OLDHAM HAS been crowned Best City at the North West in Bloom awards – retaining its crown for the fifth year in a row.
Impressed judges at the Southport Theatre and Convention Centre also once again handed the borough their top rating of ‘Gold Medal’ status.
Oldham also bagged the Best Town Centre in the North West award thanks to its colourful and imaginative displays.
The latest accolade for the Bloom and Grow Team follows success last month when they scooped Best City at the Royal Horticultural Society’s Britain in Bloom competition for the second time.
The winning route started at Lydgate and took in Uppermill, Dobcross, Delph, Grains Road (Bishops Park), Sholver, Heyside, Turf Lane, Royton (Shaw Road) before finally going down Rochdale Road into Oldham town centre.
Oldham also received the Horticulture Award for demonstrating the best horticultural practice throughout the entry.
Councillor Barbara Brownridge, Oldham Council’s Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods and Co-operatives, said: “This result is the icing on the cake in what has been a great year for ‘Bloom and Grow’.
“A lot of hard work, dedication and commitment has gone into this campaign over the last year and it has been recognised by the judges.
“This has been a brilliant co-operative project in every sense of the word, bringing Oldham Council staff, businesses, residents, schools and community groups together to achieve such fantastic results.
“These accolades can only help the borough’s growing regional, and national, reputation.”
The theme for this year’s entry was ‘gold’ and Oldham’s entry saw them team up with Dr Kershaw’s Hospice to celebrate the facility’s 25th anniversary and the Royal Horticultural Society’s golden 50th year.
The hospice’s entry received a regional award at the ceremony, while Fitton Hill was also recognised as the best in the Urban Community category and Dobcross was invited to enter the North West in Bloom Awards in 2015.
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