Now it’s down to spadework!

taking his hat off to the project is Norman Stoller with Lee Thompson (17), chairman of the Mahdlo Young Person’s Development Group, helping him hold the spade, wtached by sponsors and other dignitaries

THE future looks bright for local youngsters as work on Oldham’s new £5 million youth centre gets under way.

The first sod was cut on Mahdlo — Oldham spelt backwards — which is being built on the site of the old Marjorie Lees Health Centre in Egerton Street.

Norman Stoller CBE, Mahdlo’s president, was joined by council leader Councillor Howard Skyes, as he broke the ground with the world’s biggest spade, borrowed from Barton Grange Garden Centre in Bolton.

And it was revealed today that 12 businesses have now pledged a total of £900,000 over three years towards the youth zone’s £1 million yearly running costs.

It includes a £250,000 donation from the Stoller Charitable Trust. Oldham Council has also committed £400,000 per year.

But Onside Northwest, who pitched for the £5 million grant from the MyPlace Fund to build the centre, is still looking for more businesses to donate money.

Children who use Mahdlo — the chosen name of Oldham’s surveyed youth — will be charged a 50p entrance fee which will bring about 10 per cent of the year’s running costs.

Speaking at the sod-cutting, Mr Stoller said no matter what children used the centre for, it would always be fun.

He said: “Today’s ceremony truly marks the end of the beginning of the planning stage for a building that will turn Oldham on its head.

“The goal is to put to an end to a situation in which hordes of young people gather on the street corners, getting into mischief simply because they are bored stiff.

“We want to replace that negative scenario with an all-purpose club that is warm, safe and welcoming — a club that will not recognise differences of gender or race, so let’s crack on and get going.”

Lee Thompson (17), chair of the Mahdlo Young Person’s Development Group, said: “We’ve got some fantastic young people who put a lot of hard work in, giving up their time on a regular basis to ensure Madhlo is exactly what the young people of Oldham want.”

The centre, which has nine patron founders, could be finished by early 2012.

Twelve businesses and individuals have donated towards running costs: Stoller Charitable Trust, Frank & Judith Rothwell, J W Lees, Wiggett Construction, Patterson & Rothwell Ltd, Greengate Metal Components Ltd, Oldham Motor Company, MGF Ltd, David and Janelle Barker, BAE Systems, Madeleine Lindley and ANSA Elevators.