Much confusion surrounds our exact location, a survey in July 2003 indicated that 53% of Failsworthians' consider themselves to be part of Manchester, compared with just 25% for Oldham. The fact is that we are part of the Borough of Oldham and not the City of Manchester. The confusion comes when the post office continues to route our mail via the Manchester sorting office rather than the Oldham office. We must not assume that our postal address is the be all and end all. We hear from many 'we should go back into Manchester', again the truth is that Failsworth has never been part of Manchester, more on that in a while.

There is a new suggestion that all towns which fall in the M60 ring road should become a new Local Authority, the argument has some merit. In my own opinion we are better to be a big fish in the Oldham tank than a small fish in the Manchester tank.

Just to clarify my comments I will dispense a little history of Local Government in Failsworth;

I go back to the 1700's when local government was administered by Constables, Overseers and Church Wardens. This was the usual practice since 668AD when England was divided into Parishes. In the late 1800's regular 'council' meetings would take place and in 1827 a Bellman was appointed. As time went on the town grew and the population increased to a size where there was far to much work to do for such a small team.

In 1864 the Local Board for Failsworth was formed. The new officials met for the first time on 8th February 1864 at their premises opposite the Brown Cow, Oldham Road, Failsworth, although later moved near to the Crown and Cushion. The main role of the Local Board was to ensure good health, clean streets and the removal of rubbish. The Local Board also began to install gas street lighting.

Now we move on to 1894 with the introduction of the Local Government Act. This new act created the Failsworth Urban District Council, which some of you may remember. At the same time the Rural District of Limehurst and the Woodhouses Parish was created.

In 1880 the Council built the offices we see today on Oldham Road - commonly referred to as the Town hall.

In 1903 an amalgamation was proposed between Failsworth and Manchester. The reason for this was that 'the council has come to the conclusion that due to the heavy Poor rate in the district and the fact that, the Poor rate in the area is 2s.8d in the £1, a rate to make us poor, and not a Poor rate, that it is in the best interests of the township will be served by amalgamation with the City of Manchester' a voting slip was attached and the majority voted in favour, 2,357 for, 443 against. However you take it, Manchester said No Thanks, not interested (or words to that effect).

In 1954 Limehurst and Woodhouses were amalgamated into the Failsworth Urban District Council.

Finally we come to 1974 which saw the Failsworth Urban District Council dissolve and Failsworth became part of the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham, the system we see today.

I  feel we suffer from 'the other mans grass is always greener'. I am sure not everyone is happy to be part Oldham, and if history went the other way we could well be part of the City of Manchester, then again we could also be speaking German.

Lets make the most of what we have and work to make our town a better place to live. 'grant us the serenity to accept the things we can not change, the courage to change the things we can, and the wisdom to know the difference.' I'll second that!