Experts say Oldham's history sewed the seeds for riots

A giant inflatable "think bubble" has been set up at the start of the Oldham Beyond campaign.

People are being invited to step in to the 120-metre-square area to meet a team of international experts, including urban designers, architects and creative consultants, who are set to develop the future vision.

The campaign launch is accompanied by a report on the experts' first impressions of Oldham, which includes analysis of the problems that led to the disturbances in May 2001.

The team, appointed by Oldham Local Strategic Partnership (LSP) and the Northwest Development Agency, will challenge local people to play a part in the programme.

'No civic pride'

"We have created a radically different environment for people to come in and tell us what they think are the assets and the weaknesses of the town," said Charlie Baker of Urbed urban designers.

Gail Richards, chair of LSP, said: "We have asked the consultants to be bold and ambitious and at the same time deliver achievable ideas grounded in realism."

Phil Wood, of creative consultants Comedia, said looking at the history of the town was also going to be important.

"Oldham's mill owners got rich quick in the 19th Century, but unlike counterparts in other towns they kept their wealth to themselves instead of investing in the civic and cultural life of the place," he said.

"This lack of civic pride, combined with an inward-looking mentality, unpredictable economic boom and bust cycles and a rather aloof local authority created conditions ripe for division seen in the disturbances of May 2001."

The event will go on tour to schools throughout Oldham borough in October and November.