Oldham residents have had their say on what they'd like to see to 'reform' the town centre.

As many pubs and bars have struggled to weather the cost-of-living storm over the past 12 months, and many more eateries have shut up shop from all across the borough, readers of The Oldham Times have spoken out about what they'd like to see in the town centre.

Many said they wanted to see Oldham reformed into a "proper town" and called for it to return to its heyday of the 1980s.

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Barbara Cain said she would start by closing all the fast food places, banish cars from parking "wherever they want" and "bring back our proper outdoor market and the arcades".

She continued: "Bring back our Coliseum and our local pubs and run it as a proper town centre instead of all this rubbish that's being installed that no one wants.

"I support Oldham and visit very frequently and it breaks my heart to see what a pathetic dump it has become."

Nigel Travis agreed: "I'd like to see it returned to the 1980s/1990s when it was a good place to shop, eat and drink."

Others also said they simply wanted a variety of "decent" shops - or "something to buy besides food".

Christine Stackhouse voted for "decent shoe shops" while Lorna Gledhill said she'd "love" to see bigger shops, like John Lewis, T J Hughes, Marks & Spencer, Monsoon and other "good shoe stores" to which Margaret Mccartin agreed in voting for "designer clothes shop for women".

Ian Andrew also said the centre "could do with a barbers" while Bryan Yates said residents need an NHS dentist.

Mr Yates' comment comes as an investigation by The Oldham Times earlier this year revealed not one dentist across the borough was able to take on any new NHS patients.

But some said they'd like to see a new restaurant come to town.

Beverley Burbridge said she would like to see a "nice Chinese restaurant" in the town while Lynn Burbridge opted for a "nice Greek restaurant".

Ellen Hartley had similar ideas and said she'd like to see a "cheap and cheerful Costmo-style all-you-can-eat buffet" where residents could have a roast, a Chinese or an Italian.

She added: "It would make a change from Wetherspoons and, er, not much else really."

Others also thought outside of the box, with John Collison and Lewis Slater saying they'd like to see emergency accommodation for Oldham's veterans or the homeless.

But Margaret Maas said the town needs some more disabled parking and both Sharow Renshaw and Rachel Ellis suggested a new entertainment hub with arcade machines, a bowling alley, pool or ice skating rink could be a fun addition to the town.

A "lovely" new pub was also a popular suggestion amongst several residents.

A man said he simply wanted a place "where people can get together, listen to music, chat, maybe have a soft or even alcoholic drink with snacks available".

He added: "Have a good time or something. I know I'm thinking outside of the box here... Laughing but crying inside.

"Pub crawls are now pub marathons. So sad to see."

The comments come as several Oldham pubs and clubs have shut down over the past 12 months and as Oldham Council outlines its major regeneration plan, the latest of which includes knocking down a 130-year-old pub, The Snipe Inn, to make way for a "vibrant" new entrance path.

However, others said they wanted a lively market, a theatre, a marriage hall, a butchers, a sweet shop or greengrocers.

Lesley Bradley said she wants "real shops with real shop assistance - no self-scan tills" to "get Oldham back how it used to be with cages, pubs and a reason for people to go there".

She added: "Union Street is takeaway valley, just unbelievable how many there are."

What would you like to see in the town centre?

Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook.

If you have a story, I cover all things Oldham from food reviews and local business news to music and events, pubs, education, crime, property, health, community concerns and much more. Please email me at Olivia.bridge@newsquest.co.uk or send me a message on Twitter @Livbridge with your news.