Police arrested 40 people during a week-long crackdown on county lines drug dealing in Greater Manchester. Officers raided 30 properties across Salford, Oldham and south Manchester, seizing hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of cannabis, cocaine and ketamine. A £1m cannabis farm was discovered at an industrial unit on Gardner Street, Pendleton, with six men arrested. Additional raids in Oldham targeted a drugs line, with suspects arrested after running from properties. In Northenden and Salford, three men and one woman were arrested for dealing ketamine, cocaine and cannabis. Twenty drug lines were closed down across the operation.
Five Oldham men have been charged with conspiracy to supply Class A drugs following police raids across the borough. Greater Manchester Police executed early morning warrants at multiple properties as part of an investigation into a drugs line. The raids occurred during County Lines Intensification Week, a national coordinated action targeting county lines offenders. Between March 2 and March 8, 30 warrants were conducted across Greater Manchester, resulting in 40 arrests and the closure of 20 active drugs lines. Police seized over £34,000 in cash, drugs, weapons, mobile phones, electric bikes, designer goods, and high-value electronic devices.
A section of Theatre Street in Oldham will close to all vehicles from March 17 for a two-week electrical upgrade. The closure affects the stretch between Hopkin Street and Horsedge Street. The order will remain in force for two weeks or until works are completed, whichever comes first. Traffic will be diverted via Horsedge Street and Rock Street. The closure is part of planned infrastructure improvements in the area.
A petition has been launched to preserve the Tommyfield name for Oldham's new market, which is set to open on March 28, 2026. The petition, started by Kathryn Burns, argues that removing the historic name risks erasing part of Oldham's heritage. The new market in Spindles will replace the current Tommyfield Market building, which closes on March 21, 2026. The council has named the new market simply 'The Market' with an adjoining space called 'The Loom'. The petition has gathered 17 signatures so far and asks the council to either restore the historic name or at least display Tommyfield above the market sign. Council leader Arooj Shah previously acknowledged the closure as 'the end of an era' but emphasized looking forward with confidence as market heritage continues.
Gallery Oldham's 'Once Upon a Time' exhibition runs from 21 March to 5 September 2026, featuring work by five children's illustrators including Jarvis, Gillian Hibbs, Holly Sterling, Gillian Flint, and Sharon Davey. The exhibition showcases over 50 artworks from popular children's books like 'The Boy with Flowers in His Hair' and 'Errol's Garden', with reading corners and hands-on activities. A launch event with the illustrators takes place on 21 March at 2pm. Councillor Peter Dean praised the exhibition as a celebration of imagination that promotes reading for pleasure during the 2026 National Year of Reading campaign.
Pennine Mencap, an Oldham-based learning disability charity, is hosting its first Ladies Day fundraiser on May 16 from 2pm to 6pm at Billingtons Ballroom. The event costs £25 per ticket and includes afternoon tea, stalls with handmade goods, and live entertainment including a cello performance. Guests are encouraged to dress up with elegant fascinators. Funds raised will support the charity's work providing opportunities and support for neurodivergent adults across Greater Manchester.
Oldham Council's planning committee will meet on March 11 to decide on a proposal to erect a shipping container takeaway at the junction of Silver Street and Peter Street. The site currently serves as parking space next to Clean Plate Kitchen and opposite Spindles Shopping Centre multi-storey car park. The council's Highway Engineer objected due to concerns about increased illegal parking near traffic lights at the Peter Street-Union Street junction, which could cause congestion and visibility issues. The engineer noted enforcement would be difficult and no practical prevention measures exist. Despite these concerns, planning officers recommend approval as the applicant is a direct relative of committee member Cllr Shoab Akhtar.
Oldham's new market opens Saturday, March 28 at 9:00 AM in the Spindles building, offering independent stalls, food businesses, and makers. The £450m town centre regeneration programme includes this modern market as a key landmark, creating new opportunities for local traders. Leader of Oldham Council Cllr Arooj Shah will open the market, which features a full day of entertainment and activities. The first 100 visitors receive free goodie bags. The market links directly to Parliament Square, a refreshed public space reopening alongside the market.
Oldham's new indoor market will open on Saturday, March 28 at 9am inside the Spindles shopping centre. The £450 million town centre regeneration includes this market space featuring independent stalls and food traders. Council leader Arooj Shah called it a 'huge moment' for Oldham, emphasizing support for local traders and creating a modern, vibrant space. The opening day includes entertainment, tasters, and opportunities to meet traders, with the first 100 visitors receiving free goodie bags. The market's opening also marks the wider reopening of Parliament Square for town centre events.
The Fox and Pine pub in Oldham, co-owned by Chris Riley and his wife Michelle, has converted a former fire engine into a travelling bar. The mobile bar will serve cask ale, craft beer, lagers, cider on draught, and a fully stocked family-friendly bar at festivals, fun days, corporate events, and charity fundraisers. The pub is running a competition to name the bar, with the winner getting to pull the first pint. The Fox and Pine has won 'Pub of the Year' for five consecutive years from the local CAMRA branch and was named CAMRA's Greater Manchester pub of the year in July.
