Oldham: Taxi rank to close as ‘major works’ take place in town centre

A taxi rank in Oldham will be shut down as ‘major works’ take place in the town centre, the council announced this week.

The Dan Fold taxi rank opposite the Oldham Central bus station will no longer be in use because the site is being redeveloped.

The closure is necessary because the building, previously home to the Snipe Inn Pub, is due to be demolished as part of a project to create a "new, better entrance" from the bus station to the high street.

In a statement, Oldham Council said: “This is part of our work to create a new, better entrance to the town centre. But extra cabs will be available just a minute away at the rank outside the Tommyfield Pub.

“Sorry for any inconvenience while we do these major works. We hope this extra capacity – plus our other town centre taxi rank locations which are fully open – give you plenty of options to catch a cab.”

They noted that other taxi ranks are available nearby at Spring Garden Terrace, Natwest Bank, Greaves Street, Mumps, Regent Street and the ICC Rank.

The council have also created new bays for taxis on Fountain Street so more cabs can wait for passengers by the Tommyfield Pub.

Plans were approved earlier this year to create a community space to replace the "dingy" alleyway currently connecting the terminus to Henshaw St. The "vibrant" city centre garden comes at the cost of the 130-year-old pub building of the Snipe Inn, which closed down at the end of last year and was sold to the council shortly after.

The space, due to be called Snipe Garden, will be fitted with street lights and greenery to create a "safer" and "more welcoming" port to Oldham.

The iconic Light Squeeze artwork, which is a rubber ball wrenched into the top of the narrow alleyway that has “mesmerised the kids in Oldham for years”, according to councillor Elaine Taylor, is going to be restored and relocated.