A CASH contribution from a mosque is to be used to create a new sensory garden in Oldham.

Oldham council is investing £4,276 in Section 106 resources, money which came about from approving the development of the Jamiat Ahle-e-Hadith mosque on Ross Street.

A Section 106 obligation is a financial contribution a developer agrees to make to the council to improve the locality, such as infrastructure, education or the environment.

The money, which was agreed in 2014, will be used to improve open space off Tudor Street and construct a "sensory garden".

It is proposed to build a new path, seating area and associated landscaping, and the work will be carried out by the town hall’s environmental services team in 2018/19.

The contribution from the mosque developers will be matched by £5,000 from the West Oldham District Executive and £366 from the ward councillors’ revenue budget.

A town hall report states: “This scheme has been developed in consultation with the district executive and local councillors in order to benefit the community.”

And a financial contribution by a housing developer will be used to fund a massive bulb planting project on the central reservation along Oldham Way.

The fund comes from the conversion of the Windsor Works former Victorian warehouse to apartments and offices and the creation of a 54 space car park, approved in 2006.

The applicant, Dalby Developments Ltd agreed to a Section 106 agreement, and the council has decided to invest the £15,644 into a scheme to beautify the busy main road.

They will carry out bulb planting on Oldham Way, matching with existing Environmental Services resources.

The officer report states: “Implementation of the scheme will not only reduce the intensity of the maintenance of these green spaces but provide a well valued visual improvement to this important transport corridor and provide additional seasonal colour.”