Council leader blasts deprivation report

Oldham Council: OLDHAM Council leader Jean Stretton told councillors a report describing Oldham as the most deprived town in the UK is “grossly unfair”.

A study by the Office of National Statistics found Oldham had the highest proportion of deprived areas — almost two thirds of the town is classed in the most deprived 20 per cent of the nation. The results were based on income, employment, health and disability; education, skills and training; crime; barriers to housing and services and living environment.

Councillor Stretton didn’t deny Oldham’s “significant issues”, but said the report was selective.

“I’m grateful to the people on social media who came out fighting for Oldham. People across the borough were shocked. We felt a sense of embarrassment and shame to see the news.

“The report only looked at parts of the borough — it was quite selective. We know historically there are places of deprivation in the town.

“We’re suffering from decline of manufacturing. The 2011 statistics hadn’t taken Metrolink into account. There was no regeneration plan. It’s a bizarre piece of research which was then picked up by lazy journalists.

Leader of the opposition, Councillor Howard Sykes, said: “This is hardly a great advertisement that will attract new business and new residents to our borough as their location of choice.”