Oldham's Coliseum Theatre has received £656,147 from Arts Council England to support its reopening after closing suddenly in 2023 when funding was withdrawn due to financial and building issues. The grant extends a £1.845m package pledged in 2023 and will fund new governance structures and cultural programming. Deputy leader Elaine Taylor said the funding is critical to Oldham's regeneration strategy, supporting creativity, jobs, and town centre vitality. The council plans to match the funding with £138,000 for the Coliseum and £127,000 for developing a new theatre model, bringing total investment to over £921,000 this year.
A building collapsed on King Street in Oldham town centre just after 12:30pm on an unspecified date in 2026, causing extensive damage and prompting a major emergency response. The facade of the building, which had scaffolding, completely fell away, exposing interior rooms. Five people were assessed by emergency services, with two taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The air ambulance landed on Mecca Bingo's roof, trams were suspended between Freehold and Rochdale Town Centre, and road closures were implemented. Cadent Gas confirmed engineers were securing a damaged gas main, and the cordon was widened later due to a potential gas leak.
A building on King Street in Oldham town centre partially collapsed on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, injuring three people. Emergency services including fire crews, police, and an air ambulance responded to the incident around 12:40pm. Eyewitnesses described hearing a rumble followed by a massive crash, with one calling the scene 'carnage'. Five people self-evacuated from the building before emergency services arrived. Two people were taken to hospital with injuries not deemed life-threatening. The collapse affected a pizza shop and nearby businesses, with King Street being cordoned off and all businesses evacuated.
Pennine Mencap, an Oldham-based disability charity, will host 'A Night at the Movies' on April 24 at Hurst Community Centre. The event features adults with learning disabilities performing songs, dance routines and theatrical sketches inspired by Hollywood and British films. Emily Trelore, activity coordinator, said rehearsals are building excitement with performances ranging from Mrs Doubtfire to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The show will feature two groups: ShowAbility dance troupe and Stage Right Performing Arts drama group. Tickets cost £7 and can be purchased online at penninemencap.org.
Nicola, Oldham Council's Safeguarding and Care Planning Team Manager, created 'Welcome Into Our Care' boxes after witnessing a child arrive in care without personal belongings. Each personalised box contains essential items, comforting belongings, and contact details for key professionals. Since January, 50 children in Oldham have received these welcome packs, which include age-appropriate items like toiletries, sanitary products, snuggle blankets, and fidget toys. Councillor Shaid Mushtaq praised the initiative as a simple yet powerful way to bring comfort, dignity, and reassurance to children entering care. Nicola and eight colleagues will run the Great Manchester Run 10K in May to raise funds for the project.
PossAbilities CIC has named HMPasties Foundation as its Charity of the Year, launching a partnership during British Pie Week. The collaboration saw 2,148 pies sold and raised over £1,000 for the charity. HMPasties, based in Oldham, produces handmade pies and pasties while providing employment and training to people leaving prison. The Foundation also offers mentoring and employability programmes to support successful reintegration into society. Both organisations share a commitment to helping people overcome challenges and build brighter futures. They will work together on fundraising and awareness activities throughout the year.
Volksmaster, founded in Oldham in 1996 by Ryan McDonald, celebrates 30 years of operation as a family automotive business that has grown from a single workshop to four branches across Greater Manchester. The company now employs around 50 local families and has expanded services to include mobile SMART repairs and a fully equipped body workshop in Oldham. Founder Mike McDonald credits the business's success to community trust and feedback, maintaining core values of transparency and customer-first service. The company recently exceeded targets in its Anniversary Thanksgiving Marketplace campaign and continues to develop its Volksmaster Smart Repairs service, now in its third year of expansion.
Tommyfield Market in Oldham will close permanently on March 21, 2026, after which traders will move to The Market at Spindles shopping centre. The new market opens March 28 with entertainment and activities. Traders like Anton Jaskiewicz, Marilyn Cuschera, Sham Fareed, Mark Crossley, and James Brierley express optimism about the move despite mixed feelings about leaving Tommyfield. Many have worked at Tommyfield for decades and will miss the community spirit. The new market is expected to boost town centre activity and bring modern facilities to traders.
Oldham-born actor William Ash will perform his one-man adaptation of Chekhov's Uncle Vanya at Oldham Library on April 8 and 9, 2026. The play, titled Vanya, is written by Simon Stephens and directed by Tony Mooney. Ash previously performed the role in London's West End with Andrew Scott and at The Millgate Arts Centre in Delph on April 3-4. Tickets cost £6 and are already in high demand. The 49-year-old actor is known for roles in Emmerdale, Waterloo Road, and Clocking Off.
Mayor Andy Burnham has announced the return of 24-hour night bus services to Oldham, operating Thursday to Saturday on the 83 route between Oldham, Failsworth, Hollinwood and Manchester city centre. The service will also run more frequently during daytime, evening and weekends. These changes are part of 36 service improvements across Greater Manchester's 10 boroughs, marking the most significant bus network upgrade since local control began in January 2025. Subject to approval, the improvements will take effect in the 2026/27 financial year. The expansion includes new night bus services in Stockport, Tameside and Trafford, with completely new routes in Stockport, Ashton and Wigan, and increased connectivity to key employment and visitor destinations like the Trafford Centre.
