• Search

News Headlines

Opinion divided on Unity Partnership

A £260 million deal which links Oldham Council to a business partner has failed to bring in new work or create jobs and has left the public and councillors confused about who is responsible for some services, says a new report.

The Unity Partnership was set up in 2007 to bring extra investment and greater expertise to council operations.

But councillors on a scrutiny committee will hear tonight that colleagues who have been studying the deal for several months, have 19

Date published: 29/07/2010

End of the ASBO

ASBOs are set to be scrapped after Home Secretary Theresa May warned the flagship measure had failed to tackle bad behaviour.

Introduced by Labour to tackle anti-social behaviour, they allow restrictions on movement and other conditions to be slapped on offenders without having to prosecute them criminally.

But the controversial method of dealing with abusive youths,...

Date published: 29/07/2010

Police keeping pledge

Police say their pledge to tackle anti-social behaviour across Greater Manchester is more then just words.

The force says the latest British Crime Survey results show the number of people who perceived there were high levels of anti-social behaviour in their area went down to 15.6 per cent from 22.6 per cent last year.

It also found that more than half of the people...

Date published: 29/07/2010

Presentation joy for Prince’s Trust team

Local team members beam with pride as the Mayor of Oldham, Councillor David Jones, presents them with their Prince’s Trust team awards
Hard-working teenagers from across the borough were joined by the Mayor of Oldham to celebrate completing the Groundwork Prince’s Trust Team programme.

The emotional presentation was the culmination of 12 weeks of graft that...

Date published: 29/07/2010

Oarsome time down on canal

Hundreds of families turned out to put fitness first this week with the Rochdale Canal Festival providing a free outdoor sporting extravaganza.

With a week-long line-up to enjoy, families braved the less than perfect English summer to take part in biking and canoeing, angling and allotment cultivating, and fitness walks from Chadderton.

Oldham council organiser, Anne...

Date published: 29/07/2010

Ringing in cocktail hour at Old Bell Inn

Charity event raises over £1,200

Cosmopolitans, Mojitos and Singapore Slings were the order of the day at a dazzling charity cocktail bash in Saddleworth.

Locals turned up the glitz to bring the wow factor to the Old Bell Inn, Delph, and raise money for Motor Neurone Disease.

Organised by Dobcross postmaster Sukhi Singh, the glamorous evening started with...

Date published: 29/07/2010

Voicing our appeal

An evening of glitz and glamour raised more than £6,500 for the NSPCC.

Over 150 guests enjoyed the annual Saddleworth Summer Ball, organised by the Oldham special events committee, held at the White Hart Hotel, Lydgate. The evening included a champagne reception, meal and auction. Money raised will help support the NSPCC’s Child’s Voice Appeal.

The...

Date published: 29/07/2010

Super League stars of future

SUPER League experience . . . youngsters taking part in the rugby camp

YOUNGSTERS have found out what it takes to become a Super League star at a rugby summer camp.

Around 35 children have banished the holiday blues by getting stuck in at the Paul...

Date published: 29/07/2010

Sir heads for heights

Steve Hill prepares for the Mont Blanc climb with the help of pupils, top, Lavinia Whitehead, middle Leah McDonald, Ellie Morrison, bottom, Ben Sweatman, Anthony Woolley, Jessica Murray, James Dean and front right, Sian Ollerhead

WITH ice pick and ropes at the ready, daring tutor Steve Hill tomorrow sets out on his biggest challenge yet — to scale the heights of Mont Blanc.

Western Europe’s tallest...

Date published: 29/07/2010

Landlords sign the pledge

SIGNED up . . . (back , from the left) Jill Darby, First Choice Homes community safety manager, Ann Hunt, Guinness Northern Counties, Mike Beaman, Housing 21, Minaz Sayda, AKSA Housing, David Bazell, Oldham Family Intervention Project, (front, from the left) Shupee Syeda Begum, victims’ champion, Lorraine Kenny, Community Safety Services chairman, Cheryl Dryden-Lock, Places for People

SOCIAL landlords in Oldham have signed a pledge on how to tackle anti-social behaviour.

