Oldham Reporter

22/07/2025

Man arrested in connection with shed burglaries

A 38-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of burglary.

The arrest comes after a series of shed and garage break ins and thefts from gardens over the last month. The suspect remains in police custody.

These have occurred in the Fitton Hill and Limeside areas of Oldham, with several linked as part of this investigation.

Detective Sergeant Parkin, from the Neighbourhood Crime Team in Oldham, said: “This is an excellent result for an offender who we believe is linked to several thefts in the Oldham area.

“Crimes such as these can cause misery to homeowners and we encourage residents in the Fitton Hill and Limeside areas to check their CCTV overnight or over recent days.

“Please check anything which covers gardens and access to them and report any findings online to us via www.gmp.police.uk or by calling 101 and quoting the reference number CRI/06QQ/0015386/25.”




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22/07/2025

‘We are being tormented by squirrels who keep gnawing their way into our attic’

A woman says her home is being ‘tormented by squirrels’ because of an ‘infestation’ at a nearby cemetery.

Shauni from Royton has had to spend more than £500 on pest control and preventative measures after squirrels repeatedly gnawed their way into her attic. She is pleading with the public to stop feeding the animals, which are running rampant in the graveyard that borders her home.

“It feels like they’re just tormenting us,” Shauni said. “I’ve even phoned the cemetery asking them to put a sign up to ask people not to feed the squirrels. But they say they can’t because they’re not enforcement.

“I don’t even know where to go with it. It’s just us versus the squirrels at this point.”

Read more here:

https://www.notreallyheremedia.com/news/oldham-reporter/we-are-being-tormented-by-squirrels-who-keep-gnawing-their-way-into-our-attic/




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A woman says her home is being ‘tormented by squirrels’ because of an ‘infestation’ at a nearby cemetery.

22/07/2025

New police station may have no holding cells

Plans for a new Greater Manchester police station have been slammed as ‘poor and impractical’ after it emerged the new site may have no holding cells.

Oldham Council is currently in discussion with GMP to replace the borough’s town centre station, which is reportedly ‘falling apart’.

The custody area at the Barn Street site is currently off limits due to health and safety concerns, meaning officers have to travel all the way to Tameside or further afield to book suspects.

Council leaders said giving the force direct access to cells in Oldham was a crucial reason for the move, and claimed they had received ‘personal assurances’ from the Chief Constable about the plans.

Read more here:

https://www.notreallyheremedia.com/news/oldham-reporter/new-police-station-may-have-no-holding-cells/




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Plans for a new Greater Manchester police station have been slammed as ‘poor and impractical’ after it emerged the new site may have no holding cells.

22/07/2025

Councillors overpaid due to ‘administrative error’

Oldham councillors have been overpaid for three years in a row due to an ‘administrative error’, the local authority has confirmed.

Sitting councillors don’t receive a salary, but get a set allowance each year. All 60 Oldham councillors receive a base rate of £12,212 – with those with extra responsibilities such as cabinet positions receiving more.

Basic allowances have been increased by between 1.7 – 11pc year on year for the last three years. But an error seems to have led to councillors being paid more year-on-year than the intended increase.

The council is carrying out an audit to figure out exactly what happened – and exactly how much has been overpaid. But council sources have predicted it to be a relatively small figure, amounting to around £2,000 across a maximum of 60 councillors.

But the mistake has sparked concern that the councillors’ allowances are part of a wider pattern.

Read more here:

Oldham councillors have been overpaid for three years in a row due to an ‘administrative error’, the local authority has confirmed.

21/07/2025

This man is wanted by police

Police are appealing for help to trace Marvin Berkeley (pictured).

The 30-year-old has links to the Oldham area and is wanted on recall to prison.

Anyone with information about his whereabouts, should contact police on 07393 782272 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.




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21/07/2025

Operation Vulcan seize £20,000 worth of drugs before teen arrested

Police in Derker arrested a teenager on a bike after a chase which led to the discovery of £20,000 worth of suspected cannabis.

Officers from the Operation Vulcan team spotted the 17-year-old boy acting suspicioulsy at around 1.50pm on Friday.

The teenager was stopped and detained following a brief chase when shortly after, officers discovered wraps of brown and white powder. The suspect was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply.

The offender’s house was then searched, with a further quantity of suspected class B drugs – namely cannabis – subsequently being discovered. The haul has an estimated street valuation of approximately £20,000.

Two further arrests at the property followed, with a man, aged 38, and a woman, aged 35, being arrested on suspicion of drugs offences.

Several phones and more than £1,000 in unaccounted cash were also seized. In addition, other drugs paraphernalia was discovered.

The three arrested individuals have since been released on bail pending further enquiries.

Read more here or in the comments:

https://www.notreallyheremedia.com/news/oldham-reporter/operation-vulcan-seize-20000-worth-of-drugs-before-teen-arrested/




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21/07/2025

A 15-year-old boy has died following the M60 closures on Sunday evening

It was previously reported that a man had died on the motorway, but Greater Manchester Police have now confirmed that the fatality was a 15-year-old boy.

GMP said that they responded to reports of a concern for welfare on the M60: “Sadly, a 15-year-old boy died at the scene. His next of kin have been informed.”