Oldham drivers face multiple road closures over the next two weeks. The A663 northbound will be closed until March 23 for drainage work between Middleton Lane and the A627(M), covering 1.28 kilometres. Additional A663 carriageway closures begin March 20 for white lining and road markings between A627M Junction 1 and the M60, running Wed-Thu 9pm-6am and Mon-Tue, Fri 9pm-5am until March 27. The M60 will also see a lane closure March 23-24 from 8pm to 6am for horticulture works between J20 and J23. Motorists are advised to plan journeys in advance as delays are expected.
Oldham Parish Church will host Oldham Choral Society's Swing into Spring concert on Sunday, April 19 at 4pm. The programme includes Will Todd's Jazz Missa Brevis, which the choir recently studied during a Singing Workshop Day with musical director Dr David Cane and guest accompanist Roddy Barrand. Also featured are John Rutter's Mass of the Children and Antonin Dvořák's Te Deum. Tickets cost £15 for adults, £5 for students, and £1 for children under 12. They can be purchased from choir members, through the ticket secretary on 07768 167178, or via the website.
Oldham Council will enforce yellow box junction offences from summer 2026, though specific sites remain unconfirmed. The Oldham Times readers identified Broadway junctions at M60 Junction 21, particularly with Semple Way and Broadgate, as most problematic. Manchester Road near M60 Junction 22 and multiple Huddersfield Road junctions near Tesco Extra were also frequently mentioned. Cross Street junctions with Huddersfield Road and Lees Road drew complaints about daily blockages. Readers described these locations as 'cash cows' for enforcement and noted 20-minute delays caused by vehicles blocking yellow boxes.
Oldham's new indoor market The Market opens March 28 at 9am, replacing the Tommyfield Market which closes March 21. The two-level market features 70 traders including many from Tommyfield, with entrances on Parliament Square and inside Spindles shopping centre. Opening day entertainment includes Taylor Swift tribute act, K-Pop Universe, local dance groups Fierce Dance and Natraj Dance Academy, street performers, and Granny Turismo racing with shopping trollies. Children can enjoy free arts and crafts, face painting, balloon creations, arcade games and rides. The first 100 visitors receive free goodie bags. All activities run 9am-3pm and both entrances are accessible.
First Choice Homes Oldham hosted a 'Careers in Housing' event at Union Street offices that attracted 100 attendees. The sold-out event resulted in more than 30 social housing tenants signing up for employment services. Housing associations Jigsaw, Great Places, and ForHousing participated alongside FCHO. South Chadderton tenant Billie-Jo Wareing shared her experience of completing a two-year apprenticeship with FCHO, achieving a distinction, and securing a permanent role as home ownership administrator. Mark Harrison, FCHO's employment and skills manager, highlighted collaboration between Greater Manchester housing providers to improve residents' lives across the region.
Tommyfield Market in Oldham closes on March 21, 2026, after operating since the late 18th century. The market moves to a new indoor location called 'The Market' in Spindles, opening March 28 with 70 traders and an event space called The Loom. The old market building will be demolished to create a new town centre park also named Tommyfield. Council leader Arooj Shah described the closure as 'the end of an era' while expressing optimism about the new market's modern facilities.
Green MP Hannah Spencer paid tribute to Oldham suffragette Annie Kenney during her maiden speech in Parliament on March 12, 2026. The MP from Greater Manchester honoured Kenney alongside other local female trailblazers including Emmeline Pankhurst, Hannah Mitchell, Mary Quaile and Elsie Plant. Kenney, born in Springhead in 1879, was a mill worker who became a prominent suffragette and co-founder of the Women's Social and Political Union. She was arrested in 1905 at Manchester's Free Trade Hall and imprisoned 13 times total. A statue of Kenney was unveiled in Oldham's Parliament Square in 2018 to mark the centenary of women gaining voting rights.
Oldham Council launched a consultation on a 1,700-home masterplan for Beal Valley and Broadbent Moss, including plans for a new tram stop. The consultation runs until noon on March 30, 2026, and residents can submit comments online, by email, or by post. The plan has faced opposition from residents concerned about traffic management and the potential impact on local roads. The consultation document includes a masterplan, design code, and infrastructure delivery strategy.
Oldham Council's planning committee approved a shipping container takeaway at Silver Street and Peter Street junction on a temporary 12-month basis. Highway Engineer Wendy Moorhouse objected, citing concerns about illegal parking, congestion, and delivery driver disruption. Councillor Dave Murphy proposed the temporary approval to monitor traffic impact before deciding on permanent permission. The vote ended in a tie, with chair Marc Hince casting the deciding vote in favour. Six councillors supported the temporary approval while six opposed it, with one abstention.
Oldham residents raised concerns after the new indoor market opening March 28 was named 'The Market' rather than Tommyfield. A petition with 38 signatures called for restoring the historic name. Council leader Arooj Shah responded that Tommyfield 'isn't disappearing' but will be given to a new five-acre town centre park instead. The new market opens March 28 at 9am with entertainment, while The Loom event space also opens that day. The first 100 visitors receive free goodie bags.