It’s good here Gordon

TELLING IT LIKE IT IS . . . Oldham MP Phil Woolas showed Prime Minister Gordon Brown the Chronicle’s Oldham Works supplement

Prime Minister learns how we’re bucking the trend to make sure Oldham Works

PRIME Minister Gordon Brown was told about all that is good in Oldham yesterday — as the Chronicle highlights how the town is coming through the recession.

Oldham East and Saddleworth MP Phil Woolas, pictured with the prime minister, spoke for 15 minutes on how, despite times being tough, Oldhamers can and will work together to see it through.

With many people feeling the pinch there was no better time to remind people why Oldham Works.

Mr Woolas said: “Gordon was particularly interested in the manufacturing companies that are in Oldham Works. I also spoke to him about the Applied Language Solutions (the translation business started by Greenfield man Gavin Wheeldon in his back bedroom three years ago, now named as Britain’s top entrepreneur) and our plans for a new science centre.

“I was especially grateful, given that the Prime Minister works 18 hours a day, that he had time for me to talk to him and share with him examples of how Oldham is working well.”

Oldham has bucked the national trend on many occasions during the past year, including recording a fall in the number of people claiming job seekers’ allowance — despite national levels reaching a 10-year high.

Launching Oldham Works, Chronicle Editor Jim Williams told readers: “Oldham is in a period of transformation that will take its time, slowed by factors well outside our control, but transformation and improvement have not ground to a standstill.

“Far from it.”

And he added: “In every major field — health, education housing, transport, employment — Oldham is moving forward, improving or aiming to improve the lives of local people.”

In the 36-page supplement, free in last night’s Evening Chronicle, Oldham West and Royton MP Michael Meacher also highlighted improvements in health services, investment in new health centres, the new Radclyffe and Failsworth schools, new buildings for arts and leisure, and Decent Homes improvements for council housing.

He added: “Oldham’s on its way as a great success story and a model for the rest of the country.”