Regenerating River Valleys

Oldham’s river valleys are an important part of the borough’s heritage and an opportunity for regeneration.

Working in partnership with organisations such as the Mersey Basin Campaign and the Environment Agency, the Council is bringing together local people and organisations to help improve our river valleys.

There are four key river catchments in the Borough:

River Medlock: Beginning its course upstream of Strinesdale Reservoir, the river flows through Lees to Park Bridge, on to Manchester and into the Ship Canal.
River Tame: Rising in Denshaw Moor and flowing south through the villages of Delph and Uppermill, then stretching from Mossley to Stockport (where it forms part of the River Mersey).
River Irk: Beginning to the east of Royton, the river runs west through Chadderton under the Rochdale Canal and continues through Middleton to Manchester.
River Roch: From the Pennines south of Todmorden, the Roch is joined at Rochdale by the River Beal, which begins its course in the Beal Valley south of Shaw. The Roch catchment area also includes the Rochdale Canal for much of its length.