• Search

News

Double swoop on drug farm

OFFICERS raid one of the properties in Higginshaw

Police seize cannabis worth £100,000

DEFIANT drug dealers returned to a Werneth house to set up a new cannabis farm — only nine months after police raided it and cleared out 300 plants.

Drug and neighbourhood officers broke into the end terrace in St John’s Street at 11.30am yesterday and found a man and woman cowering in a shower.

The power supply had been by-passed by crude electric wiring from a fuse box which could have been lethal.

All the windows and

Date published: 06/01/2009

True grit saves roads from morning chaos

IT’S AN ILL WIND . . . Fitton Hill’s St Martin’s Cof E Primary School pupils (pictured from left) Matthew and Jake Hadfield and Rohan Bootham were all smiles despite the freezing temperatures Picture: ANTHONY MILLER

A CONVOY of gritters working overnight in sub-zero temperatures kept Oldham’s major roads free from treacherous black ice.

The eight-strong team began gritting operations late...

Date published: 06/01/2009

Posthumous award for anti-terror cop

AWARD honour . . . Det Con Stephen Oake

A MANCHESTER police officer killed during an anti-terror raid in Crumpsall has been posthumously awarded the Queen’s Gallantry Medal for bravery.

Det Con Stephen Oake was working...

Date published: 06/01/2009

Two DCs in court

Two Greater Manchester Police officers will appear in court in Rochdale after allegations that they failed to investigate an indecent exposure.

Detective Constable Carolyn Hargreaves (43) and Detective Constable Paul Jeffrey Mitchell (40) are charged with committing misconduct in public office following an investigation managed by the Independent Police Complaints...

Date published: 06/01/2009

Council joint director role ignores warning

Merging Oldham’s children’s and adult services will protect the interests of both age groups.

That’s the view of Oldham Council chief executive Charlie Parker — against Government advice.

Six weeks ago, draft guidance from the Department for Children, Schools and Families warned against appointing joint directors “without very strong...

Date published: 06/01/2009

Police to visit and video known criminals

OLDHAM police have launched a fresh crackdown on robbery, burglary and vehicle crime.

The three-month Operation Resolute will see more officers and mounted patrols in hot-spots across the borough such as Alt and Holts.

Known offenders will be visited by plain clothes and uniform officers, some with video cameras.

Footage of them will then be reviewed to see if they...

Date published: 06/01/2009

Fears over council tax hike

FEARS of an inflation-busting council tax rise of up to 5 per cent have been expressed by the Local Government Association (LGA).

It said it would not be surprised by an average increase during 2009 of between three-and-a-half to the cap of 5 per cent.

But Oldham Council leader Howard Sykes is sticking by the pledge to keep any council tax increases to 2 per cent at...

Date published: 06/01/2009

Transforming Tommyfield

New plans to improve market

London has its Petticoat Lane market, Skipton has street stalls and now Oldham is looking at the best of the rest to improve its own offering.

Officers are visiting popular local markets, studying what works best in Oldham and talking to traders to see how Tommyfield outdoor market can be transformed.

Plans to move the stalls on to town...

Date published: 06/01/2009

Demolition marks the end of an era

HOW it was . . . Tubiton House.

ONE of Oldham’s historic industrial buildings has been demolished, changing the town’s landscape for ever.

Tubiton House in Brook Street was home to Medlock Medical —...

Date published: 06/01/2009

The wonder of Woolies, that was

Assistant manager Naomi Bombien locks up the Oldham shop for the final time

The shelves are bare — indeed, the shelves are sold — and the doors locked to mark the end of a retailing era.

IT’S the end of an era for shoppers and staff as...

Date published: 06/01/2009

New year is already blooming

IN bloom . . . Jenny tends her garden

KEEN gardener Jenny Walker is marvelling at amazing early blooms which gave her a New Year rose and flowering narcissi — despite freezing cold weather.

Jenny couldn’t...

Date published: 06/01/2009

New diplomas ‘not a soft option’

NEW work-orientated qualifications introduced in September have had a baptism of fire in the media.

The Government has been accused of creating an academic/vocational divide with its flagship diplomas in subjects from creative and media to society health and development.

Karen Doherty spoke to pioneering Oldham pupils about why they have opted for the qualifications,...

Date published: 06/01/2009

Anger in new tip wrangle

FAIR play... Bill Darbyshire says residents will get a fair hearing

No time to waste over quarry quarrel

WORRIED householders are being urged to kick up a stink over plans to tip waste at a disused quarry close to their homes.

The move comes after a...

Date published: 05/01/2009

90-year-old woman tries to chase handbag thief

A deaf and partially sighted 90-year-old woman tried to chase a robber who stole her handbag.

And Oldham police are now hunting the mugger, who attacked the pensioner in the car park of the Asda supermarket, Chadderton shortly after 2pm on New Year’s day.

The woman was crossing the car park on the Burnley Street side when the robber jumped on her back and spun...

Date published: 05/01/2009

Didn’t he do well?

‘L’ OF a score... Niall Beard celebrates his 100 per cent pass score with instructor Tom Lord Picture: Anthony Miller

Niall pulls off a perfect pass

WHEN Oldham College student Niall Beard went for his driving test little did he know he would pass with a perfect score.

The 17-year-old, who has just...

Date published: 05/01/2009

More News