Oldham Thread

[Mez]

And you cant put your bike on them. The trams piss me off a fair deal come to think about it.

[leebuk2005]

If the metrolink isnt getting funding to run along union street I think the whole project is a big waste of money.

[Cherguevara]

Martin - are you one of the old age pensioner women who's life seems devoted to journeying to every market in the connurbation and then comparing them very loudly on the tram home? You seem to love the places a bit too much.

[leebuk2005]

Yes Oldham Market is realy CRAP!!!! If your looking for the latest in Asian fasions, Cloths, Sandles and Bangles or even your mobile phone unlocking Oldham Tommyfield is right up you street. I'm quite glad there closing it as its not like it used to be years ago. Lets hope they build something usefull on he land and not another pay and display car park that OMBC are so madley in love with .

[vertigosufferer]

I know the Tommyfield Market has tradition, but I used to hate my parents dragging me around the place. Although there was a guy there once, who sold knocked down CD's at bargain prices, but he cleared up and left along time ago. Alexandra Parks a nice place to visit now.... http://player.narrowstep.tv/default....elm&void=46375 I used to go there in my formative years, playing in the ship shaped paddling pool, in just my undercracks. I always used to be the captain of the ship ... still wouldn't set foot in the park after the suns gone down though. Still that's true of many places these days.

[Martin G]

You lot of jesters completely miss the point. Most of the Greater Manchester markets may be scuzzy and peopled by scrotes as of now, but they used to serve a vital function to the community. I know it's truly sad that Oldham (and other towns) now have so much decline in their major town centre markets. But surely one needs to keep some sort of diversity in our centres rather than have ALL of them converted to upmarket places whose affordability becomes out of reach to a sizeable percentage of the populace such as good old cheap and cheerful cafes as opposed to ever growing numbers of "get rich quick and then close up shop and be taken over by another" cafe bars that all look the bleedings same (even Oldham Union Street is full of these now).

Manchester Arndale Market is case in point: the new revamped market opened amidst much trumpeting and back-slapping from the city council. Barely a year later and about one sixth of the "new fangled" / "designer" stalls have been replaced by others or closed already. That just shows that retail is so transitory and cut throat nowadays that even traditionally established market traders can't hold on to their business for much longer due to a constantly shifting demographic. I would much prefer this level of diversity and choice in my town or city centre than be confronted with streets and streets of identikit retailers, bars and cafes that all serve the same thing over and over....much as I would also hate it too if all we had on the other hand to show for in a declining town centre were endless rows of cheap pound shops and dodgy chav-hangouts (fast food joints, video/DVD rental shops and suzzy newsagents) as far as the eye could see. It's all about getting a balance I suppose, but now most town centres largely seem to lack even this.

And no, I don't actually spend all my life trawling markets at all. It's just good to have the buzz of a decent sized one in the vicinity, as long as it is well run, supported and promoted by the powers that be. There is nothing sadder than a derelict end of the pier dive that is a pale shadow of its former self and as we know there are already too many of these such places awaiting the final nail to be knocked into its coffin lid (see also Beswick, Grey Mare Lane, Gorton and Harpurhey).

As mentioned earlier, the only reason I still "do" Oldham nowadays is that fantastic baked potato van that's parked outside the Spindles mall on High Street. That place does jacket spuds of legendary size.

[leebuk2005]

There has been alot of arguing lately between Oldham MBC and Rochdale MBC over the metrolink. What has happened is that although the two towns have fought togeather for the metrolink extention Oldham has come of as a bit of a traitor and gone behind Rochdales back. Oldham MBC backs new plans that mean Metrolink wont run any further than shaw but will run down Union street. This has got politicians at Rochdale all heated.

[Isaac Newell]

Originally Posted by leebuk2005

There has been alot of arguing lately between Oldham MBC and Rochdale MBC over the metrolink. What has happened is that although the two towns have fought togeather for the metrolink extention Oldham has come of as a bit of a traitor and gone behind Rochdales back. Oldham MBC backs new plans that mean Metrolink wont run any further than shaw but will run down Union street. This has got politicians at Rochdale all heated.

Rochdale doesn't need Metrolink. It has a good quick rail service to Manchester.
It needs to knock down that horrible bus station and shopping centre and relocate to the railway station.
There's loads of land around there.

