Ambitious £24 million plans for a brand-new home for Oldham Coliseum have officially been submitted this week.
After the historic theatre in the heart of Oldham announced its shock closure with a heartbreaking statement due to a loss of funding earlier this year, Oldham Council went on to unveil its vision for the future of Oldham Coliseum back in June, and even shared a few photos of what the impressive new cultural hub could look like.
With a design that’s been influenced by surrounding historical buildings, and using materials to “complement” the town’s current architecture, the Council says the plans for the “modern and accessible” theatre make it both suitable for the audiences of today, all while in keeping with Oldham’s proud history.
A main auditorium with seating for more than 300 people, a 120-seat studio theatre, an education suite, and a number of all-day café bar areas – which can also be used as additional performance spaces – all form part of the £24 million masterplan.
Plans for Oldham Coliseum’s £24m ‘new home’ have officially been submitted / Credit: Oldham Council
And now, those “ambitious” plans have officially been submitted this week – with a decision due to be made on the application by November.
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Set to take shape and form a focal point of Oldham’s new outdoor arts and performance space, the “new home” for Oldham Coliseum would be open from morning into the evening, and won’t just be a place for performances and theatre, according to the Council, but also a place where people can “meet up and socialise”.
The Council also hopes the exciting new theatre will boost the town’s night time economy.
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The plans form a focal point of Oldham’s new outdoor arts and performance space / Credit: Oldham Council
Speaking as the £24 million plans were submitted for approval this week, Cllr Arooj Shah, who is the Leader of Oldham Council, said: “This is such an exciting next step for Oldham Coliseum, theatregoers in Oldham and beyond, and everyone involved who has helped bring this new theatre to life.
“Oldham has such a fantastic heritage of theatre and production spanning back decades, so it’s important we continue this for future generations.
“It’s also important to remember that this new space won’t just be a theatre.
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“It will be a place that encourages people to come together with friends and family to get creative, socialise with one another and celebrate the arts [and] I personally can’t wait to see our new theatre throw open its doors.”
A formal decision is due to be made on the plans by November 2023 / Credit: Oldham Council
Duncan Craig OBE, Chair of Trustees, Oldham Coliseum’s Chair of Trustees, Duncan Craig, has also called the formal submitting of the plans this week “another exciting step forward”.
But he admitted that there’s “still a journey ahead”.
“The success of the theatre will only happen if we work together and show just exactly what a mighty Coliseum can be,” he concluded.
Featured Image – Oldham Council
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Price caps and standardisations to be introduced for vet care in UK following major investigation
Emily Sergeant
Reforms to the veterinary industry to help pet owners better navigate the vet services market are set to be introduced this year.
After an independent inquiry group recently found that the current system is leaving pet owners ‘in the dark’, with a lack of information to help make informed decisions leading to weak competition and high prices, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has this week concluded its investigation into veterinary services for household pets in the UK.
The final report green-lights a package of measures to make the market more competitive, easier to navigate, and more responsive to pet owners’ needs.
It outlines the final remedies and recommendations, which together, will transform the market.
Remedies and recommendations in the report range from price caps and standardisations, through to upfront cost transparency.
We’ve set out major reforms to the UK’s veterinary sector now our market investigation is complete.
Our reforms will help pet owners better navigate the vet services market and will start coming into force later this year.
— Competition & Markets Authority (@CMAgovUK) March 24, 2026
Practices will soon be required to publish a comprehensive price list for standard services – including consultations, common procedures, diagnostics, written prescriptions and cremation options – so pet owners know up-front how much certain services are expected to cost.
They’ll also have to make it clear whether they are part of a group or an independent business, and provide a written estimate in advance for any treatment expected to cost £500 or more (including aftercare costs), plus an itemised bill.
Written prescription fees are set to be capped at £21 for the first medicine, and then £12.50 for any additional medicines.
Price caps and standardisations are set to be introduced for vet care in UK / Credit: Pxhere
There’s also set to be changes to the complaints process, as practices will now be required to follow a transparent, accessible, in-house complaints process, and engage in mediation where disputes cannot be resolved.
The CMA says an ‘unprecedented’ response from both the public and the sector has helped to shape the final report.
The next step is for the Government to respond to the report formally – with Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Emma Reynolds, commenting: “We are grateful for all the work of the Competition and Markets Authority, and we will respond to the report and set out next steps for our proposed reforms in due course.
“This Government is focused on helping families save money on vet services by improving transparency and choice around pricing, so the public can make informed decisions about their pets’ care.”
Featured Image – Pxhere
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Police release footage of Manchester burglar who tried to evade arrest by hiding under a bed
Emily Sergeant
Police have released unseen footage of a Manchester burglar who tried to evade arrest and justice by hiding under a bed.
David Dale Thompson, of no fixed abode, appeared at Manchester Crown Court last week (18 March) where he was sentenced to five years in prison after pleading guilty to four counts of residential burglary at an earlier hearing.
The 43-year-old was caught early last year (15 January 2025) following proactive patrols by Greater Manchester Police (GMP) neighbourhood officers across Rusholme and Moss Side, who were in the area due to a high number of reports of burglaries in the weeks prior.
While on patrol, police spotted Thompson ‘acting suspiciously’ while riding a bike just before 5pm, and once officer subsequently followed him to a property on Boscombe Street, before calling for more officers to attend.
After gaining entry to the address, officers suspected something was wrong when they entered one of the rooms, and after lifting up the bed, they found Thompson hiding in the storage compartment attempting to evade arrest.
GMP has now released footage of the moment Thompson was caught.
Speaking following Thompson’s sentencing last week, Detective Inspector Natalie McDonald, of GMP’s Manchester Central Neighbourhood Crime Team, said: “This was a fantastic example of proactive policing, which has resulted in a serial offender now behind bars.
“We know how devastating a burglary in your own home can be and this shows our commitment to tackling them head on.
“If you have any information or concerns about neighbourhood crime in your area, make sure you speak to us. In the meantime, we have officers on regular patrols in areas that need us the most.”
Emily Sergeant -
30th August 2023 
