The Bee Network's 184 bus service has been diverted due to moorland fires near Saddleworth. The route, which normally runs between Oldham, Greenacres, Diggle and Huddersfield town centre, cannot use Mount Road and is instead diverting via the A62 Manchester Road in both directions. The diversion is expected to remain in place until further notice. Two moorland fires broke out in Marsden on Tuesday afternoon, April 7, with fire crews from Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service and West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service attending from around 2pm into the evening. Residents were advised to shut windows and doors and avoid the area.
A police chase in Oldham on Monday, March 30, 2026, led to a car crashing into a safety barrier on Oldham Way. Greater Manchester Police officers attempted to stop a suspicious vehicle on Lees Road just after 7pm, but the car failed to stop and a short pursuit began. The driver lost control and collided with a safety barrier, resulting in two men being taken to hospital. Police confirmed the injuries were not believed to be serious. No arrests have been made and enquiries are ongoing.
The statutory independent grooming gangs inquiry will examine whether ethnicity, culture or religion influenced offending and institutional response. Oldham has been confirmed among the first areas for local investigation. The inquiry, chaired by Baroness Anne Longfield, will have legal powers to compel witnesses and require documents. It will conduct local investigations where serious failures have been identified in response to child sexual exploitation by grooming gangs. The inquiry has a maximum duration of three years, a budget of £65 million, and will publish findings progressively rather than waiting for a final report.
Frank Rothwell's documentary 'The Oldham Man and the Sea' has won best documentary feature at the 2026 Manchester Film Festival. The 78-minute film, produced by Colin Offland and directed by Marc Ingham, chronicles Rothwell's 2024 Atlantic rowing journey. The festival, now in its eleventh year, sold 10,000 tickets - a 40% increase from the previous year. The judging panel included critics Tom Percival, Emily Murray, Alistair Ryder, filmmaker Matt Butler-Hart, and Clarisse Loughton. The film has had limited screenings including at Millgate Arts Centre in Delph and an upcoming showing at Queen Elizabeth Hall on April 26.
Daniel Hill, 34, from Oldham died on March 3 in a road traffic collision on the M6 motorway in Cheshire. The crash occurred at 7.47pm between junctions 16 and 17, involving a white Renault van and a crane truck. Hill was a passenger in the van and was pronounced dead at the scene. The van's driver, a 30-year-old man from Manchester, suffered serious injuries and was taken to Royal Stoke Hospital. Hill's family described him as a hardworking family man devoted to his partner and six children, an avid rugby and football supporter who played for his town team. Cheshire Police appealed for witnesses and anyone with CCTV or dashcam footage to come forward, with investigations ongoing.
A controversial 1,700-home masterplan for Beal Valley and Broadbent Moss in Oldham has been in development for over a decade, first appearing in the 2016 Greater Manchester Spatial Framework. The plan includes proposals for hundreds of homes and a new tram stop, which has divided residents and councillors. Oldham Council approved the Places for Everyone plan in 2021, earmarking Green Belt land for development despite opposition from Liberal Democrats and other councillors who argued for a brownfield-first approach. A public consultation launched in July 2025, with concerns raised about school places and local services. A planning application for the first phase of 248 homes was submitted at the end of the month, while residents near Bullcote Lane expressed concerns about their estate becoming a through road. A second consultation launched around the same time, causing a 12-month delay...
Oldham resident Peter Burke, 74, has complained about three new IX Wireless broadband poles installed near his Broadway home, describing them as 'intrusive' and raising privacy concerns. The 15m tall poles allow visibility into bedrooms if someone were to climb them, according to Burke. He claims residents were only notified after installation via notices on nearby telegraph posts. The council told Burke they could not intervene as telegraph poles don't require council approval. IX Wireless stated they provided three weeks' prior notice and the poles are similar to standard lighting columns with a smaller footprint. Oldham Council explained they cannot override national planning regulations and have no opportunity to consult residents on such installations.
Oldham singing duo the Two Connors, Callum and Danny Connor, have announced their first 2026 gig at Boundary Park on Saturday, May 9. The brothers, who recently topped both iTunes and UK Singles Downloads charts with 'Familiar Faces', will perform live for the first time at the FSW Bar 1895. This follows their previous Boundary Park appearance in April 2025 and Latics' summer 'Party in the Park' event. Supporting act Sam Hewitt, who appeared on BBC's Let It Shine, will join them. Tickets cost £10 and are available via the Oldham Athletic website.
A consortium of five housebuilders has submitted plans to build 1,700 homes on land around Beal Valley and Broadbent Moss in Oldham. The development includes new roads, a Metrolink stop at Cop Road, and local centres with community amenities. A draft masterplan was approved last year, with Kellen Homes already applying for 248 homes near Bullcote Lane. The council is conducting a new consultation using the same documents, causing a 12-month delay that could increase developers' costs. The land was allocated for housing under the Places for Everyone agreement, which faced opposition from greenbelt campaigners. Residents have raised concerns about traffic, parking, and lack of new facilities to support the additional households.
Greater Manchester is developing a new transport strategy for 2050 with a delivery plan covering 2027-2037. The current strategy 2040 and five-year delivery plan 2021-2026 will be replaced. Public consultation runs from December 9, 2025 to March 9, 2026. The strategy aims to create a world-class Bee Network connecting bus, tram, train, walking, wheeling and cycling. The new strategy sets long-term goals while the delivery plan explains implementation. Local implementation plans exist for each of Greater Manchester's ten local authorities including Oldham.