McMahon defies doom-mongers

OLDHAM can’t have a positive future unless we acknowledge where we have come from according to council leader Jim McMahon, who faced a series of tough questions on BBC Radio Manchester.

Presenter Andy Crane invited Councillor McMahon — the second youngest council leader in the country — to be his Hot Seat guest on Friday.

The Labour leader spoke of his ambitions for the town, including the forthcoming Hotel Future and cinema projects, and his wish to promote the good things about Oldham.

Cynical

He said: “Oldham used to be world leaders in the cotton industry and we have people such as Winston Churchill and Annie Kenney in our history. We know things are not great right now but there are still things to be proud of. We are working hard for a better future.

“People say there are no shops in Oldham but we have the big name brands such as BHS, Debenhams, Body Shop, River Island, Next and H&M. The market hall is 97 per cent full.

“People are cynical about the future of the town because they have been let down in the past. Oldham has become a shadow of its former self and things won’t change overnight. It is my job to make it bright again.

“There is lots of diversity in the town-centre shops and I think, as a town, we have battled the recession well. Now it’s time to repair the cracks in the foundations. But it is not all doom and gloom, there is lots to be proud of.”

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