Jim McMahon OBE MP

Abolishing Ofwat so we can cut sewage pollution in halve by 2030

The Government is taking water pollution seriously, and one way we’re doing this is by abolishing Ofwat.

As Shadow Secretary of State for DEFRA, I saw first hand how Ofwat failed – not just on paper, but in practice, whether it was through water bills going through the roof or rivers being polluted with raw sewage without regulation.

As close as home in my own constituency, we’ve seen sewage pumped into our rivers while water bosses pocketed bonuses. There were 632 sewage discharges into waterbodies in Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton from 23 storm overflows last year alone. It’s been clear for a long time: the old way simply isn’t working.

That’s why we welcome the Government’s announcement to bring together all the fragmented regulators, including Ofwat, the Environment Agency, Natural England and the Drinking Water Inspectorate, into one clear, powerful body.

Abolishing Ofwat isn’t about cutting corners – it’s about cutting out a system that has failed.

A single regulator with teeth – backed by real investment, clear leadership and public accountability – will help restore trust in our water system. It means stronger protections for our rivers, lakes, and seas, and greater fairness for families who’ve been paying more for less.

We need a fresh approach, one that puts the public interest first, not the interests of private water companies. Real accountability, real environmental standards, and a regulator that’s fit for purpose. Abolishing Ofwat brings us one step closer to achieving this.

Oldham’s getting a new police station – our borough deserves a restored justice centre alongside it …

The announcement that Oldham will be getting a new police station to cover our borough is extremely welcome, and shows the difference Labour is making in power after over a decade of Tory austerity. However, concerned about the suitability and capacity of the new facility, and we are calling for a wider new police and justice centre to be built.

Our borough has seen some of the most visible frontline cuts in Greater Manchester, impacting confidence in justice and policing and I am concerned that designing in a downgraded police station will bake this in for decades to come, spending millions of taxpayers’ money in the process.

We have been campaigning for a new police station for years, having listened to officers and staff who work in Oldham over a long time, it is clear the building is long past it’s sell by date, and workers have an ‘Oldham premium’ of thousands of pounds to pay to park owing to the lack of GMP parking provision. It is having an impact on the ability of the division to attract and retain staff.

The closure of both the County Court and the Magistrates Court, and the closure of Royton Police Station, Failsworth Police Station, Chadderton Police Station and police posts at Limeside and Chadderton, and the impact of victim experience when reporting crimes, it is understandable why so many people feel that justice has left town.

This is an opportunity to put that right – it is what local people deserve.

Therefore, I have written to the Mayor of Greater Manchester to push for a better outcome for local people: a new police and justice centre to be built with both functioning police cells, and court rooms to allow the processing of offenders in the our borough.

One of the four key local priorities we put forward for Oldham West, Chadderton & Royton was to create a safe place. Progress is being made with upcoming delivery of our neighbourhood policing guarantee of 𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗱𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝟯,𝟬𝟬𝟬 𝗻𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗯𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗲𝗿𝘀 & 𝗣𝗖𝗦𝗢𝘀 to tackle flytipping, retail crime, youth knife crime & anti-social behaviour; the upcoming rolling out the 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗺𝗲 as part of a prevention strategy; and the creation of the 𝗩𝗶𝗼𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘁 in Greater Manchester.

However, the Oldham branch GMP team, who we continue to be working with closely, need modern facilities and infrastructure with sufficient capacity to take back our streets from crime. We will continue to push for the best outcome for residents.

Solving the housing crisis through community-led housing

Oldham has always been a place shaped by strong communities and working-class pride – but after the Tories failure to fix the housing crisis, too many people are being let down by an inaccessible and broken housing system that simply isn’t working for them.

In Government we are on with the job of addressing this: Building 1.5 million new homes in this Parliament, providing the biggest boost to social and affordable housing, reforming planning to speed up development, supporting first-time buyers and strengthening the rights of renters.

We need to build more homes – but just as importantly, we need to build them better.

The Co-operative Party’s new campaign #YesInOurBackyard is, therefore, about more than bricks and mortar – it’s about putting power back in local hands. Building homes that are shaped by the needs of our community, not the profits of developers.

In Oldham we have a deep and proud co-operative legacy, as founded in 1850, just six years after the Rochdale Pioneers, the Failsworth Industrial Society was one of the early co-operative societies established. We have a long history of self-organising for the benefit of our community, so we are uniquely placed to lead the charge.