All that is needed is a train From Manchester to Shaw via Rochdale,

something like this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_aP5...elated&search=
a diesel and some coaches geared up for commuters.

Cheap and do-able

[scproductions]

Oldham has had a hell of a large Asian-Muslim population which is still rapidly expanding...

therefore investment in Oldham is sure to take off extremely soon.

[scproductions]

Originally Posted by Isaac Newell

Rochdale doesn't need Metrolink. It has a good quick rail service to Manchester.
It needs to knock down that horrible bus station and shopping centre and relocate to the railway station.
There's loads of land around there.

All that is needed is a train From Manchester to Shaw via Rochdale,

something like this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_aP5...elated&search=
a diesel and some coaches geared up for commuters.

Cheap and do-able

i use the shopping centre and bus station quite often... theyre hardly horrible. both are kept in good condition and fairly new.

i live in oldham and i would much rather live in north manchester than south manchester.

south manchester is densely populated and always busy with house prices (amongst other things) far higher than they are in northern manchester. you could get a house twice as big in north manchester for half the price of one in south manchester.

i think people choose to live in south manchester over north manchester for snobbery basically. but i wouldn't choose to live there. i have a lovely 4 bedroom house with 3 gardens on a nice estate with a small stream running through it in north manchester. a large retail park is a mere 5 minute walk away from me along with a large playing field, park and motorway. manchester is only a 15 minute train journey away as is oldham on the bus. if i wanted a similar lifestyle in south manchester then i would have to be a millionnaire.

[leebuk2005]

Originally Posted by scproductions

Oldham has had a hell of a large Asian-Muslim population which is still rapidly expanding...

therefore investment in Oldham is sure to take off extremely soon.

I dont see any investmant. Its been hard enough trying to get Metrolink for the past decade and we still dont have it. I dont think there is that many muslims if you count in the whole borough. There are large and predomanantly white areas of Failsworth, Hollinwood, Chadderton, Shaw, Royton and many more. This is just a steriotypical view and the asian population is actualy decreasing.

[scproductions]

Originally Posted by leebuk2005

I dont see any investmant. Its been hard enough trying to get Metrolink for the past decade and we still dont have it. I dont think there is that many muslims if you count in the whole borough. There are large and predomanantly white areas of Failsworth, Hollinwood, Chadderton, Shaw, Royton and many more. This is just a steriotypical view and the asian population is actualy decreasing.

i definately wouldnt say that thew muslim population is decreasing. if anything i'd say it was growing faster than ever.

I REALLY dont want to sound racist here but I used to live in Chadderton and eventually we (along with the rest of the white population in that area) moved away to a different area due to the sheer number of muslims that moved there.

My friends lives in another area of Chadderton and now they are moving away due to more muslims moving into that area.

I can think of at least 4 formally white christian high schools and at least 8 formally christian white primary schools which are now 100% asian-muslim schools.

There are definately more and more muslim-asians coming into oldham. Many of which come from the next generation, as the average number of children delivered to a muslim-asian family is apporoximatly 3.5 as opposed to 1.5 from white-british (dont as me why they are .5 as i also think thats stupid!) which just shows that their numbers will increase no matter what.

Again I don't want to sound racist... its just the reality of it.

[nerd]

Originally Posted by scproductions

i definately wouldnt say that thew muslim population is decreasing. if anything i'd say it was growing faster than ever.

I REALLY dont want to sound racist here but I used to live in Chadderton and eventually we (along with the rest of the white population in that area) moved away to a different area due to the sheer number of muslims that moved there.

My friends lives in another area of Chadderton and now they are moving away due to more muslims moving into that area.

I can think of at least 4 formally white christian high schools and at least 8 formally christian white primary schools which are now 100% asian-muslim schools.

There are definately more and more muslim-asians coming into oldham. Many of which come from the next generation, as the average number of children delivered to a muslim-asian family is apporoximatly 3.5 as opposed to 1.5 from white-british (dont as me why they are .5 as i also think thats stupid!) which just shows that their numbers will increase no matter what.

Again I don't want to sound racist... its just the reality of it.

indeed the British Muslim population is growing fast - and Oldham is much the better for it. Muslims in Oldham are - on average - healthier, better educated and harder working than than their "Christian British" neighbours. Ten years ago, Oldham was in a state of near economic collapse - now it is beginning to boom again (in a modest way); and the investment of labour and money from the British Muslim communities are largely the reasons.

