Find out this week's news from Oldham Council

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Cost of Living Summit

On Wednesday, council officers, members, residents and voluntary organisations came together to discuss how the people of Oldham could be best supported through the ongoing cost of living crisis.

The main areas the summit focused on were food, fuel, financial support, childcare and housing.

Speakers such as the Oldham Youth Mayor Hamra Hanif-Ali, the Poverty Truth Commission, The Bread and Butter Thing and the council’s Doorstep Engagement Teams spoke about how action was needed now to support those who are struggling.

Council Leader, Councillor Amanda Chadderton made it clear that it was a major priority for her to see real, tangible help ready for anyone who needs it, particularly as autumn and winter arrives, and the energy price cap is set to increase.

Council teams will now be reviewing the ideas discussed at the summit to put a proper action plan in place, ready for September.

Anyone who is having a tough time now should visit our We Can Help webpage ([link removed]) where advice can be found on areas such as benefits and money, free school meals, mental wellbeing, Holiday Activities and Food and much more.

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Oldham Pride makes a triumphant return

Hundreds of people took to the streets and paraded through the town centre as Oldham Pride returned after three years.

Flags were flown and banners held as the parade filled the town with music, colour and a message of equality.

The parade set off from Parliament Square, before passing through High Street and ending at George Square where visiting residents enjoyed a jam-packed schedule of entertainment, speeches and community market.

Oldham Pride returns in 2023 (July 21 – July 23) – keep an eye on social media for more information.

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Islamic New Year

This evening, Muharram begins and runs until Sunday August 28. The Islamic New Year is, unlike other religions and cultures, not widely considered as a time for celebration. From the first to the tenth day of the new year, it’s the time for serious reflection and mourning.

Muharram is the first month in the Islamic calendar, which runs according to a lunar cycle.

Many significant historical events fall on this day, but for Shia’s the standout event was the martyrdom of Hussain ibn Ali, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad – upon whom Muslims send blessings. In Shia Islam, the second biggest denomination in the faith, the Battle of Karbala that occurred on this date in history is a time of immense mourning.

Other sects appreciate the gravity of the event but Shia Muslims often make the added pilgrimage to the seminal site of Hussain’s shrine in central Iraq.

Ashura, meaning the tenth, falls on day ten of the New Year (7 August) and will end the following evening.

Find out more here. ([link removed] )
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Hollinwood to get the Don’t Trash Oldham treatment

Oldham Council’s Don’t Trash Oldham team is heading into Hollinwood - the final area our staff will visit as part of the ward-by-ward clean-up of the borough launched last year.

The good news is that this isn’t the end of the campaign and there will be more environmental improvements over the coming months.

The Hollinwood clean-up will start in August, and our staff will be removing all the fly-tipping, litter and overgrown shrubbery they find from roads and alleyways.

If anything is found that can be linked to an individual then we will take enforcement action.

In total, from the other 19 wards, we’ve collected more than 290 tonnes of waste – that’s around the same weight as a 747 jumbo jet.

Our staff have cleaned more than 3,900 streets and alleyways.

Since September last year we’ve also fined 348 people for environmental crimes.

All this is on top of the work our teams carry out daily.

The council has also started rolling out a street bin replacement programme, which includes 20 solar powered units in Oldham town centre.

Over the coming months 948 new street bins – capable of holding more than double the amount of waste than the old ones did – will be installed across the borough, an investment of more than £531,000.

To find out more about Don’t Trash Oldham and how you can get involved visit the website. ([link removed])
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We’ve summited a planning application for proposed new £5m bridge

We've submitted a planning application to build an eye-catching £5m bridge that would make travelling between Ashton and the borough easier for cyclists and pedestrians.

If planning permission is granted we would look to secure funding for the bridge’s construction from a fund set up by the Mayor of Greater Manchester.

The proposed 140m long structure would run across the Medlock Valley in Park Bridge – along the old viaduct route on the Oldham/Ashton boundary.

If everything goes to plan the bridge – more than 30m above the ground at its highest point – could open within the next couple of years.

It has been designed to take into account all users and offer levels of safety, comfort and picturesque views of the valley.

The structure would provide a spectacular new southern access point to the Northern Roots site – the UKs’ largest urban farm and country park - and better connect Oldham with the rest of Greater Manchester.

The proposed bridge’s design was chosen following a consultation carried out last year. It is a steel girder structure that would weather in time for an industrial look that fits with the area’s heritage.

The completed project would also include landscaping work in keeping with the area.

It is estimated the scheme would also cut the number of daily car journeys on nearby roads - improving the air we breathe. Currently there are some 22,500 daily car trips on the A627 and 16,900 on the B6194.

The application will be decided at a future meeting of the planning committee.

A short CGI video of the bridge can be watched here. ([link removed])

For more information on the application visit the webpage here ([link removed]) .

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Email scam alert

We’re aware of reports that some residents have received an email appearing to be from Oldham Council which claims you are entitled to a Council Tax rebate.

This email, which includes instructions on how to claim this rebate, is a scam.

The council has already directly paid eligible households, either by bank transfer or through vouchers received in the post.

In some cases, the council has conducted additional administrative checks with some residents to ensure payments have gone to the correct person, however this has been done by letter.

If you receive any email claiming you are entitled to a council tax rebate which appears to be from Oldham Council, please report this to the National Cyber Security Centre by emailing [email protected]

For more information on the Council Tax Energy Rebate, please visit the webpage here. ([link removed] )

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#LoveParks Week starts today

Oldham has some of the best parks and green spaces around so this #LoveParks Week is the perfect excuse to explore them.