This is about creating real change that people can feel: tackling poor housing, supporting strong neighbourhoods, and making sure that no one is left behind – both in Government, and in our community.

Housing co-operatives and community land trusts aren’t just ideas; they’re proven models that empower residents, foster pride of place and build resilient, supportive neighbourhoods. Community-led housing offers Oldham a real and practical solution from the bottom-up. By giving local people a voice in the design and delivery of new homes, and ensuring those homes remain affordable in the long term, we can meet the needs of our community.

To learn more about the Co-operative Party’s campaign click this link: https://party.coop/campaign/housing…

Calling for more to be done locally to prevent youth knife crime

Last week, the government’s ninja sword amnesty came to an end, a period where these bladed weapons could be surrendered by young people to help prevent further loss of young lives to knife crime. Now the amnesty is over, it has now become illegal to possess, manufacture, import or sell ninja swords in our country.

Anyone caught in possession of this kind of weapon in private could face six months in prison, a punishment which is set to be increased to two years under Labour’s flagship Crime and Policing Bill which is currently making its way through Parliament.

It’s clear that Greater Manchester is no exception to growing concerns over knife crime, with 𝗮 𝟵𝟰.𝟲% 𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗸𝗻𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗮𝗱𝗲. In light of this, I have written to the Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, and the Chief Executive of Oldham Council

The local GMP has taken serious steps forward to tackle serious youth violence, there is room to go further. This would include an increased focus on: 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗿 & 𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗹-𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗸𝗻𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗮𝗺𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 and in-community action; 𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 & 𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗶𝗻 𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹𝘀 and youth settings; 𝗮 𝘀𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗻𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗯𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲; and a 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗮𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 of risk to parents and the wider community.

Knife crime devastates communities, tears apart families and leaves our young people vulnerable to exploitation, violence, and, in the worst cases, death. No one should live in fear of violence, which is why we remain committed to making Oldham a safe place for all – a local priority we put forward at last year’s general election.

Together, we must act now for the future of our young people. For further detail, see the letter in-full below on my Facebook page.

Working with the Shared health Foundation to help children & families in temporary accommodation in Oldham

Thank you to the Shared Health Foundation for meeting with me last week to discuss the work they do locally to support children & families in temporary accommodation. They are experts in health inequalities which, as a clinically-led & evidence-based not-for-profit established on Fitton Hill, to work across Greater Manchester, from the ground up, to identify the impacts of poverty on health due to their passion about reducing the impact poverty has on health.

Their work to develop initiatives, provide practical support, promote existing grassroots projects, and share insights with local and national organisations to reduce these health inequalities is commendable.

In our work to raise the awareness of the ongoing crisis in temporary accommodation in Oldham, we pointed out in February that the number of children in temporary accommodation in our borough with their family has hit an unacceptable 𝟲𝟵𝟬.

While much of the accommodation will meet the required standard, there is no doubt at all that some are not what we would want for our own families, often single rooms for whole families, some away from primary schools, as well as friends and family support.

Last week, I saw this first hand with the Shared Health Foundation when we met with families in this situation and met at The Crib, Shared Health’s forward operating base in the town centre where they educate and distribute essentials to families.

One of the priorities we put forward for local people at last year’s general election was to deliver more decent family homes for local people and ending the crisis in temporary accommodation is a crucial part of that.

Locally we are:

Carrying out our 𝗯𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗻𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗹𝗱-𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝘆, like with the Oldham Town Living Development Framework to drive town centre footfall, boost the housing stock, and meet the Council’s pledge of 𝟱𝟬𝟬 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 as part of their ‘local solutions to a national crisis’

𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿 ‘𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲-𝗳𝗼𝗿-𝗮𝗹𝗹’ on our borough’s greenbelt land through the local plan Places for Everyone.

Liaising with FCHO and other local housing associations through my constituency casework team.

Working closely with the Council to bring down housing waiting lists.

Promoting local sensible housebuilding in 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗪𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗩𝗮𝗹𝗲 & 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗩𝗶𝗲𝘄 developments

𝗧𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗛𝗠𝗢 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 by taking community concerns into account & stopping low quality housing.

More widely, the government is:

Delivering planning reforms which independently forecast the 𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝟰𝟬 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀.

