The town fighting fly-tipping with paddle boards
Reporter: Charlotte Hall, Local Democracy Reporter
Date published: 03 December 2024
The Rochdale Canal in Failsworth. Image courtesy of OMBC
Oldham Council is to take what they believe is a unique approach to fighting chronic litter and fly-tipping on its paths and waterways: paddle-boarding.
As part of an £80k scheme to improve the borough’s green spaces, the local authority will pay for four ‘paddle board litter picks’ to encourage young people to tidy up the Rochdale Canal in Failsworth.
The scheme will also include refurbishing three popular community spaces in the borough – Royton Park, Shaw Memorial Gardens and the Rochdale towpath.
Royton Park is set to receive a £27k revamp to upgrade existing facilities, paths and signs and create a sensory play space for toddlers.
And a £19k investment into the Shaw Memorial Gardens will pay for the replacement of nine benches, resetting stone flags and replacing a tree suffering from ash die back disease with a healthy one.
A derelict storage cabin will also be removed.
Meanwhile, a £33k project will see the Canal towpath between Tesco Bridge (78D) and Ashton Road West (Bridge 79) transformed into the ‘Failsworth Fruit Route’ – connecting two community orchards – Failsworth Growing Hub at the Town Hall and Grass Roots.
The council also plans to commission ‘floating habitat islands’ in the river, which can encourage wildlife.
Councillor Chris Goodwin, Cabinet Member for Don’t Trash Oldham, said: “The council is always looking at ways we can improve our parks, green spaces and community areas.
“This funding will deliver real benefits for residents as we are improving places that are already popular and well used.
“There will be some slight disruption, which we’ll aim to keep to a minimum, while we carry out the work – but it’ll be worth it in the end.”
The work is set to start over the coming months.
The funding was secured through Section 106 agreements, which is a financial contribution developers agree to pay the council to reduce the impact of their building work on local communities.
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