© 2012 Norden Community Trust Registered Charity No.1122737 Registered Company No. 6403220
In July 2007 the Norden Community Trust was set up by a group of local people with the aim of preserving the former Norden library building for the community. The aim was not only to preserve the building but to provide a facility which would benefit the community and also be sustainable for many years.
Following detailed and lengthy negotiations, Norden Community Trust was successful in purchasing a 125 year lease for the building from Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council on the 3rd April 2009. The purchase was made possible by a generous donation from a Norden businessman.
Prior to starting the refurbishment, Norden Community Trust’s plan was to secure a core tenant for either the ground or first floor rooms. The core tenant would provide an income which would contribute to the running costs of the building and thus help make the project sustainable. Ideally the core tenant would provide facilities which would benefit Norden. To avoid abortive work and costs, the building’s refurbishment was scheduled to start after a tenant had been found and the rooms they wished to lease were known.
Trustees of the Norden Old Library were approached by Ashworth Street and Edenfield Road surgeries following the announcement that the building had been purchased by the Community Trust. Both surgeries wanted to increase their training capacity to continue to train junior doctors wishing to become GPs, whilst also providing additional services for their patients both in Norden and at their existing surgeries, greatly improving access to doctors. The Trust felt a surgery in the building would greatly benefit Norden and would complement the Trust’s charitable objects. Both medical practices jointly applied for and obtained funding for the opening of a branch surgery in Norden . This funding would allow them to convert the first floor of Norden Old Library into four consulting rooms. Over a number of months, plans were drawn up and planning permission obtained, which then allowed a lease to be agreed for the first floor. Work began on the first floor refurbishment immediately after the lease was signed and the surgery opened its doors to their first patients on Monday 2nd August 2010.
With work by the doctor’s contractor complete, it was now safe for Norden Community Trust to start work on the ground floor. Work couldn’t start before this because of the type of work being carried by the doctor’s contractor on part of the ground floor, which included wheelchair access to the building. After only three months of hard work by the Trust’s contractors and a small group of volunteers, Norden Old Library is on schedule to open in November 2010.
In line with our charitable objects, talks are ongoing with various groups over the use of the ground floor rooms, but rooms are available for other people in the community to rent at a small charge. Because we are a non profit making organisation, room charges will be set to cover our overheads only i.e. building insurance, heating, lighting, maintenance etc. Please email NordenOldLibrary@googlemail.com for details.
A single room is suitable for a group size of approximately 20 people or if both rooms are used (separated by a corridor) approximately 40 people can be accommodated. Each of the two rooms has a different layout and are suitable for various group activities i.e. chill out room, card making, meetings etc.
Following detailed and lengthy negotiations, Norden Community Trust was successful in purchasing a 125 year lease for the building from Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council on the 3rd April 2009. The purchase was made possible by a generous donation from a Norden businessman.
Prior to starting the refurbishment, Norden Community Trust’s plan was to secure a core tenant for either the ground or first floor rooms. The core tenant would provide an income which would contribute to the running costs of the building and thus help make the project sustainable. Ideally the core tenant would provide facilities which would benefit Norden. To avoid abortive work and costs, the building’s refurbishment was scheduled to start after a tenant had been found and the rooms they wished to lease were known.
Trustees of the Norden Old Library were approached by Ashworth Street and Edenfield Road surgeries following the announcement that the building had been purchased by the Community Trust. Both surgeries wanted to increase their training capacity to continue to train junior doctors wishing to become GPs, whilst also providing additional services for their patients both in Norden and at their existing surgeries, greatly improving access to doctors. The Trust felt a surgery in the building would greatly benefit Norden and would complement the Trust’s charitable objects. Both medical practices jointly applied for and obtained funding for the opening of a branch surgery in Norden . This funding would allow them to convert the first floor of Norden Old Library into four consulting rooms. Over a number of months, plans were drawn up and planning permission obtained, which then allowed a lease to be agreed for the first floor. Work began on the first floor refurbishment immediately after the lease was signed and the surgery opened its doors to their first patients on Monday 2nd August 2010.
With work by the doctor’s contractor complete, it was now safe for Norden Community Trust to start work on the ground floor. Work couldn’t start before this because of the type of work being carried by the doctor’s contractor on part of the ground floor, which included wheelchair access to the building. After only three months of hard work by the Trust’s contractors and a small group of volunteers, Norden Old Library is on schedule to open in November 2010.
In line with our charitable objects, talks are ongoing with various groups over the use of the ground floor rooms, but rooms are available for other people in the community to rent at a small charge. Because we are a non profit making organisation, room charges will be set to cover our overheads only i.e. building insurance, heating, lighting, maintenance etc. Please email NordenOldLibrary@googlemail.com for details.
A single room is suitable for a group size of approximately 20 people or if both rooms are used (separated by a corridor) approximately 40 people can be accommodated. Each of the two rooms has a different layout and are suitable for various group activities i.e. chill out room, card making, meetings etc.
On Schedule to Open in Nov 2010