Oldham is currently the subject of significant initiatives aimed at making it a better place for us all to live.

As someone who has lived and worked in the town since the1950s, also enjoyed the various cultural offerings and local parks over those years, I believe that I am well qualified to make comments about the plans.

As many residents have done, I have already contributed my ideas when given the opportunity to do so, via the public consultations which have taken place over recent months.

We can all reflect on how things used to be in the town and in life in general but life has changed everywhere, especially with the dramatic loss of manufacturing jobs.

We can also reflect on previous plans that never came to fruition for various reasons but there is no point in dwelling on what might or could have been, at a time when the latest plans are now coming to fruition, with significant progress imminent.

The plans are realistic for Oldham, bringing together a good mix of retail, leisure, housing and services and I fully support them.

I have seen many negative comments and I do find them very frustrating and not all constructive, at a time when positive change is on the horizon.

I acknowledge that, following the pandemic, the town is currently suffering in many ways, but once the developments are completed, we should see the ‘better place’ that we all desire, but in the meantime we need to support local traders and be positive about the future.

SMS