Sean Fielding: 'Oldham is slowly getting back on track'

Councillor Sean Fielding

Oldham's Council leader has reflected on the Covid pandemic and the effects seen in the town in a video message on YouTube.

During the three-minute recording, Cllr Sean Fielding said 2020 was "an incredibly tough year"

"So many people have lost loved ones.  So many have gone weeks or months without seeing any friends or family and so many have worried about - or even lost - their job or business"

Cllr Fielding said Oldham Council's ambtions plans for the town had been put on hold during the pandemic, but Oldham Council is now "slowly getting back on track"

The Council leader made reference to the purchase the Spindles Shopping Centre earlier this year for £9.5m, described at the time as "an absolute bargain".

"It was great to announce recently that we've purchased the Spindles Shopping Centre.   When retail everywhere is struggling, it's so important that we have public control of such a central part of Oldham town Centre

"We can decide togtether what we want there in the future reather than being hostages to the whims of it's california-based former owners."

Cllr Fielding said the council were creating a new organisation to help schools "help one another", and were investing in new school places at the borough best schools.

"2021 has to be a happier and healthier year for all of us.", he concluded. "It's a year for us all to be ambitious for Oldham"

Watch the full video below.

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