“Big step forward” for Oldham Coliseum as Liberal Democrats win council vote to put Fairbottom Street renovations back on the table

A proposal submitted to a Council meeting by Oldham Liberal Democrats which aims to renovate the famous Fairbottom Street home of Oldham Coliseum has been approved by councillors. 

Liberal Democrat councillors Garth Harkness of Saddleworth North and Hazel Gloster of Shaw set out a motion which would see funding from other town centre projects reallocated to the renovation of the Fairbottom Street venue. 

Councillor Harkness said, “The Coliseum has put Oldham on the map.  Viability studies have now confirmed that the venue is not beyond repair and could be brought back into use.  Liberal Democrats are proposing that town centre regeneration funds are used so that the Coliseum can stay on Fairbottom Street where it belongs.” 

Councillor Gloster urged councillors to “seize the day” and vote for the plan.

“Oldham Coliseum has been the jewel in Oldham’s crown, and we have to do everything we can to protect it for future generations”, she added.

The motion passed unanimously, after being amended by Labour, was heralded as a “big step forward” in the campaign to save Oldham Coliseum.

Leader of Oldham Liberal Democrats councillor Howard Sykes MBE said, “Since the Coliseum sadly closed its doors almost a year ago, the public support for the theatre has been enormous.  Our motion has now firmly put the home of the Coliseum at Fairbottom Street back on the agenda.

“There have been a lot of failures and missed opportunities by Oldham Council and by Arts Council England and the fact is that we have had to embarrass Labour into taking real action.   This is the right approach for the Coliseum to remain a producing theatre.   It’s the right approach financially and it’s right for Oldham.  This is a big step forward in the effort to save Oldham Coliseum.”