Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Local Government, Alex Norris MP, visited Chadderton today to learn more about the Council’s ambitious neighbourhood investment plans for the town.
The visit was hosted by Cllr Arooj Shah, Leader of Oldham Council and Laura Windsor-Welsh, Chair of the Chadderton Deal Board and Oldham Director at Action Together. It provided an opportunity to highlight the progress being made to improve the local area for residents.
As part of the visit, Minister Norris toured Chadderton District Centre, including the Library and Wellbeing Centre. He was given an overview of the public engagement carried out last summer, which has informed the development of Chadderton’s Long-Term Investment Plan.
More than 400 local people took part in the consultation through workshops, interviews, online surveys and informal conversations. Their input helped shape ten key community priorities, including better youth services, improved health and wellbeing facilities, safer and more accessible transport and greater support for vulnerable residents.
Since then, the Chadderton Deal Board has been working hard to align the town’s plan with the Government’s new Plan for Neighbourhoods policy. The investment plan is now close to completion and is focused on delivering real, lasting benefits to the community over the next three years and beyond.
The shortlisted projects will be backed by clear delivery plans, including project leads, detailed costings, match-funding opportunities and timelines. The Board is also putting systems in place to monitor progress and ensure the community continues to have a voice in shaping future projects.
Councillor Arooj Shah, Leader of Oldham Council, said: “It was a pleasure to welcome Minister Alex Norris to Chadderton. By working in partnership with the Chadderton Deal Board and central government, we are determined to deliver real, lasting change.
Together, we can build a vibrant, inclusive community where every resident has the opportunity to thrive and help share the future of our town.”
Laura Windsor-Welsh, Chair of the Chadderton Deal Board and Oldham Director at Action Together, said: “Today’s visit was a great opportunity to highlight the progress we’ve made through the community engagement we held last summer. With over 400 local people involved, the feedback has been vital in shaping a clear plan to improve Chadderton.
We’re proud to be working closely with the Council and the government to turn these ideas into real projects that make a difference for everyone in the community.”
The Board is committed to keeping the plan flexible so it can respond to the evolving needs of Chadderton as the town grows and changes.