All registered social housing organisations have agreed to a minimum standards pledge on dealing...

Date published: 29/07/2010

Funding plea for guide dogs

Absolutely adorable . . . £10 a day to train and keep to help blind people.

Guide-dog volunteers in Oldham are hoping that this cute little labrador pup will melt hearts and spur the public to give vital fund-raising a boost.

The Guide Dogs for the Blind...

Date published: 29/07/2010

Field of dreams

London will become the first city to stage the Olympics for a third time when it takes place between July 27 and August 12, 2012.

It’s expected to inspire Oldham youngsters into playing sport and keeping fit.

It may even uncover some sporting superstars of the future. For encouragement, they need look no further than a trio of Oldhamers who have reached the...

Date published: 29/07/2010

6,000 living the TV Vicky Pollard life

Almost one in four young people in Oldham are living a Vicky Pollard lifestyle, according to Government.

Official figures show there are 6,000 youngsters aged 16 to 24 dubbed by Government as NEETs —not in employment, education or training across the borough.

Based on percentage it makes Oldham the joint ninth worst area across England. NEETS are often seen as...

Date published: 29/07/2010

Swinging the axe

ADVENTURE fun . . . Francis Hartwell and his mum Christine at the newly-opened Copster Park play area

PLUG IS PULLED ON £1.1m PLAY AREA SITES

The plug has been pulled on Oldham’s £1.1million Play- builder sites which are only half finished.

The Government has...

Date published: 28/07/2010

We were left to rot like kitty litter...

DUMPED . . . the tiny kittens were left in a cardboard box

RSPCA stretched to the limit

A TRIO of tiny kittens were dumped in a cardboard box and left outside the RSPCA’s Rhodes Bank Centre.

The siblings — Sugar, Spencer and...

Date published: 28/07/2010

Council moves in on caravans

Gypsies have moved onto land at Brushes Clough, Shaw.

TRAVELLERS have been accused of vandalism after forcing their way on to a popular beauty spot.

A blow torch was used to cut through a barrier and a gate was damaged so that around a...

Date published: 28/07/2010

Youth champion wins top honour from university

AWARD-winner Ovid Eastmond receives his trophy from Prof Alistair Ulph, vice-president of the University of Manchester and Dean of the Faculty of Humanities

A youth worker has won a prestigious award to mark his contribution to the community.

Ovid Eastmond, who recently graduated from Manchester University with a diploma in youth and...

Date published: 28/07/2010

Hope and uncertainty on academies scheme

Michael Meacher was left with a mixed feeling of hope and uncertainty after a meeting with Education Secretary Michael Gove to discuss the halted school-buildings programme.

The Oldham West and Royton MP went with Oldham East and Saddleworth MP Phil Woolas to lobby the minister to ensure the Oldham schemes are still being considered so that they get the improvements they...

Date published: 28/07/2010

More park pride for magnificent 7

TEAM effort . . . Councillor Mark Alcock (left) with staff and the Friends of Coalshaw Green Park group with their award

Undercover judges give thumbs-up

BLOOMING lovely — seven parks and gardens across Oldham have retained the prestigious Green Flag Award.

Stoneleigh Park in Derker won...

Date published: 28/07/2010

Sorrow still burns for boat massacre Paveen

CLOSE friend . . . Paveen at the grave of Furkan Dogan

A FORMER Oldham Council worker has made an emotional visit to the graves of friends who were killed when Israeli commandos stormed their flotilla delivering aid.



Paveen Yaqub (39)...

Date published: 28/07/2010

Vintage back in vogue

A NEW but old look . . . shop manager Jessica McHale at the charity shop

MEMORIES and nostalgia are in store for visitors to Age Concern’s charity shop in Wickentree Lane, Wrigley Head, Failsworth.

The front room of the shop has been turned into a...

Date published: 28/07/2010

More News