We’re the blooming best!

CELEBRATION... some of the people involved in Oldham’s “Bloom and Grow” entry including (front) Paul Hughes, chairman of Oldham Business Improvement District and Carol Brown, assistant executive director of environment

Council’s green team scoops national prize

OLDHAM’S council gardeners are bursting with pride after a blooming marvellous win in the 2010 North West in Bloom Awards.

The borough beat cities from all over the region to emerge top for its floral displays, and scoop the coveted Best City Award — the entry is based on the size of population.

Delighted representatives accepted the crown yesterday, when the winners were announced at a ceremony in Southport.

Oldham’s “Bloom and Grow” entry thrashed a host of bigger places including last year’s winner, Chester, to land the top prize.

Oldham was runner-up in the category last year, when it was also named “Best Town Centre.”

The borough’s entry this year had a summer holiday theme, and some of its efforts got a mixed reception. A “bucket and spade” display in Royton was called “unsightly,” a “monstrosity,” while others said it brought a welcome splash of colour to brighten the area.

The judges loved it when they saw it on their route around the borough which started in Oldham’s freshly-groomed town centre, with its eye-catching desert island centrepiece in Market Place.

They then travelled along Rochdale Road through Coldhurst, into Royton, to end at Tandle Hill Country Park.

A delighted Councillor Jackie Stanton, deputy leader of Oldham Council, said: “We boxed above our weight because we have beaten much-larger cities from across the country.

“The displays have been a great source of civic pride and are all part of our drive to make Oldham a cleaner and greener place to live and work.

“I’d like to thank the huge number of people who all played their part in ‘Bloom and Grow’ — from the council’s own Street Scene and parks staff to the numerous local businesses through the Town Centre Partnership and the Business Improvement District, community groups, schools and residents who all pitched in to put Oldham back on the map.”

She promised: “We will not be resting on our laurels as next year we will be taking ‘Bloom and Grow’ out to more places and communities across the borough.”

Glenn Dale, Oldham’s countryside and horticultural services manager, said he was “absolutely delighted” for everyone who had done the spadework.

He said: “It’s a real morale booster, and has put a spring in everyone’s step.”