[leebuk2005]

I can understand as this is happening around Block lane area but i realy couldnt see many asian people near Failsworth or Limeside. But i have notice in recent years you dont see as many asian people in the town centre. 2 years ago there used to be gangs of up to 20 young asian men woundering round spindles which put of alot of people coming Oldham. I agree with you, and people may say im racist for saying this but alot of people just dont like mixing with asians.

[skyhigh247]

I don't think Oldham Council work hard enough to improve the public opinion of Oldham and to attract quality businesses into the area. Oldham was the centre of the world for textile manufacturing and yet you'd never guess that now. It looks like any other nobody town which is such a shame.

First dropping endless bus routes to the area doesn't help in pushing people away. I can't believe how few buses there are to Saddleworth either. You used to be able to get buses to Delph, Dobcross and Uppermill direct from Manchester up until late 7 days a week all year round, not anymore. If you don't have a car you're stuck. Limited buses to Oldham too. When First took over, they cancelled over 80 routes in the first 3 months. Add that to all the others since and no wonder people don't visit the smaller towns. Before First took over, the private company GM Buses were far better, not perfect but far better. Oldham needs to work hard with big ambitions. People with small or no ambitions become losers in life. Maybe they should get rid of that Labour council. They are not achieving any where near what they could. Who knows??

[scproductions]

Originally Posted by nerd

indeed the British Muslim population is growing fast - and Oldham is much the better for it. Muslims in Oldham are - on average - healthier, better educated and harder working than than their "Christian British" neighbours. Ten years ago, Oldham was in a state of near economic collapse - now it is beginning to boom again (in a modest way); and the investment of labour and money from the British Muslim communities are largely the reasons.

any evidence? or is that just opinion?

again without sounding racist... the white areas of oldham are much more well kept and provide a better standard of living than those i've seen in the asian areas (based on first hand experiences).

[monkey_rat]

Originally Posted by scproductions

Oldham has had a hell of a large Asian-Muslim population which is still rapidly expanding...

therefore investment in Oldham is sure to take off extremely soon.

I fail to see the logic...

[scproductions]

Originally Posted by monkey_rat

I fail to see the logic...

again without sounding racist!!

the overall trend in oldham is that muslim-asian projects seem to get priority over white british projects.

for example funding was provided by the council for a £6,000,000 mosque (there is no way they would have done that for a church i tell u now!). The radclyffe high school was chosen over north chadderton high school for a brand new school (radclyffe being 84% muslim-asian and north chadderton being 3% muslim-asian). An asian-muslim primary school was also rebuilt over a white british school (which ironically is now 93% muslim-asian!).

There are other instances like this but I'd here all day.

Again I'm not being racist... just realistic!

[leebuk2005]

Originally Posted by nerd

indeed the British Muslim population is growing fast - and Oldham is much the better for it. Muslims in Oldham are - on average - healthier, better educated and harder working than than their "Christian British" neighbours. Ten years ago, Oldham was in a state of near economic collapse - now it is beginning to boom again (in a modest way); and the investment of labour and money from the British Muslim communities are largely the reasons.

BULL SHIT ive never heard so much crap in my life. Go to Royton, Shaw, Chadderton, Failsworth or Some parts of Hollinwood and then go to Glodwick, Werneth, Coldhurst or westwood and see the difference.

[monkey_rat]

Originally Posted by scproductions

again without sounding racist!!

the overall trend in oldham is that muslim-asian projects seem to get priority over white british projects.

for example funding was provided by the council for a £6,000,000 mosque (there is no way they would have done that for a church i tell u now!). The radclyffe high school was chosen over north chadderton high school for a brand new school (radclyffe being 84% muslim-asian and north chadderton being 3% muslim-asian). An asian-muslim primary school was also rebuilt over a white british school (which ironically is now 93% muslim-asian!).

There are other instances like this but I'd here all day.

Again I'm not being racist... just realistic!

mm...what 'white british' projects get overlooked? and with the church/mosque thing, christianity is dying out in britain, not because of immigrants or whatever, but because families who have lived here for generations just have no interest in religion anymore, whereas some recent immigrants come from more religious backgrounds, hence the need for mosques, but not for churches.