Red alert on delays in revival schemes

Oldham’s regeneration plans are in the red — and councillors have been quizzing officers about the number of projects which have ground to a halt.

The red warning signs are on the annual report for the Oldham Beyond implementation plan, showing which schemes are on hold or have hit the buffers.

They include developments around the M60 in Hollinwood, the town centre development partner, work at Salmon Fields, moving Tommyfield market, expanding Oldham College, building the Sixth Form College Science Centre, refurbishing Werneth Park Music room, and Failsworth town centre redevelopment.

Scrutiny Board members heard that the credit crunch and economic slowdown were having an effect.

But they were also told by service directors Paul White and Michelle Carr, from the Regeneration Team, that the department also had a staff shortage, vacant posts, and officers seconded to other jobs.

Now the board has recommended that the council’s efficiency team look again at staffing in regeneration and bring back experienced staff so that the council will be ready for the economic upturn.

Councillors said that because the authority has little control over private projects, it should concentrate on public-sector regeneration projects.

They want area committees to be sent the parts of the implementation plan relating to their patches.