Oldham Council’s Local Improvement Fund (LIF) Sub-Committee met on Monday evening to approve funding for 18 neighbourhood projects totalling £467,000.

Among the 18 projects to successfully gain funding are the creation of a wildlife sanctuary at Sickle Street, road safety improvements in Royton and restoration of the Bulldogs community space in Fitton Hill and Hathershaw.

The LIF was established in 2019 to provide funding for projects that aim to improve Oldham’s neighbourhoods for the local residents.

Due to the affects of the pandemic, it was agreed the LIF would be included as part of the council's budget. £500,00 was designated for the sub-committee and any remainder would be used as a contingency fund for the agreed projects.

In order for the projects to gain funding, expressions of interest were submitted to the LIF, with some then chosen to proceed to the full application process.

Oldham Council Leader, Councillor Arooj Shah said: "During such hard times it is vital that Oldham Council supports residents to recover both socially and economically and the Local Improvement Fund is a great way of achieving this.

"We have seen so many deserving applications but we have selected the ones we feel will have the most positive impact on our local communities.

"I can’t wait to see these projects come to life and see residents reap the benefits."

Some of the other projects gain funding were the refurbishment of Springhead Community Centre, improvements to Crompton Cemetery and repairs to Freizland Arena, an equestrian facility in Saddleworth.

Other projects include several traffic calming measures in Chadderton and Lees as well as Royton. The areas that will be targeted are Firwood Park Estate, Burnley Lane, Salmon Fields highway, Rowland Way, Medlock Way and the road to St Paul's School.

The LIF, made up of representatives from Labour, the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats, received 42 expressions of interest from when the latest round of submissions opened in June until the deadline on July 23.

The representatives then met in August and scored the expressions of interest, with 23 making it to the full application stage where they were considered by the advisory panel and then the sub-committee.