PEOPLE in Oldham have been invited to share their views on the issues which matter most to them at a series of meetings with the council.

The Big Oldham Conversation is the council's latest approach to consultation with residents and businesses, involving in-person meetings at locations across the borough.

Whether it is anti-social behaviour or the future of the town centre, the council is assuring people 'no topic of conversation is out of bounds'.

Cllr Arooj Shah, leader of Oldham Council, said: "When I talk to people from across Oldham, one thing I keep hearing wherever I go is that people want to have more of a voice in the future of their town. And that is absolutely as it should be.

"As council leader, my job is to prioritise those things that people really care about; to make sure their council tax is spent wisely; and to listen to people from all our diverse communities when making decisions about the things that really matter.

"Many people feel that they haven't been listened to; that decisions are taken without consulting with people who live and work here; and that even when they do take part in public consultations, the end result is already a done deal. That's not how things are going to be from now on.

"That's why I'm launching the Big Oldham Conversation.

"I'm going to be going out into communities across Oldham, listening to what people have to say - and then going back and telling them what has been done as a result.

"And as part of the Big Oldham Conversation, we are also going to be asking people across the borough what they think of the big plans for our new look town centre, involving changes to the Spindles, the all new Tommyfield Market, and the creation of our new town centre park."

The in-person meetings will start next week, with everyone invited to a 'Meet The Leader' event with Cllr Shah and chief executive Harry Catherall before March 2022.

Invitations are already going out to people in Hollinwood, with more to follow for other wards in the coming months.