Graham, Tom and Ian

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Tatton site update

by Lib Dem team on 29 July, 2014

tatton smallLocal readers of our website may remember our twin-track approach to getting the former Tatton Cinema site in Gatley sorted out.

The site’s privately owned and has stood empty for more than a decade, after the cinema closed down.

Dickens, who own the site, have told us for well over a year that they’re trying to come up with a development proposal. However, they’ve missed both our and their deadlines on a number of occasions. If they do bring something forward, that’s fine – we’d want to look at it and progress it normally.

If, though, we continue to see nothing happening, we will continue with the Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) currently in progress.

The Council has written a development brief for the site, which I signed off a couple of months ago. Right now we’re getting a valuation for the site and looking at what could realistically be done there.

We’re also starting to look at how the CPO might work (there are a number of options with different levels of cost and risk so getting that one right is important).

We’ll report back as soon as we have more information to pass on.

   11 Comments

11 Responses

  1. Robert Taggart says:

    Whoever owns it should PULL IT DOWN !
    Awaiting fantasists foaming fulmination !

  2. Lesley says:

    I hope this is only a rumour that is going round — the mosque at heald green want the tatton and they also want the belfry hotel.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

  3. Iain Roberts says:

    Sounds like a rumour to me, Lesley. I’ve not heard it even remotely suggested from the muslim community and neither suggestion makes any sense to me.

  4. Phil Johnson says:

    “People also mention compulsory purchase – it remains a possibility. This is when the Council finds an alternative owner for the site with a plan to develop it and can force the sale to that owner. It’s not an easy option. There are lots of legal issues and get-out clauses around it..”

    This is what you said in 2011. Are the legalities likely to make a CPO prohibitive, and how likely is it that the Council will identify a developer in tune with the vociferous fantasists who opposed the 2009 plans?

  5. Phil Johnson says:

    Lesley.
    Why would you oppose the CMA as a developer?

  6. Iain Roberts says:

    Phil – I don’t think the legalities will make a CPO prohibitive. Many work fine, but some don’t – especially when fought through the courts by the owners (e.g. London Road Fire Station in Manchester).

    I’m confident that we can find a developer with a scheme most people will find acceptable.

  7. Lesley says:

    Phil.
    I would not oppose them as a developer as such but as the rumor goes – 2 more mosques – 100% oppose.

  8. MR S POWELL says:

    pull the building down – what is desperately needed in Gatley is Parking space to help shopkeepers – who are a big part of the lifes blood of Gatley Village – OR altyernatively use the space at the back of the Tatton for parking space – this could be done immediately at a moderate cost

  9. Bruce thwaite says:

    The current fiasco is all down to the Libdem opposition at the time of the development plans and Mark Hunter was one of the main opponents. This is down to your party.

  10. Mr Gray says:

    Phew – those comments!

    I think Mr Powell makes a very valid point. Parking IS a problem in Gatley centre, and Cheadle too, and this must surely have a negative effect on local business – it’s so much easier (if you have a car) to just pop to Sainsbury’s. Cheadle and Gatley shops need council assistance to help them thrive. As we get into our ’60’s and beyond, shopping local becomes more and more what we can only manage. More parking provision would be a good start.

  11. Iain Roberts says:

    More parking in Gatley would be great, but for a private owner of the Tatton to do it, it would need to be commercially viable and I’ve not seen anything to suggest it is.

    It’s an option we’ve looked into in quite some detail in the past.

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