11Sep 2018 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Lib Dems seek to tackle period poverty in Oldham schools

Borough news, Campaigns
At the full September meeting of Oldham Council (Wednesday 12 September), the Oldham Liberal Democrat Group will be proposing a motion to address period poverty. Councillor Diane Williamson will be proposing and Councillor Hazel Gloster will be seconding the motion. Councillor Williamson said: “It is scandalous that in a country with such wealth as Great Britain young girls should be in a position where they cannot afford sanitary protects and do not want to put pressure on their parents to purchase some, and then they resort to alternatives like using a soak.  It is not right that they feel stigmatised in school and bullied for their body performing its natural function.” “I am really pleased that Scotland is tackling this by introducing free sanitary products in all education establishments. In…
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11Sep 2018 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Liberal Democrat leader seeks council action to reduce male suicide

Borough news, Campaigns
To mark World Suicide Prevention Day, Monday September 10, the Leader of the Opposition and of the Liberal Democrat Group, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, has written to the Council’s Chief Executive, Dr Carolyn Wilkins OBE, urging the Council to advertise local and national services that help prevent those contemplating suicide from taking their own lives on its own website and in public buildings. Councillor Sykes has previously raised his concerns about this issue, particularly on preventing instances of male suicide, at meetings of the full Council.  He said:  “Every suicide is shocking, but the scale of male suicide is especially shocking.  Every two hours a man in the UK takes his own life–- it is the single biggest cause of death of men under 45.  One of the tragedies of…
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02Sep 2018 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Liberal Democrat Leader seeks renewed action on danger roads

Borough news
The Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the Oldham Liberal Democrat Group, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, has recently written to the Deputy Leader of Oldham Council, with responsibility for highways, Councillor Arooj Shah, asking for a review of the circumstances in which highways are repaired when they become damaged and potentially hazardous. Councillor Sykes explained why he feels a review, and more prompt action on repairing worn road surfaces is needed: “Government guidance issued to all local authorities in November 2016 states that Councils must ‘investigate’ instances where road surfaces have been eroded by at least 40mm, but there is no legal requirement placed upon Councils even then to repair them promptly.  In Oldham, the policy is at least to consider potholes deeper than 40mm to be eligible for repair,…
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02Sep 2018 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Street cleaning investment “Welcome but long overdue” says Sykes

Borough news
The Leader of the Opposition and of the Oldham Liberal Democrat Group, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, has given a cautious welcome to the announcement that Oldham Council will employ more street cleaners and enforcement officers. He questions why it was not done sooner, while in recent years this service and staff numbers have been reduced and also now whether we will now see cleaner streets everywhere across the Borough. Commenting, Councillor Sykes said:  “This decision and U – turn by Labour to invest more in street cleaners and enforcement officers is very welcome, but long overdue.  For many years now, the Liberal Democrats have been calling for more investment in street cleaning and enforcement action in the amendments that we have proposed every year in Council to the annual budget. …
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02Sep 2018 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Labour is still letting down our school leavers

Borough news
Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group and Leader of the Opposition on Oldham Council, has praised the efforts of our Borough’s young people in achieving their GCSE’s this year, but he has also expressed his disappointment that once more they continue to be let down, and let down by the failings of the Labour Council, which is the Local Education Authority (LEA). Councillor Sykes said:  “Congratulations to those students who have passed their GCSEs this year, and achieved or exceeded their academic goals.  This achievement is down to your hard work and dedication.  Let us hope that you go on to greater success in higher education and the world of work.  But I am disappointed that the local results show that Oldham Council continues to let…
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10Aug 2018 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Footbridge between the “Woolpack field” and the Garden Centre: Dobcross update

Borough news
At the Oldham Council meeting on Thursday 12th July 2018 Councillor Garth Harkness raised the issue of the footpath at the Garden Centre in Dobcross. Councillor Garth Harkness said: “The Footbridge between the ‘Woolpack field’ and the Garden Centre in Dobcross has been closed for quite some time but residents would very much like to see it re-opened. I am aware that it responsibility of Newbank Garden Centre. The Garden Centre bought the land from the Council in 2001 at an auction sale. “My understanding is that it was closed because the bridge decking is in a poor condition and had flood damage so the Garden Centre closed the path which is on their land. I know that the path is not a definitive right of way. However, there has been a path…
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10Aug 2018 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Oldham rubbish at recycling, say Oldham Liberal Democrats

Borough news
The Oldham Liberal Democrat Group has hit out at recent figures which show that Oldham has the second lowest rates of recycling in Greater Manchester, after the city itself which has always been the lowest.  Annual figures published by WasteDataFlow show recycling rates at only 39.7% of waste in 2016/17, which compares unfavourably with high performer Trafford at 61.3%. Commenting on the disappointing news, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group and Leader of the Opposition, said:  “The Labour Administration introduced three weekly bin collections supposedly to encourage recycling, but the evidence before our eyes in the wards that we as Councillors represent is that there is more and more fly-tipped waste and that it is both a health hazard and a public eyesore. “This Council needs…
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16Jul 2018 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Lib Dems call to address mental ill health in schools

Borough news, Campaigns
Liberal Democrat Councillor for Saddleworth North Garth Harkness proposed a motion to Oldham Council on Wednesday 11 July addressing issues around young people’s mental ill health, seconded by Shadow cabinet member for education and Shaw Councillor, Hazel Gloster Councillor Garth Harkness has been working with MIND to improve mental health understanding in Saddleworth along with financing mental health courses for residents in Saddleworth and young people of the Saddeworth youth committee to increase awareness, identify warning signs and promote self-resilience. Councillor Garth Harkness said: “I have been working on mental health in my own school around mental health strategy and policy. The problem is huge all staff need training, there needs to be mental health first aiders in schools with clear guidelines for staff and a designated mental health lead…
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16Jul 2018 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Government inaction on fixed odds betting terminals “a blow”

Campaigns, Parliamentary news
The Oldham Liberal Democrat Group has hit out at Government inaction over reducing the maximum possible stake on Fixed Odds Betting Terminals to £2 per play.  Despite promises to introduce the changes as soon as possible, the government has now put back the changes to 2020. Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group and Leader of the Opposition, is proposing a motion tonight at week’s full Council meeting calling for more national and local action to tackle problem and underage gambling. Responding to the disappointing news, Councillor Sykes said: “This is a real blow. Problem gambling is a blight on the lives of the individuals affected, and those of their loved ones.  For many, the problem starts with Fixed Odds Betting Terminals where players got hooked on…
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27Jun 2018 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Moor fires devastating Saddleworth

Borough news
It has been a very difficult week for Saddleworth, but as always during these difficult times the community has come together to help each other out. Our fire service has worked tirelessly with the Police, Mountain Rescue and now the Army. The Salvation Army, Tesco, residents and others have been looking after our emergency services. They have done a great job in sweltering conditions, and not helped at all by the acts of nature. In recent weeks we have seen some great collaborative working – at Dovestones Reservoir marshals have been appointed to work alongside the Police to ensure that people behave responsibly and they have been very successful. At this time we need to show our support to all those trying to keep us safe, check in on those…
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