New public square planned for Oldham

OLDHAM Council is planning a new public square around the old town hall which is being redeveloped as a cinema.

It is being named Parliament Square and the authority wants it to complement the cinema development which will also have six restaurant units.

Oldham said it will be the first new public space in the town “for decades”.

Council leader Jim McMahon said: “We’re keen to link the history of Oldham to the future we are working hard to create. We researched old maps and discovered the street running under what was the TJ Hughes store was called Parliament Street. To mark that link with the past the new square will be called Parliament Square and it will be an important part of our plans for Oldham Town Centre.

“We know how important good public spaces are to having a well-linked, vibrant and successful town centre and this location, formerly Clegg Street, is vital because it straddles both our retail shopping heart and our new Independent Quarter.”

The new restaurant units at the Old Town Hall range in size from 2,500 sq ft to 6,070 sq ft. Tushingham Moore is the letting agent.