dragging up the philistine must have had. All them years of studying the collected works of Bliar and the Scottish, one-eyed, snot-gobbler, with bed-time stories from the Lie-bour party bumper book of fun and fiddles. Explains a lot I suppose.)

This was the first time I’ve seen local people shouting in such voice and numbers with obvious pride about where they come from – and it was heart-warming to see and hear “We love you Oldham” being sung out.(ed. By the 'Blind Boys of Alabama' presumably!)

Friday night showed me two things…

Firstly, Anfield demonstrated how vital a good stadium and infrastructure is to helping a club flourish and maximise its revenue streams (ed. You had to go to Liverpool to learn that?  Gerraway! you simple twat.All you need is a midden with a couple of sheds on one or more sides and a pie stand. Simples!)

Thanks for being talked at,

Little Jimmy

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