Legislating to 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝟮𝟭 ‘𝗻𝗼-𝗳𝗮𝘂𝗹𝘁’ 𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 in our Renters Reform Bill.

Independently estimated to build 1.3 million homes, already 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗼𝘂𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟭.𝟱 𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻 promise we made at the election last year.

£𝟯𝟵 𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 & 𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 10-year programme confirmed

Tackling child poverty through the rolling out of our free breakfast club programme in every primary school and 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘀.

Rebuilding local government through multi-year funding settlements, structural reorganisation, and the fair funding review so that 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗱𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗮𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀.

This crisis has been brewing for 14 years under the Conservatives and we understand that the scale of our response must match the scale of the problem. No family should have to raise their children in temporary accommodation.

As I said to the House of Commons in June, “𝙞𝒇 𝒊𝙩’𝙨 𝙣𝒐𝙩 𝙜𝒐𝙤𝒅 𝒆𝙣𝒐𝙪𝒈𝙝 𝙛𝒐𝙧 𝙤𝒖𝙧 𝙤𝒘𝙣 𝙘𝒉𝙞𝒍𝙙𝒓𝙚𝒏, 𝙞𝒕’𝒔 𝒏𝙤𝒕 𝒈𝙤𝒐𝙙 𝙚𝒏𝙤𝒖𝙜𝒉 𝒇𝙤𝒓 𝒂𝙣𝒚 𝒄𝙝𝒊𝙡𝒅.”

Council confirms support of restoring West End Street pitches …

Thank you to Oldham Council for this kind letter. Your formal support of investing in & restoring the pitches on West End Street in Coldhurst by accelerating the central government funding for a resurfaced all-weather sports pitch is extremely welcome.

The Labour-backed amended motion passed is July and reaching this milestone is thanks to the relentless hard work of all those who came together at our clean-up event last year and who have been working tirelessly behind the scenes: local councillors Abdul Malik & Abdul Jabbar, community groups, local organisations, and volunteers.

This journey began with the last Labour government who put the money in for this community facility to be established. They only still exist and are therefore able to be invested in because of the hard work of local Labour councillors to fight the 14 years of cuts to local services by the Tories. Labour delivered these facilities to Coldhurst before, and we will again.

Restoring West End Street Pitches so it can be put into the hands of local people for community use has been a long held priority. We have:

𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 & 𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿’𝘀 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 to reaffirm support

worked behind the scenes to 𝗽𝘂𝘁 𝗮 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲

organised a 𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗻-𝘂𝗽 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗢𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗿 to begin to transform the pitches

engaged with local people throughout to 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 & 𝗺𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘂𝗺 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁

introduced the 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 & 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗘𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗕𝗶𝗹𝗹 so residents have more power to rescue the venues

Promoting community ownership was one of our four core priorities for the people of Oldham West, Chadderton & Royton at the election last year, and the work on West End Street pitches is just one way we have delivered on that priority to empower local people, preserve heritage, and save local venues.

In the same way trade unions are about fighting for people to have more power where they work, 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝘄𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗳𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘂𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲.

The state we are at with this project is pleasing, but we are not yet satisfied. Yes, the motion passing the Council is a win for local people who have been fighting for a better future, but our campaign is still ongoing.

A cooperative model for governance is being explored by the Labour-led Council, a proposal which we whole-heartedly support and call on the Council to implement. Furthermore, the enthusiasm and local buy-in to the vision so far has been fantastic – let’s keep it going. If you want to get involved with the restoration of the pitches, or want to use them for the good of the community once they are ready: please get in touch at jim.mcmahon.mp@parliament.uk

In an area bounded by busy roads like Oldham Way, Chadderton Way, Rochdale Road and Middleton Road, a facility like this is vital for local children to have a safe place to play, get good exercise, see friends and get involved in sports clubs. The work behind the scenes to secure the necessary funding, engage with the surrounding community, survey the site, and engage with stakeholders will continue until the facility is back to its former glory.

Head to my Facebook page to see the letter in full.

