1 February 2020
1 February 2020
Will the Council's plans deliver a greener town centre, accessible to all, and tackle the climate crisis?
The announcement of a £306 million investment strategy by Oldham Council on 17 January is welcome. This will bring more homes in the town centre taking pressure off the threatened green belt. The redevelopment of the Alexandra Park depot into a groundbreaking ecological centre and urban farm is exciting. The question is will the detailed plans deliver on the Council's aims for Oldham to be the greenest borough and to improve the life-chances, health and well-being of residents?
A sustainable and accessible town centre for all
If there are more homes in the town centre they must be to the highest energy efficiency standards, making them both cheap to run and carbon neutral. There must be a range of housing both in size and tenure, with both social renting and homes for purchase, and accessible homes for disabled people. Retail and leisure units should also be of high environmental standards and fully accessible to all.
Will car parks be kept to the fringes, reducing air pollution and encouraging active travel by maintaining and increasing pedestrian and cycle routes? Will our public space be kept under public democratic control and not sold to private developers? Will tree cover and greenery in the town centre be increased?
Don't ignore the other town centres
The strategy looks at the changing nature of Oldham Town Centre with the decline of retail and the need to develop a welcoming night-time economy; the redevelopment of the old Town Hall was an important first step. The Council must not though ignore the other town centres in the borough ensuring they get their fair share of the funding.
Plan for the Climate Emergency
Oldham Council's announcement on 17 January was about making Oldham a more prosperous and better place to live. The Council has also recently declared a 'Climate Emergency' and later this year will be updating its Climate Change strategy. Oldham needs a plan to go carbon neutral by 2030, if not earlier. Big cities such as Glasgow and Nottingham are doing so, why not smaller councils like Oldham. Oldham needs bold and joined up thinking to produce a borough with a sustainable future, less reliant on fossil fuels for heating and transport and giving a better quality of life to its residents.
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