19Dec 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Liberal Democrats brand Avanti ‘a disgrace’ and call for West Coast Mainline contract to be removed

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Liberal Democrats in Oldham have hit out at Avanti West Coast (AWC) amid “chaos and delays” affecting Manchester to London services. Oldham’s Liberal Democrat Leader and Greater Manchester Transport spokesperson councillor Howard Sykes MBE has branded Avanti “a disgrace” who are “hampering the economy”. Avanti bosses announced a new timetable aimed at restoring commuter confidence on Thursday (Dec 8) but delays and cancellations have continued, prompting Liberal Democrat councillors to call on the government to strip Avanti of its contract. Councillor Sykes said, "The performance of Avanti has been a disgrace, and frankly, the senior figures have acted far too slowly. They’ve just not delivered for people.“It’s not just damaging the lives of people because they have these appalling delays, cancellations, and poor journeys. It’s now hampering the economy.” “Liberal…
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19Dec 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Cost-of-living: plan set out for enhanced winter care packs and free school meal support as ‘harsh winter’ hits Oldham

Borough news, fairer council
Oldham’s Liberal Democrat Opposition group will call on Oldham Council to provide enhanced winter care packs for vulnerable residents and step-up support for free school meals in primary schools. The party will bring its proposals to a vote at Oldham’s full council meeting on Wednesday 14 December. Shaw Liberal Democrat councillor Hazel Gloster, who is proposing the motion, said, “Mistakes and mismanagement at the top of the Conservative party have caused chaos in the economy. The people who will pay the price will be the most vulnerable in society. That means the elderly, the sick; and children – especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds.” “As councillors, we have a duty to make support available to those who need it. The plan that the Liberal Democrats will set out at Council will…
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05Dec 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Government’s insulation failures cost Oldhamers millions

Borough news, housing and development, Parliamentary news
The Government’s failure to insulate Britain’s homes is leading to families in Oldham paying over £30 million more a year for their energy bills, research by the Liberal Democrats has revealed. Analysis by the Liberal Democrats shows 55% of homes across Oldham have received poor energy efficiency ratings (EPC Bands D-G) since 2008. These households pay an average of £931 more a year than those with a Band C rating. Meanwhile, those on the lowest energy efficiency ratings pay nearly £1,350 more a year. It means that in total, households in poorly insulated homes in Oldham are set to pay an estimated £30,670,638 more in energy bills a year because the government has failed to bring them up to at least a Band C rating. The government’s target is for all homes to be Band…
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05Dec 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani

New figures reveal almost £80 million needed to fix hospitals across North Manchester

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Almost £80 million is needed to clear hospital maintenance backlog and repair crumbling NHS buildings across North Manchester – including Royal Oldham Hospital, new analysis by the Liberal Democrats has found.  Meanwhile, the NHS is facing a £700 million cut to its budget for repairs across the country.    Oldham’s Liberal Democrat Leader, councillor Howard Sykes said, “NHS staff are working flat out in under resourced, unfit buildings.  Yet the government is cutting budgets instead of stumping up for the essential repairs that NHS facilities need.  No wonder our NHS is struggling to catch up with the backlog of patients caused by the pandemic.”  The small print of last week’s Autumn Statement revealed the savage cut to the Department for Health’s capital spending budget next year, which is used for…
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05Dec 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Oldham Council Leaders must find creative solutions for Oldham Coliseum Theatre

Borough news
Oldham’s Liberal Democrat Leader councillor Howard Sykes MBE has called on Oldham’s senior leadership to step up efforts to support the Oldham Coliseum Theatre. In November, the long-established Fairbottom Street theatre announced that it had not been successful in its bid to secure Arts Council funding; and that jobs and the future of the theatre were at stake. Councillor Sykes has written an open letter to The Leader of Oldham Council – Amanda Chadderton, and Oldham Council Chief Executive Harry Catherall - calling on the Council to offer more support. Councillor Sykes said, “The Oldham Coliseum is one of Oldham’s most treasured institutions. It has a first-rate reputation across Oldham Borough and far beyond. I’ve called on Oldham Council to show leadership in lobbying the Arts Council and the government…
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05Dec 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Conservatives have handed local councils a “ticking time bomb” say Liberal Democrats

