Park Bridge Heritage Centre has long been a place where local families, school groups, history lovers, and walkers come together to explore the rich industrial past of Ashton-under-Lyne. Nestled in a valley surrounded by woodland and rivers, it offered not just exhibitions and education, but a vital connection to nature and heritage. Its closure—and now the proposed sale to private interests, threatens to take all of that away. Local people are being cut off from a place that holds deep meaning, identity, and pride.

This is more than just a building. It’s a piece of our shared story,one that tells of innovation, community, and resilience. It’s where the legacy of women-led industry is preserved, where our children learn about the roots of the region, and where biodiversity thrives in protected areas officially recognised as Sites of Biological Importance. If the Centre is sold, we risk losing all of this to commercial development. Once it’s gone, it’s gone for good.

We must act now, before it’s too late. The sale is looming, and once in private hands, the chance to save and restore the Centre for public use will vanish. With the right support, we can bring the Heritage Centre back to life as a thriving community space, open to all and preserved for generations to come. Let’s not let history be sold off for profit. Let’s protect Park Bridge—because it belongs to us all.