From saving a theatre to uncovering a national scandal - the year that changed one Greater Manchester borough

It’s been an eventful 2024 for Oldham borough.

From rescuing the cherished Coliseum theatre on Fairbottom Street to uncovering a massive national scandal in one of the borough’s cemeteries, Oldham has repeatedly made national headlines. The area has seen highs such as the opening of a stunning new food hall and lows including a huge spate of job losses after a key employer up and left.

Below are just some of the key moments throughout the year that have come to define the Greater Manchester district.

In May, around 350 people lost their jobs after the ‘devastating’ closure of Yodel distribution centre in Shaw. The company’s CEO Mike Hancox said the ‘difficult decision’ was a result of a ‘strategic review’ after the company encountered financial challenges.

Shaw councillor Howard Sykes noted the closure was a ‘disappointment’ but ‘hardly a surprise’ after the company had previously indicated it was planning to move its distribution site in the coming years. But an ex-employee, who did not wish to be named, revealed to the LDRS that the news had come ‘suddenly’ and left some older staff members in vulnerable positions.

"I can't find a job because I'm the wrong end of 50,” he said. "We knew it was coming but we were told it would be next year. They didn't give us much time.”

The council rolled out a support package for those at Yodel, linking employees to other job opportunities in the borough. Some staff members were also offered to relocate to other distribution centres outside the borough.

In July, Save the Coliseum campaigners and the council called a mystery ‘summer party’ for a surprise announcement: the beloved theatre on Fairbottom Street was to be rescued.

The well-known panto venue shut its doors in April