90 year-old Scout group launches bid for former nursery site in Denton

A Scout Group that has been part of Denton for more than 90 years has launched a campaign after learning that Tameside Council plans to dispose of a vacant former community site which volunteers believe could provide a permanent home for local young people.

4th Denton Scout Group was founded in 1935 and now supports more than 100 young people aged 4 to 18 every week through its Squirrels, Beavers, Cubs, Scouts and Explorers sections.

The Group currently meets at the Tameside Wellness Centre but has limited storage and outdoor space. Volunteers have been exploring options for a permanent base that would allow the Group to continue growing and serving local families for generations to come.

One potential option was the former Stepping Stones Nursery site on St Annes Road, Denton. The site has stood vacant for several years and the Group had previously expressed an interest in exploring whether it could be brought back into use for the benefit of the local community.

Volunteers were disappointed to learn that the Council had decided to dispose of the site.

Keith Burdon, Group Lead Volunteer for 4th Denton Scout Group, said:

“We understand that the Council has difficult decisions to make and we’re not asking for special treatment. We’re simply asking for the opportunity to explore whether a vacant community asset could be used to benefit local young people before it is lost.

For more than 90 years, 4th Denton Scouts has helped young people develop confidence, life skills, friendships and a sense of belonging. We believe this site could help secure that future for many years to come.”

The campaign, called “A Place to Belong”, aims to demonstrate local support for retaining the site for community use. The Group believes it could provide a permanent home for Scouting while also creating opportunities for wider community activities.

Despite making several attempts to engage with Tameside Council and discuss the future of the site, volunteers feel there has been little meaningful dialogue. They remain hopeful that a constructive conversation can still take place before any final decisions are made.

The Group also believes the proposal aligns closely with the aims of Tameside Council’s Pride in Place Impact Fund, which supports investment in community spaces and neighbourhood improvements. If the site could be secured for community use, the Group would actively seek grant funding and other sources of investment to support its redevelopment.

Residents, former members, parents and supporters are being encouraged to back the campaign and learn more at 4thdentonscouts.org.uk/go/community. The Group is also asking supporters to contact their local councillors and MP to ask that all options are considered before the site is lost.

A Tameside Council spokesperson said: “We’d like to thank the 4th Denton Scout Group for their interest in the former Stepping Stones site in St Anne's Road in Denton and welcome the opportunity to engage with this further.

“We are arranging to meet with the group to discuss how we can progress their interest. We’ve also offered our sincere apologies for not responding to the group’s initial enquiry, due to an administrative error, which they have kindly accepted alongside our proposal to progress.

“Following the vacation of the site by the previous tenant, we undertook efforts to re-let the building and secure a new occupier. Unfortunately, these efforts did not result in a letting, and the site was declared surplus to operational requirements.

“We have paused marketing the site while we liaise with the 4th Denton Scout Group about their interest.”