Traffic plan for Metro

Oldham Town Centre Partnership

METROLINK is definitely coming to Oldham — but local businesses still need convincing.

Partnership chairman Andrew Fletcher said town centre businesses are being consulted by officers but still can’t believe trams are coming to Oldham and the message needs to get across that it’s going to happen.

His comments came as Stuart Walton, from Metrolink, said traffic solutions are being drawn up and also plans to minimise any disruption.

The partnership has also produced a three-year five-point plan to improve the town centre’s appearance to capitalise on the arrival of Metro.


THE PARTNERSHIP has approved an action plan that aims to transform the town centre over the next three years.

It sets out five objectives, including developing the quality and variety of the town centre offer, capitalising on the arrival of Metrolink and improving the appearance, safety and security of the town centre and increasing visitor numbers.

It’s aim is: “The Town Centre will be an economically prosperous place. It will be a destination of choice.”

Oldham Town Centre Partnership.

OLDHAM town centre’s radio system could be going digital to help deter crime.

The current analogue system, which links shops, police and council officers, has been praised as a useful tool for tackling crime and disorder but the infrastructure is old and the reception poor. There were initially 80 users but only 20 businesses still use the radios.

The partnership is considering linking with a digital network provider and renting digital radios that it hopes will reinvigorate their use and help prevent crime while creating better communication. It’s consulting existing and potential radio users to find out what their needs are before taking the proposal further.


RESIDENTS will play their part in attempting to retain Oldham’s North West in Bloom title.

Last year Oldham won the best town centre in the North West and was runner-up in the city category to Chester.

This year the annual gardens and allotments competition has been extended to cover private gardens, who will be judged and handed awards, so the whole borough is involved.

Schools are also involved with Bluecoat School pupils working with parks staff to develop the competition entry.

Oldham will be judged on August 6.

Horticultural services manager Glenn Dale said: “It’s not just about judging day but is a continual process to improve the town centre all year.”

Councillor Jackie Stanton said: “This is not just about flowers in the town centre, it’s a whole host of other things that will enhance everything we are doing. We hope this will go around the borough and make a huge difference.”

She also praised the achievement of the “Bloom and Grow” team for being shortlisted for the national council “Team of the Year” award.


Deadline to spend improvement cash

TIME is running out to spend tens of thousands of pounds handed over by developers for public open space improvements.

£33,000 from the Victory Cinema, Union Street, has to be spent or committed by September 15. Councillor Jackie Stanton said: “It seems an age since we committed this. It just needs to be spent now.”

But she was reassured proposals have been developed to use the cash to improve St Mary’s Churchyard and George Street Gardens and would beat the deadline.

Another £31,000 from the former Community Education Centre, Cardinal Street, plans needs to be spent before next April. More than £63,000 from that development has already been spent on improving Yorkshire Street.