Public urged to join campaign to save Castle Armoury

Bury’s civic leaders are asking the public to join them in appealing to the Government to save the town’s historic Castle Armoury.

Leaders of all political parties in Bury are writing to the Secretary of State for Defence asking him to provide the funding necessary to repair and maintain the iconic building, which closed suddenly in July for safety reasons.

Now residents are being invited to sign the letter too, by the deadline of 5 September - go to the One Community website here: Castle Armoury - Letter to MoD | One Community (onecommunitybury.co.uk). The letter will then be sent to the Secretary of State.

The letter in full:

“Dear Secretary of State for Defence,

“We are writing to urge the Ministry of Defence to fulfil its leaseholder obligations for the maintenance and repair of Castle armoury in Bury, which has been closed with very short notice on safety grounds.

“Castle Armoury is an important part of the current identity and history of Bury. It is an iconic building in the centre of a town with a proud military heritage which is owned by the Bury Castle Armoury Trust and leased to NW RFCA.

“Through this formal agreement the armoury is home to Bury Fusiliers, known as W Company 5th Battalion of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, as well as a centre for 207 Field Hospital Royal Army Medical Corp. The armoury is also home to The Lancashire Royal Regiment of Fusiliers volunteer Band, the base for our Army cadets, RAF cadets, a community Karate group, and one of the borough’s Armed Forces veterans breakfast clubs.

“Under the terms of the lease NW RFCA and, in turn, the Ministry of Defence assume full responsibility for repairs and maintenance. Earlier this month all activity at Castle Armoury was, however, suspended due to the building being unsafe.

“At its meeting on 20th July 2022 Bury Council passed an emergency motion unanimously to urge the Ministry of Defence to provide the necessary funds to make Castle Armoury safe again and to modernise it, in accordance with the leaseholder agreement

“The Council are working with its voluntary and community sector, the Armed Forces Champion and the Chair of Bury Castle Armoury Trust to look at what external funding may be available. This does not however excuse the Ministry of Defence from its obligations in the lease of full responsibility for repairs and maintenance.

“We look forward to a reply confirming that the monies will be provided as quickly as possible so that it can be re-opened at the heart of the community which it serves.”

Signed by:

Cllr Eamonn O’Brien (leader of Bury Council)

Cllr Richard Gold (cabinet member for communities, and Bury’s armed forces lead)

Cllr Russell Bernstein (leader of Bury Conservatives)

Cllr Mike Smith (leader of Radcliffe First)

James Daly (MP for Bury North)

Christian Wakeford (MP for Bury South)

ENDS

Press release issued: 23 August 2022.