‘Vibrant’ new entrance to town centre

The entrance to Oldham town centre has had a make-over. The high street can now be accessed from Oldham’s central bus stop via a new community space called Snipe Garden. 

The micro park off Fountain Street is supposed to create a ‘vibrant and welcoming’ first impression to the town centre. 

The new entrance is situated on the site of the former Snipe Inn, which was bulldozed at the end of summer 2024 after sitting vacant for two years. The new name is partly inspired by the 130-year-old pub, which closed down in 2022, and partly by Snipe Clough, a nearby stretch of land known for its green credentials.

The new park replaces the former cut-through next to Snipe Inn, a narrow and  easily flooded passageway that locals have described as ‘a silly small gap’.

After months of landscaping work, the new plaza is now open to the public. 

Attending its official opening on Monday, June 30, townhall boss Arooj Shah said: “For many visitors, this is one of the first places they see when they get off the bus, so it’s vital the entrance to the town centre feels open and welcoming to all.

“Snipe Gardens is more than just a green space, it’s about improving the town centre for everyone who lives, works, studies or visits here. I’m proud to see this project taking shape and bringing new life to our town.” 

According to council spokespeople, the project was entirely funded by water company United Utilities and other partners, and came at no cost to the council. 

The new green space features a slaloming path through rock gardens and vegetation, alongside new wooden benches for visitors to pause or socialise. 

Many welcomed the improvements, with local resident David Barker saying it was ‘certainly more welcome than the tiny alley that used to be there’.

But some shared they ‘missed the pub’ and were worried about the space attracting litter.

Snipe Garden is part of a wider scheme to introduce more green space into Oldham’s more densely populated areas. The plans include a ‘linear park’ that will run almost the entire length of the town, with parts of the green space already under development off Rock Street. 

The increase in green space is supposed to make Oldham a more attractive place to live, as the borough prepares for several major regeneration plans bringing almost 2,000 new homes to the town centre.

The new town centre entrance in Oldham officially opens. Credit: Oldham Council