The local Labour-led council is driving the improvement of our borough’s heritage, and it deserves credit for prioritising these schemes in very difficult circumstances.
Just over the past few weeks, we have seen the reopening of Royton Town Hall – fully restored for community use and back to its former glory.
Work on the Old Gallery on Union Street is well underway and will be home to a new civic centre linking to the Gallery and Lifelong Learning Centre.
The final piece of the Old Town Hall jigsaw was completed when the magnificent Egyptian Room was opened this weekend, with this stunning venue now supporting local food businesses to establish and grow.
The social history of the borough is also being brought into these plans, not just with the Egyptian Rooms becoming a new hub to meet with friends and family, but the opening of the Hive taking a huge space in the Spindles to help small businesses thrive, and to bring people together.
I also had the opportunity to visit the new indoor market hall which will bring Tommyfield from the edge of town right into the heart of it, sitting between the shopping centre, Parliament Square & the beautiful Old Town Hall.
This new venue will also be home to a new events space, with hundreds being able to use the hall as they do the QE Hall but with the significant advantage of having the new bars and restaurants next door, and closer connection to the Metrolink tram stop on Union Street.
Add to this the work on Yorkshire Street as the High Street accelerator, securing the Oldham Coliseum at Fairbottom Street, taking on the Prudential Building to stop it deteriorating into further ruin, and the wider plans for new housing: our plan is becoming far more than the sum of its parts.
Now we have a Labour government, the council has an active partner in realising the potential of Chadderton, Oldham and Royton with lots still to do; Foxdenton Hall, Oldham Lyceum, both Chadderton and Royton Precincts, and more.
The challenges facing our borough have been significant and I know many remain to be convinced that the plan will make an impact. I hope seeing it come together builds confidence, trust and, importantly, pride in the place we call home.
Jim McMahon OBE MP 