Update: Efforts to tackle reckless off-road bikes in Chadderton

Last month we met with concerned residents at an advice surgery and representatives from my office attended a community meeting in Chadderton with local residents, the Neighbourhood Policing Team, local Labour councillors, and the Council Community Safety Team in Chadderton about reckless off-road biking. We’re pleased with the progress that has been made since and the work the local GMP neighbourhood team has been doing to address concerns with reckless off-road biking in the area, such as:

Created a 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒃𝒍𝒆𝒎-𝒔𝒐𝒍𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒆 to reduce off-road bike incidents and general 𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒊-𝒔𝒐𝒄𝒊𝒂𝒍 𝒃𝒆𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒊𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒗𝒆𝒉𝒊𝒄𝒍𝒆𝒔 𝒊𝒏 & 𝒂𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑪𝒓𝒐𝒔𝒔𝒍𝒆𝒚 𝑷𝒍𝒂𝒚𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑭𝒊𝒆𝒍𝒅𝒔 𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒂 – seizing any identified vehicles involved in this offending.

Installed 𝑺𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 59 𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒔𝒊𝒈𝒏𝒔 to act as a deterrent to people using their own vehicles in these car parks outside of working hours as any anti-social use can result in seizure of the vehicle.

Collated intelligence in regards to anti-social behaviour linked to illegal off-road motorbikes & are 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒍𝒚 𝒑𝒂𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒉𝒐𝒕𝒔𝒑𝒐𝒕 𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒔.

Local officers have said they will be 𝒖𝒕𝒊𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒊𝒓 𝑺𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 60 𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒑 & 𝒔𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒄𝒉 𝒑𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒔 to detect offences.

Resulted in 𝒂 𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒆𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒅𝒖𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒊𝒏 𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒄𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒔 over recent weeks meaning the high visibility patrols have some effect, although we are not complacent & know more needs to be done.

This work is ongoing, and concerns have been long held. Which is why on top of the community meetings & advice surgeries mentioned already, we also raised concerns with the Road Policing Unit in April, got assurances off them about their commitment to police these issues robustly, raised awareness of Operation Snap & it’s online submission of incidents portal, and attended a roadside operation on Broadway with the Oldham Road Policing Unit.

While we are encouraged by the progress so far, we know ending the scourge of reckless off-road bikes in the area will take time. This is why we will do all we can to continue to support the Council and local GMP neighbourhood team to crack down on the bikes and take full advantage of the support and reforms heading their way such as the government’s Crime & Policing Bill and the upcoming delivery of our neighbourhood policing guarantee of 𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐝𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝟑,𝟎𝟎𝟎 𝐧𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐩𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐏𝐂𝐒𝐎𝐬.

Local people should continue to report concerns to my team at jim.mamchon.uk@parliament.uk and the neighbourhood policing team in Chadderton, as well as engaging with us & the wider community to bring an end to reckless off-road bike usage in Chadderton and create a safer place – a local priority of ours at the general election last year.

Another milestone in the renewal of Oldham Town Centre as the Old Oldham Library is restored!

It was great to be given a tour of the restored landmark heritage building just off Union St. yesterday, ready for it to be put back into community use after several years of this Grade II-listed building being closed.

Thanks to the expert work of construction partners Tilbury Douglas, the original features of this historic building which dates back to 1883 have been carefully preserved, while the inside has been upgraded to create a modern space for all to enjoy.

The Labour-led Council deserves credit for their tireless work to prioritise protecting our brough’s proud heritage in a way which reimagines landmark and transforms them for the good of local people. Whether here at the Old Oldham Library, the restored Royton Town Hall & Library, the Fairbottom St. site of the Oldham Coliseum which has been saved, or the Egyptian Room which completes the regeneration jigsaw of the Old Oldham Town Hall.

The Old Library now includes a fully restored Council Chamber and Mayor’s Parlour, creative studio spaces for Oldham Theatre Workshop, a beautiful upstairs art gallery, and brand-new landscaped gardens that will host events all year round.

Taking these facilities from the Civic Centre, QE Hall and Tommyfield Market to the new Spindles Council Offices, the new Market Hall & Events Space off Parliament square, and now the Old Oldham Library; not only are local people getting the refurbished modern facilities they deserve, but the town centre is being restructured to bring institutions closer together and drive condensed footfall to high street retailers & small businesses.

Two of my four local priorities that I set out at the election in 2024 were fighting for Good Jobs and promoting Community Ownership. In modernising infrastructure, driving footfall for local businesses, and restoring this local building of heritage for community use as a vibrant civic and cultural hub; we are advancing those priorities which looks to be making a real difference.

After 130 years of being a cornerstone of community life until it was replaced by the Oldham Library & Lifelong Learning Centre in 2006 – the Old Oldham Library is now back and this is just the start!