Oliver Dowden, Tory MP and at the time Culture Secretary endorsed IX wireless, the company installing poles and wires across the borough without any community consultation, at its launch. Directors of Cohiba Communications Ltd, the controlling company of IX Wireless include James Wharton, a Conservative peer and donor. IX Wireless itself gave £31,500 to 11 Conservative MPs.

IX Wireless operations – cluttering up streets making it difficult for visually impaired people, wheelchair users and pram and buggy pushers – are largely in the North West. Residents have protested in Hyndburn and Bolton as well as Oldham.

In 2021 when Oliver Dowden appeared at the virtual launch, his departmental responsibilities included Ofcom, the UK communications regulator.

Councillor Amanda Chadderton said ‘I’m shocked, shocked to discover that a company that donates money to Tory MPs and was supported by a Tory Cabinet minister is benefitting from Tory changes to planning rules. Permitted development rights – the reason no-one has to be consulted or give permission for the wireless network being installed in Oldham by IX Wireless, have repeatedly been extended by the Tories. Their developer friends benefit from being able to do what they like, and we then have to live with the consequences. It just isn’t right and local Tory Councillors have some nerve to present all this as somehow Oldham Council’s fault. The blame for this lies fair and square with the Tory Government. I’m also interested to find out that the Conservative Government Minister responsible for Ofcom thought it was appropriate to attend the launch of a new communications company.’

Councillor Chadderton added ‘I’ve not yet had a reply to my letter to Michael Gove asking for the law to be changed to give residents and the Council a say in this kind of development. Given the amount of money developers give to the Tories I’m not holding my breath. There is something very wrong about political decisions being made that allow Tory donors to make money out of our assets and land.’