IT is time for the people of Oldham to stand up and be counted in the battle to create a bright future for their town, a new report says today.
Researchers, who were asked to look at how the borough has improved since the 2001 riots, say great steps have been taken to bring communities back together.
But they were struck by the extent to which divisions remain and by the reluctance of many to embrace positive change.
Their 64-page report, called Challenging Local Communities to Change Oldham, says the "onus for change" must now pass to local people.
It says: "The community must accept responsibility and be prepared to embrace and lead change. Reluctance to change appears to run across sections of all communities."
The research team was led by Ted Cantle, who was appointed by the Home Office to prepare a review of the 2001 riots in northern England, known as the Cantle Report.
The former chief executive of Nottingham council has now led a review team from the Coventry-based Institute of Community Cohesion in producing a report specifically about Oldham.
Partnerships
The document, dubbed Cantle II, was commissioned by Oldham council. It looks at progress made since a review team led by David Ritchie wrote a report on the town in 2001.
The report says there have been a number of good partnerships and initiatives, particularly the cross-cultural work carried out in schools.
Efforts are also being made to improve housing in the borough and some sectors of the economy are booming. But inequalities remain that must be tackled. It is essential to break down segregation in neighbourhoods, especially housing and education.
It adds: "In general, we found that a great deal has and is being done. However, there are still gaps and specific areas in which policy and practice could be strengthened and improved." It suggests developing a "common leadership" programme with representatives from local government and public, private, voluntary, religious and community groups. The work could start with a borough-wide conference designed to bring different groups together.
Council leader David Jones and opposition leader Howard Sykes welcomed the report in a joint statement. They said: "The report is right about the need for our communities to become more integrated. But that can only happen once people have the confidence to do so and that will take time to build. Within the council, we're united in our commitment to this."
They added: "This is definitely not about forcing people to mix. It is about choice and opportunity."
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I think the problem was caused by the council (which is the case with many towns facing racial troubles). They allotted a majority of council houses to one side of the community on one estate, and they placed the other side of the community on another estate. This is segregation which in turn, turns entire housing estates into asian communities or white local communities. They shouldnt have done this in the first place. The damage has been done now, but years back in the 60s, they should have integrated immigrants properly with the locals instead of placing many of the immigrants on one estate. They instantly created 2 communities that were separated. A recipe for trouble in the future years, which came to fruition in a riot. Blame the councils policies on housing for a troubled and split community.
I think the problem was caused by nutters on both sides that cannot accept resposibilities for thier own situation and always have to blame someone else for the problems. They then come to rely on the nanny state that panders to thier every whim, guess what get a job and a life, and things may just improve for you all instead of trashing your own neighbourhood and leaving the police and repair bill to others. No wonder no one wants to live in Oldham.