Oldham Council awards £266k to boost town centre businesses

Twenty five Oldham businesses have been awarded a total of £266,000 in grants to improve their shop fronts as part of a council scheme to boost the town centre. The funding comes from Oldham Council's High Street Heritage Action Zone programme, which aims to make the town centre more attractive to shoppers and visitors.

The grants range from £5,000 to £20,000 and will help businesses replace windows, doors, signage and other external features. Council leader Arooj Shah said the scheme would 'help breathe new life into our town centre' and support local traders who have faced tough trading conditions.

This latest funding follows a £20 million growth injection announced earlier this year for culture, sport, education, housing and businesses across the borough. The council says its finances are recovering after 14 years of central government cuts, though many local services remain under pressure.

Alongside physical improvements, Oldham Council has pledged to become one of the UK's most inclusive digital towns. New digital support hubs will be created in public spaces where residents can get help with online services, from filling in forms to accessing council services. The council says this will help bridge the digital divide for older residents and those without internet access at home.