MILLIONAIRE Oldham philanthropist Sir Norman Stoller has backed town council leader elect Cllr Sean Fielding in his pledge to save the Queen Elizabeth Hall and Tommyfield Market from the bulldozer.

The 83-year-old businessman welcomed Cllr Fielding’s stated aim to “revisit” Oldham’s £350 million masterplan which had earmarked the two iconic buildings for demolition.

As reported in The Oldham Times last week, Cllr Fielding was elected as the controlling Labour group’s new leader at its annual meeting in the aftermath of the local elections, beating current incumbent Cllr Jean Stretton.

He will take office at the annual meeting of Oldham Council on May 23, but immediately following his election, Cllr Fielding sent an open letter to chief executive Dr Carolyn Wilkins saying that although both the QE Hall and the market hall needed investment, they should be saved.

Sir Norman, knighted in 2016 after a lifetime donating millions of pounds to various good causes, was one of the high-profile guests at the Oldham Business Awards which took place at the QE Hall on Friday evening.

Speaking exclusively to The Oldham Times he said: “This event, which is bringing more and more people into the QE Hall, justifies what I have said all the time.

“This hall is Oldham’s market place and unless there is another to take its place, it will stay, and I’m delighted to hear that now, that is going to happen.

“I am Totally behind what Cllr Fielding said. Tommyfield Market is something that is part of Oldham psyche.

“I have been amazed to find that it hasn’t had the support that Oldham people have expected it to have.”

Sir Norman is form owner of Seton Healthcare, which famously invented the tubular bandage.

He set up the Stoller Charitable Trust 20 years ago and in 2014 alone ploughed £50 million into that organisation.

He is also behind Oldham Enterprise Trust, which supports new and existing businesses based in the town, launched with £1 million donation from Sir Norman’s charity.

Sir Norman also spoke of his strong bond with people of Oldham and how he was delighted to support the Oldham Business Awards.

He went on: “I don’t look backwards, I look forwards. When you look at the strength, enthusiasm and skill that’s in this room, it shows there is nothing wrong with Oldham.

“As long as that happens I’m delighted to back it. We have been sponsoring this right from the beginning

“My former company Seton was part of the DNA of the town, Oldham people are in my blood and from my point of view, I came here with £100 of borrowed capital, an old post office van with bus seats I the back and a great deal of cheek in 1952. And it was Oldham people that have helped me.”

Sir Norman is also fully behind the Oldham-based Mahdlo Youth Zone. Youngsters from the group performed a brief cameo illustration of the history of the town at the beginning of the awards ceremony.

"My commitment to Mahdlo remains very strong," added Sir Norman. "There were outstanding tonight."