Whether it’s walking the dog, picnicking with friends, or pushing your little ones on a playground swing, parks give our communities vital space to play, enjoy and get some fresh air.

Love Parks Week is set up to celebrate and support the efforts of volunteers and workers up and down the country to maintain and protect our green spaces.

Our staff clean and maintain our 32 parks and open spaces on a regularly basis.

Please respect our parks – and support our Don’t Trash Oldham campaign – by disposing of your litter properly in the bins or taking it home with you.

If you are out and about please tag us in and share any photos and videos with us via our social media channels. Use the hashtag #LoveParks Week

#LoveParks week runs until Friday 5 August.

Check out some events taking place in Oldham's parks here. ([link removed])

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Shop local at Tommyfield Market

It’s important that we all support our local traders. A perfect way to do this is to shop local at Tommyfield Market.

The market is filled with all different types of stalls. Do your weekly shopping at the greengrocers, fish mongers or butchers, pick up gifts and cards for your loved ones or grab outfits for all occasions – and all at reasonable prices too.

Grab a bite from one of our stalls serving all manner of cuisines, from jacket potatoes and fresh salads, to Italian-inspired pizzas and Thai cuisine; you could try something different every day of the week.

Find out more about the market here ([link removed]) .

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Oldham Way night time closures

Oldham Way will be closed in both directions for four nights next month.

The closures will be in place on August 8, 9, 10 and 11 from 9pm until 6am

To minimise disruption, the closure will be during the school holidays and also during off-peak hours.

The road will be closed in both directions between the Kings Road Bridge up to the junction of Prince Street/Oldham Way. Signposted diversions will be in place.

Essential highways improvements are being carried out as part of our ambitious Southlink regeneration development.

Under the plans, in the region of 150 residential properties would be built, including a mix of mews, semi-detached, housing blocks and flats.

We’re working hard to improve our transport network – we’re sorry for any inconvenience caused by the works.

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New apprenticeship opportunities

We are looking to recruit a cohort of apprentices across the council, with a variety of roles available covering IT, Admin, Finance, Communications, among other areas too.

As well as receiving a qualification related to your role, you will also gain valuable experience working within one of our many teams, which support the borough and its residents.

Oldham is committed to developing a co-operative future; one where we all worth together to improve the borough and we’re an ambitious organisation with big plans.

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visit the website. ([link removed])

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Green funding could help improve your community

Funding is available which could help improve existing green spaces in your area – or you could even create a new one.

The Greater Manchester Green Spaces Fund is live and grants will be given to communities.

A total of £2.6m is available across Greater Manchester for community projects that could make a real difference to residents and local areas.

The fund makes small and large grants available, particularly where there is currently poor access to good quality green space.

Projects which will be considered for funding should improve publicly accessible spaces through physical improvements - making them better places for people.

These projects could take place in parks, community gardens, streets, schools, housing estates, canals, streams, rivers and existing nature reserves.

Examples of the type of projects funding could support include:
• Improving existing or creating new accessible green space for people and/or wildlife
• Permanently greening streets
• Creating new pocket parks
• Community gardening and food growing
• Turning paved over areas to green areas
• Cleaning up and restoring streams, rivers, canals and ponds

To make things easier several Green Spaces Fund Advisors are on hand to help with applications and offer support and guidance.

To find out more about the fund and to apply, please visit the Green Spaces Fund visit www.gmenvfund.org

The deadline for the first round of applications is August 22.

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** New charge-free Clean AirPlan under discussion
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Councillors recently discussed a New Greater Manchester Clean Air Plan – one that would not include daily charges for drivers.

Unlike the previous charging Clean Air Zone scheme, which was set up following government direction, the new plan would improve the health of residents by cutting the scale of the dirty air people breathe, while taking into account the cost-of-living crisis.

It also takes into account the impact of the Covid pandemic on supply chains, while supporting ongoing economic recovery and considering the opportunities presented by investment in cleaner vehicles, including buses.

The new investment-led, non-charging approach is set out in the ‘Case for a new Greater Manchester Clean Air Plan’.

The 10 Greater Manchester local authorities submitted the draft case for the new plan to the government on July 1.

For more on Clean Air Plan here. ([link removed])

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Have your say on our library service

We know our libraries – and the many services they offer – are important to residents of all ages. Now we want to hear from you.

Tell us what you think of our library service and how it can be improved.

From Monday (August 1) we will be running a consultation and the information will hopefully provide an insight into what you value about the service, what you would like to see more of and if there are any barriers to access that we can address.

Anyone who lives, works or studies in the borough can take part.

The survey will go live on Monday, and you will be able to fill it in at www.oldham.gov.uk/librarysurvey

Paper copies will also be available in all borough libraries.

We’ve also put together a version designed specifically for our young people as we know their views are crucial as we want them to use our services for life.

The consultation ends on September 11.

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Follow us on Instagram!
We’re looking to get even more people involved with our community over on Instagram.

Our page is a great space to check out gorgeous pictures of the borough, see what’s on across Oldham and find out more about local plans and news.

As well as our own content, we also share others. So, if you post any images of Oldham’s landscapes or events, please tag us and we’ll feature them on our page.

To like our page just open your Instagram app, search @oldhamcouncil and hit that follow button, or follow us ** here. ([link removed])
Image credit: [1]Shia vector created by starline - www.freepik.com

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For more information and advice about council services, visit
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