Funding secured to improve Oldham community and public spaces

Oldham Council has secured funding to carry out improvement works to three community sites across the borough.

Royton Park will undergo a £27k upgrade after park users suggested more facilities for toddlers. This will include the creation of a new sensory play space, along with improved paths and signage, and new planting areas.

Shaw Memorial Gardens are also to be refurbished. A nearly £20k project here will see the removing, refurbishing and reinstating of nine benches, the lifting and resetting of a large area of stone flags and the removal of a tree suffering from ash die the centre of the garden and planting a new one. A derelict storage cabin will also be removed.

In Failsworth, the Rochdale Canal towpath between the Tesco Bridge and Ashton Road West will have £33k improvement works carried out.

A general tidy-up of the area will be carried out to improve the area’s appearance and the council will create a Failsworth Fruit Route, linking up two community growing hubs – Failsworth Growing Hub at the Town Hall and Grass Roots. Plus floating habitat islands will be added to 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 will take place in the coming months.