The motorway was closed just after 5pm on Sunday 20th July, between junction 19, Middleton and junction 22, Chadderton, following the incident.

The motorway reopened at around 4am this morning, 21st July.

The closure impacted thousands of Oasis fans heading to the final concert at Heaton Park as the motorway was gridlocked.

Fans were seen ditching their cars and walking along the carriageway in hopes to make it to the concert after they became stuck in the closure.

In a statement issued on Sunday evening Greater Manchester Police said: “We’re warning of severe delays on the M60 tonight after a fatal incident earlier on Sunday.

“Both directions are expected to remain closed between junctions 19 and 21 until midnight.

“This may impact the thousands of people who are at tonight’s final Oasis concert at Heaton Park.

“We will have a large number of police resources on the motorway and on local roads to help minimise disruption for concertgoers, the public, and partners.

“We strongly advise people to avoid travelling in the area if they can.

“Those planning to travel must prepare for severe delays and plan their journey ahead.

“We thank the public for their patience and cooperation.”




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21/07/2025

Oldham’s new town centre park to be named ‘Tommyfield Park’

Oldham Council has announced that the town’s new five-acre park - currently under construction in the town centre - will be named Tommyfield Park, in honour of the historic Tommyfield Market.

The name is a tribute to a site that has been central to Oldham’s community life for more than two centuries.

Tommyfield Market will close its doors this August as part of the town centre’s wider regeneration programme.

The name traces its roots back to farmland once owned by a local man named Tommy. The market officially began in the early 19th century on what became known as the “Tommyfield Estate.”

In 1860, Tommyfield gained national culinary fame when it became the first place in Britain to sell fried chips, a tradition that would spark the nation’s love affair with fish and chips. A blue plaque commemorates this delicious moment in history.

With the market’s closure, the next chapter in Oldham’s story begins. Tommyfield Park will be a fully self-sustaining green space, featuring:

Read more here:

https://www.notreallyheremedia.com/news/oldham-reporter/oldhams-new-town-centre-park-to-be-named-tommyfield-park/




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Oldham Council has announced that the town’s new five-acre park - currently under construction in the town centre - will be named Tommyfield Park, in honour of the historic Tommyfield Market.

21/07/2025

A new chapter opens for Oldham Library

A new story begins as the Old Library is brought back to life as part of Oldham’s exciting transformation.

Oldham Council is celebrating another major milestone in its Building a Better Oldham programme as the historic Old Library building on Union Street, has officially been handed back by construction partner Tilbury Douglas.

The landmark Grade II-listed building has undergone extensive redevelopment and will reopen in August as a vibrant civic and cultural hub—bringing it back into public use for the first time since 2017.

Dating back to 1883, the 34,800 sq ft Old Library served as a cornerstone of community life for over 130 years before being replaced by the Oldham Library and Lifelong Learning Centre in 2006

Now, under the council’s huge regeneration plans, the Old Library has been sensitively restored—preserving its heritage features while improving energy efficiency and preparing it for modern use.

Read more here:

https://www.notreallyheremedia.com/news/oldham-reporter/a-new-chapter-opens-for-oldham-library/




Oldham Reporter

21/07/2025

Final Oasis gig passes safely after 15-year-old boy dies on M60 - causing travel chaos

The final shows of Oasis’ iconic homecoming in Manchester have passed safely with no major issues and just five arrests last night (Sunday).

Four men and a woman were arrested on suspicion of offences including racially aggravated assault of a steward.

A man sadly died following an incident on the M60, Junction 20 (Alkrington Interchange), yesterday evening, which caused a closure between J19 Rhodes Interchange and J21 resulting in severe delays. The section of the motorway opened early this morning.

A large number of resources were sent to try and minimise disruption after the fatal incident.

During the five concerts, a total of 10 unauthorised drones were seized after restrictions were put in place, including one which was spotted at the Sunday gig.

There was a Section 34 Dispersal Order in place around the event area for each evening throughout the Manchester band’s string of gigs.

This order allows officers to direct individuals to leave a specified area and not return for a period of up to 48 hours to reduce anti-social behaviour and its impact on the community.

There was an isolated incident at ‘Gallagher Hill’, where some disruption occurred including bottles being thrown, however this was quickly resolved.

The five events passed without any major incidents or trouble as a total of more than 300,000 fans flocked to Heaton Park to witness the band’s massive return to Manchester.

Officers worked with the event organisers and partners from Manchester City Council and Bury Council to ensure the areas in and around Heaton Park were safely managed with minimal disruption for the public.

Read more here or in the comments:

https://www.notreallyheremedia.com/news/oldham-reporter/final-oasis-gig-passes-safely-15-yearold-boy-dies-on-m60-causing-travel-chaos/




Oldham Reporter

The final shows of Oasis’ iconic homecoming in Manchester have passed safely with no major issues and just five arrests last night (Sunday).

21/07/2025

Police plea to find family of man found dead

Police are searching for the family of a man who has been found dead at his home in Oldham.

Michael Needham (84), died at his home address on Wildmoor Avenue, on Tuesday, July 15.

He has previously been known as Micheal Trevor Cartledge.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Police Coroner's Office on 0161 856 8095.





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20/07/2025

A Man has sadly died after a collision on the M60