A pathway to safer access in Sholver

A grant of £30,000 from Oldham Council's Local Improvement Fund will go towards helping improve pathways at Sholver Millennium Green, Pearly Bank and Westminster Gardens.

St James' Labour Councillors Angela Cosgrove and Leanne Munroe made successful bids to the Local Improvement Fund to get the work done.

The Green is 22 acres in the heart of Sholver, but the current degraded state of the paths makes access difficult.

The Sholver Millennium Green Trust is supported by Life for a Life Memorial Forests, who will work together to look after the Green.

Councillor Munroe said: "It is great to have the opportunity to get the funding to do this work.

"The Green is a green lung for Sholver residents and the path restorations will enable many more residents to use it.

"I’m particularly pleased that the Green will be easier for disabled residents to use.

"It is good to work in partnership with the Sholver Millennium Green Trust and Life for a Life Memorial Forests on this project, and their commitment to the Green is very welcome.

"I also hope that children and young people will make better use of the Green rather than playing on the roads and the Trust is planning to offer activities like the ‘Micro Greens’ project to help achieve this."

Jon Platt, Chair of the Trust, added: "The Sholver Millennium Green Trust is over the moon to have been successful with our Local Improvement Fund bid.

"The funds will make a significant difference to the Millennium Green and help us in a huge way make the Millennium Green a more usable, accessible and safe place; so that local people can enjoy their green space now and in the future.

"We would like to thank everyone involved in the bidding process, especially our local councillors who have shown us incredible support as we have continued to get the Millennium Green back on track after the COVID-19 pandemic towards becoming a valued green heart of the community."

LIF Fast Grants have also been made for a clean up of Pearly Bank and to upgrade a path at Westminster Gardens.

Councillor Cosgrove added: "Pearly Bank needs some TLC.

"We will improve the area, clean up any litter or fly-tipping, open the area up to make it more visible to the community which will stop and deter future fly-tipping.

"We have already spoken to local young people who like to use the area for a “chilling spot” were they can climb, play and enjoy nature.

"The work will also flatten the land and place logs for seats which have come from the thinning out of the trees onsite.

"The path at Westminster Gardens is in a sorry state and the grant will fill in potholes and make it safer and easier to use."

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