COMMUNITY leaders are preparing to launch the next phase in the campaign to make Oldham a beacon of hope for former mill towns fighting racial segregation.

The Cantle Report, published yesterday, says the borough has taken huge steps to bring its communities together since the streets were rocked by riots in 2001. But the 64-page report adds that the "onus for change" must now pass to local people.

The borough council - praised for the "heroic leadership" of its leader and chief executive - is preparing for "common leadership" as a way of bringing communities together.

One option might be a borough-wide conference where people can discuss their hopes for the future.

Public, private, voluntary, religious and community groups are also expected to be encouraged to create stronger partnerships, while more women and young people will be encouraged to play their part.

Council leader David Jones and opposition leader Howard Sykes said in a joint statement: "The report is right about the need of our communities to become more integrated, but that can only happen once people have the confidence to do so - and that will take time."

The independent report - Challenging Local Communities to Change Oldham- was produced for Oldham council by a research team led by Prof Ted Cantle, who was appointed by the Home Office in 2001 to prepare a report into the riots. Tweet