Stand up and be counted

OLDHAM’S 90,000 homes will begin receiving the latest census questionnaire from today.

And residents are being urged to stand up and be counted to ensure the borough gets its fair share of government funding.

Around 26 million households in England and Wales are being asked to complete the form, which provides an insight into the population every 10 years.

Census statistics enable local authorities to plan for the future in terms of school places, housing, roads, emergency services and other local services.

The amount of government funding that Oldham Council and its partner agencies receive for services over the next decade is based on figures collected in the census.

Oldham Council is counting on residents to submit their details to make sure there is enough funding to enable it to shape the future of the borough.

The national population survey, costing £480 million to carry out, will take place on March 27.

Although residents can complete the questionnaire after this date, they must fill it in with information that is correct on March 27.

Terence Sweeney, 2011 census area manager for Oldham and Rochdale, said: “It is vitally important for people of Oldham to fill out the census.

“Funding for services such as schools, health and roads will be determined from this census, as well as five million statistics produced.”

2011 census director Glen Watson said: “People should look out for the purple and white envelope landing on their doormat in the next two weeks.

“Once people get their form they can, if they prefer, fill it in online by going to www.census.gov.uk”

A series of events have been organised in libraries and community centres across Oldham to help residents fill in their forms and language support will be available at some.

Anyone with questions can visit www.census.gov.uk or call the helpline 0300 0201 101.


Census facts

Census staff will all be carrying census ID badges and have census satchels containing the forms.



Failing to complete and return the questionnaire could mean a fine.

In Oldham, 118 temporary census jobs have been created.

All known residential addresses in Oldham — aroubd 90,000 – will get a census form.



Struggling to fill in your form? Where to get help


March 21 to March 24: 11am-12.30pm, OBA Millenium Centre, Featherstall Road.

March 28: 4.30pm-6.30pm, Crompton Library, Farrow Street East, Shaw.

March 29: 10am-noon and 4.30pm-6.30pm, Oldham Library and Lifelong Learning Centre, Greaves Street.

March 30: 2pm-4pm, Limehurst Library, St. Chads Centre, Lime Green Parade and at Northmoor Library, Chadderton Way, Oldham.

March 31: 4.30pm-6.30pm, Uppermill Library, St Chad’s, High Street, Uppermill

April 1: 2pm-4pm, Fitton Hill Library, Fir Tree Avenue, Fitton Hill. 4pm-8pm, Coppice Community Centre, Werneth Hall Road, Oldham.

April 2: 10am-noon, Failsworth Library, Main Street, Failsworth. 10am-noon, Greenfield Library, Chew Vale, Greenfield

April 3: 11am-3pm, Oldham Library and Lifelong Learning Centre, Greaves Street. 1-3pm, Chadderton Library and Wellbeing Centre, Burnley Street.

April 4: 1pm-3pm, St Chad’s Centre, Lime Green Parade, Limehurst Village. 2pm-4pm,

Lees Library, Thomas Street, Lees. 2pm-4pm, Pakistani Community Centre, Marlborough Street, Glodwick

April 5: 2pm-4pm, Royton Library, Rochdale Road, Royton.