Oldham Council has launched an £80,000 environmental initiative that includes paddle-boarding litter picks to combat chronic pollution along the Rochdale Canal in Failsworth.

The pioneering scheme will fund four paddle-boarding sessions designed to engage young people in cleaning up the borough’s waterways while tackling fly-tipping and litter accumulation. This innovative approach forms part of a broader investment in green spaces across Oldham.

Three popular community areas will receive significant upgrades. Royton Park will benefit from a £27,000 refurbishment to improve existing facilities, paths and signage, alongside the creation of a new sensory play space for toddlers. Shaw Memorial Gardens will see £19,000 invested in replacing nine benches, resetting stone flags, and swapping a diseased ash tree for a healthy specimen, with a derelict storage cabin also scheduled for removal.

The largest single project involves transforming a section of the Rochdale Canal towpath between Tesco Bridge (78D) and Ashton Road West (Bridge 79) into the ‘Failsworth Fruit Route’ at a cost of £33,000. This development will connect two community orchards - Failsworth Growing Hub at the Town Hall and Grass Roots. The council also plans to install floating habitat islands in the river 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 projects, funded through Section 106 agreements with developers, are scheduled to begin over the coming months.

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