Brighter days: Oldham’s plan to keep COVID rates low as the borough begins new chapter
Oldham's residents are looking at a much finer forecast following a stormy 2020. But the council's new leader has warned there's plenty more to do yet.
Oldham spent half of 2020 on the edge and the other half in the headlines.
Whilst the initial lockdown lift in July was supposed to offer some respite from all the doom and gloom, this little old mill town didn’t have much time to enjoy its return to action.
Shortly after a county-wide indoor mixing ban was enforced across Greater Manchester, Oldham was quickly battered by big a wave of COVID infections – leaving the region teetering on the brink of a local lockdown for what felt like an eternity.
Oldham’s leaders warned that shutting down the economy would be ‘catastrophic’. But residents knew it could realistically happen. 100 miles down the M1 in Leicester, people had spent summer being forced to watch on from their windows as the rest of the world largely returned to normal.
It appeared Oldham was next on the quarantine list, and the borough spent weeks on tenterhooks, often expecting the worst.
ADVERTISEMENT
Those days seem like a long time ago now.
Six months on, Oldham has a real spring in its step.
ADVERTISEMENT
During the same week that bars, restaurants and culture venues reopened their doors, the region was treated to an extra couple of pages of positive news that made for fine reading.
Not only did the council bag £10.7 million to rejuvenate Oldham town centre, but new stats showed COVID rates are in such steep decline that the borough now has the fewest infections in all of Greater Manchester.
Cases plummeted by 42% up to May 13 – putting Oldham’s numbers lower than the national average.
ADVERTISEMENT
The data is refreshingly positive for a region that was, mere months ago, clinging onto its freedoms by its fingernails.
It’s been the perfect platform for Oldham to start a new chapter under Arooj Shah – who was officially appointed as the region’s first ever Muslim female leader this week and is hoping to lead the borough to better days.
.@shah_arooj has been officially appointed as the new Leader of Oldham Council at the Annual Full Council Meeting. After she has given her first official speech as leader the deputy leaders, Cabinet posts and committee members will be appointed. pic.twitter.com/WTswWflDZ5
“I am so proud of how Oldhamers have responded to the pandemic,” Arooj said.
“We have pulled together, shown true community spirit, and have all worked extremely hard to bring our COVID figures down.
“However, even though our rates are now below the national average, we can’t become complacent.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Arooj and Oldham Council have urged residents to “take care” in the weeks ahead – encouraging people to familiarise themselves with the rules and stick to them. Current data suggests that most cases in Oldham are circling among young people, and there remains continued concern about the widespread presence of a particularly infectious COVID variant in the neighbouring borough of Bolton.
“As COVID restrictions are lifted, we can’t afford for cases to increase now that those most at risk are those who haven’t yet been vaccinated,” warned Arooj.
“That’s why we’re asking everyone to get tested regularly, take up the vaccine when it’s offered and remember the guidance – hands, face, space, fresh air.”
Well done to team Oldham for bringing this together. A much needed boost to reset the town centre
As part of a mission to keep infection rates down, the council is managing a dedicated COVID page online – containing all the latest rules and regulations.
The portal is designed to keep residents updated throughout – featuring weekly data that drills down into infection rates by ethnicity, age groups, and different wards within the Oldham borough.
ADVERTISEMENT
This ready access to comprehensive information is what the council is banking on to keep infections low: If Oldhamers understand the rules and the risks, the region has the best possible chance of making it through to the other side.
The council’s message moving ahead is simply “look after one another” – which ought to strike a chord.
After all, this is a borough that knows a thing or two about standing together.
Greater Manchester Police release latest image of elderly missing woman last seen in Oldham
Danny Jones
Greater Manchester Police have released a new image of an elderly missing woman after she was last seen in the Oldham area.
The 76-year-old lady, named only as Susette, who is believed to be from the Shaw area, was most recently spotted on Oak Street at approximately 8:56pm this past Monday, 20 October.
Officers and locals alike are understandably growing increasingly concerned for her welfare.
Susette is described as an older white female, around 5’4″ in height, with a slim build and light blonde/greyish hair. You can see the latest sighting of her down below.
Police previously stated that she had been seen wearing a blue anorak, blue jeans, a beige jumper with black stripes and black trainers with white trim.
However, as you can see, she has since been spotted in a similar outfit, apart from now wearing a cream jacket, black trousers and black ‘running-style’ trainers with a white sole.
It is also now understood that she has dementia and is therefore considered vulnerable.
Local Liberal Democrat and councillor, Howard Sykes MBE, has also asked his fellow constituents to remain vigilant and come forward with any and all potentially useful information they may have.
Sharing another photo of her via his official online blog, he went on to add: “Please can we ask anyone with any information to please contact GMP and to keep a lookout when out and about in the community to ensure Susette is found safe and well.”
New from me: Missing Person – Urgent appeal
Missing Person – Urgent appeal.
There is currently a lady from Shaw missing, Susette was last seen leaving her home in Shaw on 20/10/25, 21:00pm approximately . It is believed she’s … https://t.co/oLSCoglqZNpic.twitter.com/x4sHJNhkzY
Seven men from Rochdale grooming gang jailed for more than 170 years collectively
Emily Sergeant
Seven men from the Rochdale grooming gang, including the ringleader, have all been jailed for more than 170 years collectively.
The group has been sentenced following a high-profile investigation by Greater Manchester Police (GMP) into the non-recent grooming of two vulnerable girls in Rochdale between 2001 and 2006.
They have been formally named as Mohammed Zahid, Kasir Bashir, Mushtaq Ahmed, Roheez Khan, Mohammed Shahzad, Nisar Hussain, and Naheem Akram, who are all from either Rochdale or Oldham, with the exception of one residing in Crumpsall.
A jury convicted the seven men of a total of 50 child sexual offences back in June, including several counts of rape, indecency with a child, and assault by penetration.
Most notably, the ringleader of the gang, 64-year-old Mohammed Zahid, received the largest sentence of 35 years imprisonment.
Zahid was sentenced after being found guilty of 20 offences including rape, indecency with a child, and attempting to procure a girl into having unlawful sexual intercourse.
“My voice matters because I was believed.”
Two survivors of child sexual exploitation have received long-awaited justice after a GMP investigation led to 7 men jailed for 174 years.
Investigators from GMP’s specialist Child Sexual Exploitation Major Investigations Team (CSE MIT) have led a ‘complex’ and ‘meticulous’ investigation to bring about the sentences, working with partners to ensure the victims remained at the heart throughout.
A total of 32 offenders have now been brought to justice and jailed for a collective 474 years as part of two major investigations in the past decade into non-recent child sexual exploitation in Rochdale.
12 of the men have been convicted of 72 offences as part of Operation Lytton, and a further 20 men are due on trial – including six men on trial from 6 October.
Speaking following the sentencing this week, Detective Chief Inspector Guy Laycock, who is senior investigating officer on the case, commented: “I must start by paying tribute to the two survivors in this case, as they have been pivotal in bringing these abusers to long-awaited justice… and without them this would not be possible and today is about them.
“These seven men preyed on vulnerability for their own depraved sexual gain.
“They had a callous disregard for these women when they were girls and continue to show no remorse for their unforgivable actions all these years later.
“The team of dedicated investigators on this case have put thousands of hours into securing this outcome.
“Bringing child abusers to justice is why we work so tirelessly day-in day-out, and I am so pleased for the victims that we have been able to help deliver this justice for them.”
The Manc -
20th May 2021 
