Oldham poised to burst into colour

Reporter: DAWN MARSDEN
Date online: 08/02/2010

THE streets of Oldham are set to come alive with colour as 800,000 flower bulbs spring into life.

The council’s Street Scene staff have been busy planting bulbs along the main gateways and corridors into the town centre.

And over the next few weeks as the flowers start to bloom the council is asking budding snappers to get out their cameras and document the colourful displays.

The bulb planting forms part of a wider programme of work to improve the main routes and involves tidying up vacant land, sign cleaning and replacing street furniture.

Councillor Mark Alcock, Cabinet Member for Environment and Infrastructure, said: ‘We are a proud Borough and we ask you to help promote Oldham by documenting the flowering of nearly a million bulbs.

“If we could get them all photographed that would be some achievement.

“Street Scene have been busy getting the borough planted up ready for the spring, with most of the key routes in and around Oldham covered, so keep your eyes open when you’re out and about this spring.

“Oldham has the cleanest streets in Greater Manchester for litter, so the bulbs will be shining through.

“Last year we were voted Best Town Centre in the North West in Bloom Awards, hopefully with schemes like this we can again win this year.”

Bulbs have been planted in Rochdale Road in Royton, Huddersfield Road in Denshaw and Manchester Road in Failsworth.

You can send your pictures to street.scene@oldham.gov.uk  and they will appear on the council’s website which is www.oldham.gov.uk.