Find out this week's news from Oldham Council

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Old Library takes next step in return to former glory

Oldham’s Old Library continues to take shape, with the main scaffolding structure now removed to reveal the beautiful stonework and restored roof.

Leader of Oldham Council, Councillor Arooj Shah, and Chief Executive Harry Catherall came together with contractor Tilbury Douglas to take a look at the progress made so far.

Once complete, the Old Library will house facilities for the community to use; a new Council Chamber; council offices, and spaces for public meetings; as well as a new home for Oldham Theatre Workshop.

Careful restoration of the Old Library, in the heart of Oldham's cultural quarter, has been ongoing since January last year, and includes replacing the roof - using the original tiles wherever possible - and cleaning the stone to bring it back to its former glory.

Find out more about The Old Oldham Library ([link removed])
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Don’t Trash Oldham: Help us make the borough cleaner and greener

The borough’s council taxpayers are having to shell out more than £4.2m a year to clean up dumped sofas, discarded bags of household rubbish, and litter.

Sadly, a small minority of lazy and irresponsible people still think it is ok for the council to clean up after them and for their neighbours, and fellow residents, to pay.

Councillor Arooj Shah, Leader of Oldham Council, said: “Keeping the borough clean is a priority for the council and just one of the many services Council tax pays for.

“The more it costs to keep our streets, roads, and public spaces rubbish-free means we have less money to spend on other things – such as protecting the vulnerable.

“Ten years ago, it was costing more than £4m just to get rid of litter, which includes waste like dumped black bags full of rubbish. Add on what was being spent to clean up fly-tipping and the spend was a lot higher.

“This goes to show Don’t Trash Oldham has worked and has had a really positive impact in our communities''

To put the figures into perspective, £4.2m is equivalent to:
* The annual salaries of 113 new social workers
* 84 brand new fully equipped play areas
* 168,000 potholes repairs
* The planting of 11,000 standard trees or the creation of 1,500 hectares of new woodland

Find out more about Don't Trash Oldham ([link removed])
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Mayor shares 100th birthday celebrations with WW2 veteran

Earlier this week the Mayor of Oldham hosted a special get-together for former Royal Navy servicewoman Margaret Taylor, as she celebrates her 100th birthday.

Margaret was joined in the Mayor’s Parlour by her family and members of the Royal British Legion to celebrate this extraordinary occasion and many of her memories over the years, including her time serving in the Second World War.

When asked what it was like to reach 100, Margaret simply replied ‘I’m speechless and overwhelmed’ before she advised guests that a ‘clean living’ was the best way to live so long.

When the Mayor asked for further words of wisdom, Margaret added: “If you’ve got children, they’re a labour of love and they make you happy. They give you many tears, but they also give you lots of happiness, so enjoy every moment.”

Margaret served in the Women’s Royal Naval Service from the age of 16 before contributing to the Second World War effort in the Outer Hebrides, where her role in logistics involved overseeing supplies that went aboard naval ships.

Find out more about Margaret's visit ([link removed])
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Tour of Britain returns to Oldham

Get ready! The world-renowned Tour of Britain cycling event returns to Oldham in September after a four-year break, with the support of Oldham Council.

Stage 1, Altrincham/Manchester leg - which includes Oldham - will be day one of the eight-day event and will take place from 3 September and is widely regarded as one of the world’s most prestigious cycling races. Elite riders from across the globe will be hitting the Oldham route with Olympic, world, and Tour de France champions taking part.

This will be the first time since 2019 that the city region has been part of the route, with Greater Manchester hosting stage one, or the “Grand Départ” of the UK’s biggest professional cycle race.

Oldham will undoubtedly be one of the highlights on the Altrincham-to-Manchester leg of the event, with our famously steep hills and winding roads.

Cyclists will come into the borough from Mossley and follow a route through Uppermill, Dobcross, Delph, Grains Bar, and Shaw, before then crossing over into Rochdale.

A full map of the route - which is the same as the previous route when the Tour came through Oldham in 2019 - is on the Tour of Britain website ([link removed])

Residents and businesses are being encouraged to show support for the event and cheer on the cyclists as they veer through the borough.

Greater Manchester will host a weekend of cycling events, activities, and community engagement, and any Tour of Britain activities and promotions taking place in Oldham will be published on the I Love Oldham Facebook Page.

Find out more about Tour of Britain ([link removed])
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Get walking this summer in Oldham

With its rugged Pennine landscape, rolling moors, and easy-going canalside trails, Oldham is the perfect place for a summer walk or day out with the kids over the holidays.

We are giving everyone the chance to win a £100 shopping voucher to spend in Oldham when you take on one of the Oldham Way routes over the holidays
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Here are a few family-friendly routes
* Diggle to Denshaw ([link removed])
* Denshaw to Dunwood Park ([link removed])
* Chadderton Hall Park to Brookdale Park ([link removed])
* Brookdale Park to Park Bridge ([link removed])

Sign up for thecompetition ([link removed])
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Signed up to the Oldham Halloween Half?

Oldham's half marathon, one of the toughest 13.1-mile races in the UK, returns this Halloween after more than three years away.

More than 200 runners have already signed up to take part in the challenge, with the course’s hilly terrain promising to get pulses racing throughout.

The route may be gruesome, but it revels in spectacular scenery and the atmosphere is set to be electric – it's an event not to be missed.

So, if you are looking for a new running challenge, you want to raise money for charity, or you’re looking to compete just for fun, sign-up today and take part ([link removed])
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Oldham Council . Civic Centre . West Street . Oldham, OL1 1UT . United Kingdom