Borough news, fairer council
Oldham’s Liberal Democrats have warned that Conservative Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has handed councils a “ticking time bomb” with his Autumn Statement. Commenting on the Chancellors Statement and after securitising the detail, Oldham Liberal Democrat Leader councillor Howard Sykes MBE said, “Jeremy Hunt has just handed councils like Oldham a ticking time bomb with this Budget. His government has lost control of the economy and to make up for it, he is now passing the burden to councils and in turn, council taxpayers. All at a time when everyone is struggling with the worst cost-of-living crisis in decades. Conservative mistakes, but apparently everyone else must pay for them.” In a cross-party statement following Jeremy Hunt’s Autumn Statement the Local Government Association said, “Financial turbulence is as damaging to local government as…
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22Nov 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Council tax hikes show Conservative hypocrisy at its worst

Council tax hikes show Conservative hypocrisy at its worst

Borough news, fairer council
Jeremy Hunt has today paved the way for massive increases in Council Tax over the next five years, raising the ceiling on increases to five per cent. Local Liberal Democrat Councillor Sam Al-Hamdani said: “Local authorities are facing crippling increases in social care costs, especially in Oldham. It is absolutely crucial that we pay for social care to keep vulnerable adults and children safe, and this is the reason why bills go up year on year. “Instead of funding social care properly, Jeremy Hunt has again piled the cost of this on to the local authorities who can least afford it. “In four months’ time, when Oldham’s annual budget comes around, local Conservatives will – as they do every year – complain about the increase which their Conservative Government has…
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22Nov 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Councillor Sykes backs affordable food for all campaign

Borough news
Oldham’s Liberal Democrat Leader councillor Howard Sykes MBE has backed a campaign for affordable food for all. A petition has been started by campaign group ‘Which?’, who say that “as food prices continue to increase - and inflation shows no sign of slowing down - it is crucial people get the support they need.” Councillor Sykes said, “More and more people across Oldham Borough are simply unable to cope with the rising cost of food. Food bank usage is skyrocketing and we’re even seeing schools making cuts to school meal budgets. This is shameful in a developed country and the government is refusing to offer meaningful support.” Which?’s latest research shows that over eight in ten people in the UK are making an adjustment to save money on food because…
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22Nov 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani

A pause on plates

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Oldham Council have postponed a reduction in the size of ID plates on taxis after Lib Dem Councillor Louie Hamblett called out the failure to carry out an Equality Impact Assessment as part of the decision. The plates, which identify private hire cars, were due to change shortly until Councillor Hamblett challenged the decision, pointing out that for people who have impaired vision – and who are therefore more likely to use taxis – would be most affected by the change. Councillor Hamblett said: “This just hasn’t been thought through – and I know that because the report to Cabinet tells me that they didn’t look at this. It’s very simple – if this makes it harder for people with impaired vision to recognise taxis, it should not be going…
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19Nov 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani

New bins are rubbish for disabled users

Borough news, fairer council, health and social care
The Council has left the town centre filled with new bins which cannot be used by wheelchair-bound residents, after it failed to carry out any Equality Impact Assessment for their purchase. After Crompton Councillor Louie Hamblett met with the head of the council’s environmental services team to demonstrate the issues, two of the old bins have been reinstated, but Councillor Hamblett has written to Council Leader Amanda Chadderton to ask why no assessment was carried out, and to ask what the Council plans to do about the rest of the bins. Lewis and Shona Farnworth with Councillor Lewis Hamblett at one of the bins At the site meeting, Councillor Hamblett asked local resident Shona Farnworth – who has multiple disabilities – to demonstrate the impossibility of using the bin from…
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