A man was seriously injured in a collision on Fairbottom Street, Oldham, on Saturday night. Police and paramedics responded to the incident just before 9pm on March 7, 2026. The pedestrian was taken to hospital with injuries described as serious but not life-threatening. Greater Manchester Police confirmed enquiries are ongoing. No arrests have been made, and the man's age has not been disclosed. Part of nearby Yorkshire Street was cordoned off as investigations began.
A man was hospitalised following a crash between a car and pedestrian in Oldham town centre on Saturday night, March 7. Greater Manchester Police responded to reports of the crash on Fairbottom Street at around 8.50pm. Emergency services attended the scene where a police cordon was established at the junction between Fairbottom Street and Yorkshire Street. The man sustained serious injuries but they are not believed to be life-threatening. Police are continuing enquiries to investigate the incident.
Oldham councillors are inviting residents to raise concerns at upcoming ward surgeries. The surgeries will be held at OBA Millennium Centre on Featherstall Road North, Oldham, with councillors Diane Williamson, Davis Murphy, and Louie Hamblett (Lib Dem) in attendance. Additional surgeries will take place at Shaw Lifelong Learning Centre on High Street, Shaw. The events are scheduled for 2026 and are part of the council's efforts to engage with local residents and address community issues.
Stand & Be Counted Theatre participated in the Illuminate Oldham parade, creating colourful masks in partnership with Oldham artist Mel Roberts. The project united SBC's Soap Box Oldham and Bradford groups for the first time after an invitation from Global Grooves. John Tomlinson, joint CEO of Stand & Be Counted Theatre, described the experience as phenomenal and a moment to shine light on solidarity, community, and pride in Oldham. The theatre company runs weekly Soap Box sessions for adults seeking sanctuary in Oldham, Bradford, and Sheffield, using theatre and creativity to build confidence, develop English skills, and foster connections. Illuminate Oldham was organised by Oldham Council.
Oldham Liberal Democrats have challenged claims by council leader Arooj Shah that contracts for the Eton Star Academy are signed, stating no terms exist for transferring Tommyfield Market land to the school. The controversial project involves giving council-owned town centre land to Eton College for a new academy. Critics argue the site could be used for retail, leisure or hospitality instead, and question how many local children will benefit. Council leader Shah defends the plan as bringing a world-class institution to Oldham and recruiting talented students from disadvantaged backgrounds, while denying it will undermine existing education provision.
A careers fair for social housing residents is being held on March 12 in Oldham to help people find work in the housing sector. The event, called Careers in Social Housing, is organised by First Choice Homes Oldham (FCHO) in partnership with Jigsaw, Great Places, and ForHousing. All four housing providers own properties in the area. Mark Harrison, FCHO's employment and skills manager, said the event will feature stalls and videos from current staff explaining different roles in housing. The fair follows Greater Manchester Housing Providers' commitment to recruit 20% of their workforce from social housing tenants by 2034. The event will take place at FCHO's head office on Union Street in Oldham.
BRIT Award-winning artist Finlay Quaye will perform at Whittles in Oldham on August 27, 2026. The 1998 Best Male Solo Artist winner rose to fame in the 1990s with his debut album 'Maverick a Strike' going double platinum in the UK. Tickets for the £14.99 show are available via Skiddle, with a 'very special guest' support act yet to be announced. The venue, which recently hosted Pete Doherty and Tom Meighan, is building on its reputation for big-name acts.
Oldham's Egyptian Room food hall, located in the restored Old Town Hall, has been nominated for the RIBA North West Awards 2026. The venue opened in November 2024 and is one of ten buildings shortlisted for the regional architecture award. Council leader Arooj Shah praised the recognition as testament to the vision and partnership behind transforming the historic building. The Egyptian Room is nominated alongside notable buildings including the Grade I-listed Rochdale Town Hall, which also reopened in 2024 after restoration. All nominated projects will be visited by the regional jury, with winners announced in spring and considered for national awards.
The Jayne Barnes School of Dance in Oldham is preparing for a trip to Disneyland Paris in June, where 13 of its 60 dancers will perform a 20-minute show inspired by Mary Poppins and Toy Story. Teacher Rachel Riley said the trip is special as most dancers have never been to Disneyland before. The school previously performed at Disneyland in 2018 in front of 6,000 people. The trip is being organised with Perform in the Magic, an official Disney Performing Arts partner, and includes 30 people total including parents and teachers.
New FOI data shows Northern Care Alliance NHS Trust, which runs Royal Oldham Hospital, saw 9,608 patients wait 24 hours or more in A&E during 2025, up 25% from 7,651 the previous year. The longest wait was 146 hours (6.1 days). Councillor Howard Sykes, who requested the data, called the situation 'spiralling out of control' and urged government action, including a wait time guarantee. The trust declined to comment. Nationally, only Liverpool's University Hospital trust had worse figures. The Department of Health said winter preparations have improved most A&E times but acknowledged 'a long way to go' to cut the longest waits.