Parliament Square to fuse past and present

CAFE scene . . . the new public square by night

OLD and new will combine when Oldham town centre gets its first high-quality public space in decades with the historical name Parliament Square.

Council chiefs have released new pictures to show how the outdoor area surrounding the flagship regeneration of the old town hall will look.

Artists’ impressions are being used to market the development including six new restaurant units situated alongside an 800-seat, seven-screen Odeon cinema in the refurbished Grade II-listed building.

A glass extension to the side will provide access to the various levels of the cinema and will also become the frontage to the new restaurants.

The five ground-floor and one first-floor restaurant will enjoy external seating areas across what will be known as Parliament Square.

Oldham Council leader Jim McMahon said: “We researched old maps and discovered the street running under what was the TJ Hughes store was called Parliament Street. To mark that link the new square will be called Parliament Square.

“We know how important good public spaces are to having a well-linked, vibrant and successful town centre and this location (formerly Clegg Street) is vital because it straddles both our retail shopping heart and our new Independent Quarter.

“We want this to be a buzzing new environment where families from all walks of life can eat and socialise, enjoy arts and cultural events and attractions like specialist markets. It is something Oldham has lacked for too long.”