"It's good for Oldham" - community reacts to big new 'SportsTown' plans
Oldham's new £70m 'SportsTown' plan aims to expand Boundary Park football grounds, add new sports facilities, and create a learning centre for youngsters, with the goal of attracting 25,000 weekly visitors within five years. The project has received mixed reactions from the community, with many praising its potential to inspire youth and reduce crime, while others express skepticism about funding and implementation.
£70m SportsTown Plan Promises to Transform Oldham into National Sporting Hub
A £70 million transformation of Boundary Park will create a national sporting destination in Oldham, complete with new pitches, a 3,000-seat arena and an education centre for youngsters seeking alternative career paths.
The ambitious SportsTown project, announced Monday (March 17), will expand the existing home of Oldham Athletic and Oldham RLFC to include a netball pitch, improved cricket facilities and state-of-the-art football grounds for junior and community teams. The development aims to attract 25,000 weekly visitors within five years.
Local football fan Lee Winterbottom, 40, welcomed the plans enthusiastically despite the biting cold in Oldham’s town centre. “It’s brilliant,” he told reporters, his face lighting up. “Oldham really needs some more things for youngsters. There’s nothing for them to do around here, except get into trouble. This gives them something positive to pour their energy into.”
The learning campus at the Oldham Events Centre will target children who may not fit into mainstream education, offering qualifications in health, wellbeing and teaching through partnerships with universities and health services. Darren Royle, CEO of Latics and SportsTown, explained the centre will provide youngsters with qualifications they might otherwise be excluded from due to their academic backgrounds.
The council has committed £6 million to kickstart the project, with £1 million already spent returfing Boundary Park stadium. A further £5 million will come from the government’s Community Regeneration Fund for Phase 2, creating new pitches and the education hub.
Mohammed Hasan Mahmud, 30, saw the broader community benefits: “They’re turning Oldham into a sports town. It will bring different people together and I think that will help with the racists too. It’s harder to hate each other if you’re working towards a common goal.”
However, some residents expressed scepticism. Amir, 28, who suffers from PTSD and cannot work, questioned the spending priorities: “The council is always complaining about not having any money… I’d rather see government money going towards the NHS or supporting people in need.”
Council leader Arooj Shah defended the investment, stating “a lot of thought” had gone into the decision to fund what she called a “real investment” for Oldham’s future.
Source: Read original article