Two and a half years ago alleyways in an area of Coldhurst looked dirty and unwelcoming.
The passages behind St Hilda’s Drive, Mitchell Street, Ward Street, Ripon Street, Eleanor Street, Cottam Street and Whittingham Grove were overgrown and home to litter and fly-tipping.
Residents living in the area decided enough was enough and wanted to do something about it and improve their neighbourhood.
MyColdhurst was formed and backed by funding from Oldham Council’s Green Dividend fund, they set about tidying up the alleyways.
Roll on a couple of years and the alleyways are still clean – thanks to regular clean ups held by residents – and looking good.
The alleyways also now look much brighter and welcoming thanks to the planting work that has been carried out.
The work has also helped bring the community together, with more than 75 per cent of residents who live on St Hilda’s Drive singing up to a community WhatsApp group.
And improving their neighbourhood physically is not the only good work MyColdhurst do in the area.
During the pandemic they have collected food and delivered it to vulnerable neighbours to make sure they don’t go hungry.
Once lockdown is fully over the group is looking to hold a community barbecue to bring the whole community together.
Sadrul Alam, from MyColdhurst said: “I can’t tell you how proud I am of everyone who has come together and contributed – our community is awesome.
“One of real plusses is children play in the alleyways all the time, a few years ago they wouldn’t have wanted to.
“Thanks to the hard work we’ve put in residents in other parts of Coldhurst are in regular contact with us. They want to copy what we have achieved, and we’ll help them as much as we can.”
Councillor Arooj Shah, Leader of Oldham Council, said: “What has happened in Coldhurst is an inspirational story.
“It just goes to show what can be achieved when a small group of residents come together.
“We are seeing more and more people taking pride in their areas across the borough, which supports the council’s priority of making sure we have cleaner streets.”
Councillor Amanda Chadderton, Deputy Leader of Oldham Council and Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, said: “I’m really pleased the council was able to support MyColdhurst with funding when they first started up as the group has gone from strength to strength since then.
“Others are now taking note of the good work they are doing and if that means more people want to get involved that can only be a good thing.”
