This is not a ‘can do’; this is a ‘will do’

Revitalising Oldham

Potential investors were delivered a showcase of what the area has to offer at a defining event called “Invest in Oldham”.

Oldham Council announced it is “open for business” to bring more financial growth to the borough.

The local authority’s chief executive, Charlie Parker, said: “We can’t do it on our own.

“We want to do it with the right people who see Oldham differently, creating opportunities so we can look at Oldham with confidence.

“We are not going to sit down and wait for things to happen. We will do business with the right people for the right reasons, for our borough and not with someone who wants to make a quick buck in our town.”

Eleven sites Oldham Council see as ideal locations were highlighted (see Page 3) to more than 100 guests last night at Gallery Oldham.

Council leader Jim McMahon said that the authority wanted to deliver a financial punch that “Oldham Means Business”.

He said: “Our aim is to get investors to see Oldham differently — as a place with excellent infrastructure and opportunities, but also as a place with a real commitment to making things happen.

“We have an ‘open door’ policy and we are prepared to work quickly and co-operatively with partners to take decisions, get results that improve our borough, and create new jobs and opportunities.

“This (event) would have been in a committee room and would have been over tea, coffee and a jam doughnut. This is about Oldham raising the game, because our aspirations have been raised. Oldham is now a destination.”

Guests were given a detailed prospectus — as well as hearing speeches from council chiefs and Stephen Miles, chairman of the Manchester Hoteliers Association, an example of co-operation between Oldham Council and an investor.

Mr Parker admits the future is to commit to working alongside the private sector. He added: “This isn’t just about us having a ‘can do’ attitude to working with partners - it’s about us having a ‘will do’ approach.

“The private sector will, of course, be the prime movers in our regeneration plans, but Oldham Council is stepping up to work alongside them to become the enablers and agents of change.”