Open for business

Town centre manager Sara Hewitt

Karen Doherty at Oldham Town Centre Partnership meeting

OLDHAM town centre is not boarded up: we’re open for business, say business leaders.

Fears have grown for Oldham trade following the recent loss of big names such as TJ Hughes, HMV and JJB Sport.

But the vacancy rate for town centre shops is 14 per cent, compared with 15 per cent nationally and an average of 19 per cent in the North-West.

Town centre manager Sara Hewitt said there is only one vacant shop in the town’s outdoor pedestrianised area — and that one, Lloyds Pharmacy, has moved into the new health centre.

There are also four new traders in the brick units on Tommyfield Market, new stalls on the street market and traders who have expanded in the market hall.


SECURE parking is to be created for 100 bicycles in Oldham town centre.
It is part of a £5 million scheme to provide facilities for cyclists across Greater Manchester with funding from the Government’s local sustainable transport fund.

Locations are being considered and the parking, which will include storage, will be in place by 2014/15, although it is hoped to bring it forward to coincide with the arrival of Metrolink.

Facilities in larger places such as Manchester city centre will include showers and changing rooms for those commuting long distances by bike.