environment – Page 2 – Saddleworth Liberal Democrats

02Jul 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Government must support no charging Clean Air Zone says councillor Sykes

Oldham’s Liberal Democrats are calling for the government to support a no charging Clean Air Zone as new plans emerge for the next phases of CAZ today. Liberal Democrat Leader and Shaw councillor Howard Sykes said: “Common sense has finally prevailed on the Greater Manchester Combined Authority. We welcome the proposals for a no charging Clean Air Zone. The government must not impose charges on Greater Manchester that would hurt jobs during the cost-of-living crisis.” Councillor Sykes also said that the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and Andy Burnham had questions to answer. Councillor Sykes said, “Why has it taken so long to get to this stage? It was clear that a no charging zone was the common sense approach from the outset. So why has Mayor Burnham spent time and…

23Jun 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Liberal Democrats back climate and biodiversity declaration

Borough news, environment

Oldham’s Liberal Democrat councillors have signed a declaration calling on the government to tackle climate change and biodiversity loss ahead of the COP 27 summit in November. Liberal Democrat Group Leader councillor Howard Sykes MBE said: “At this critical time for our planet, we have a government which is allowing harmful sewage dumping practices and reversing bans on pesticides that are proven to be harmful to local ecosystems. Liberal Democrats are sending a clear message on climate change and the risks of biodiversity loss.” The Zero Hour Declaration – signed by the Liberal Democrats – calls for: That all efforts are made to keep the global temperature increase to 1.5°C.That biodiversity loss is halted and on the path to recovery by 2030.That the Government delivers a more ambitious and integrated…

15Jun 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Bees under threat: Liberal Democrats call for pesticide ban

Borough news, environment

Liberal Democrat Leader and Shaw representative councillor Howard Sykes MBE is campaigning against the use of pesticides that are harmful to bees. Pesticides containing neonicotinoid thiamethoxam are known to be extremely damaging to bees and other insect life. Last year, the government overturned a ban on pesticides containing neonicotinoid thiamethoxam. Use of thiamethoxam had previously been banned within the European Union but Britain’s departure from the EU paved the way for the ban to be lifted. Councillor Sykes said, “British Bees are already in danger and that makes the government’s decision to overturn this ban so disappointing. Bees are essential to the local environment as pollinators and conservationists are clear that the use of this pesticide will threaten not only bees, but also wildflowers and the human population itself as…

13Jun 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani

‘Keep Clean Air Zone free’ say Oldham Liberal Democrats

Borough news, environment

Liberal Democrat Opposition Leader councillor Howard Sykes MBE has called for common sense as Andy Burnham’s war of words with the government over the Clean Air Zone (CAZ) continues. The Greater Manchester Mayor is locked in a bitter stalemate with Conservative ministers after he rejected Government proposals to limit the Clean Air Zone to Manchester City Centre only. Councillor Sykes said, “It’s about time we had some common sense instead of bickering between Mayor Burnham and the Conservatives. The Liberal Democrats want to see people’s jobs and income protected at a time when many are struggling. Keeping CAZ free is the best way forward if we want to protect jobs during the cost-of-living crisis. “If the Conservative government force a charging zone on Greater Manchester then the area affected by…

07Jun 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Oldham falls behind as demand for electric vehicle charging points grows

Borough news, environment

Council plans to increase electric vehicle usage across Oldham Borough have been labelled as “ineffective and empty words” by Oldham’s Liberal Democrats after it emerged that Oldham has just 36 charging points and has missed key opportunities to expand its supply. Oldham Liberal Democrat councillors have previously raised concerns about the Labour controlled Council’s strategy for electric vehicles, pointing out existing plans would not be good enough if Oldham is to reach the key target of 3,000 charging points by 2025. Oldham Liberal Democrat Leader councillor Howard Sykes MBE said: “Labour have dragged their heels on this for too long now. We have Mayor Burnham rolling ahead with Clean Air Zone plans that will make electric vehicles ever more important, but lack of action from our Labour controlled council has…

07Jun 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Oldham recycling rates are the worst in Greater Manchester and 231st in the country

Borough news, environment

Oldham Council has been slammed for its pitifully low recycling rates. Data from LetsRecycle.com shows that, in Oldham Borough, only 36.7% of household waste was sent for reuse, recycling or composting last year. Labour controlled Oldham council ranks 231st on the national recycling league tables and is tied with Manchester City Council as the worst local authority in Greater Manchester for recycling. The best local councils in the country are St. Albans, South Oxfordshire, Three Rivers District and Vale of White Horse District Council Councils. All four are run by the Liberal Democrats. Oldham Liberal Democrat Leader councillor Howard Sykes MBE said: “These figures are a disgrace. Residents expect the council to be leading on recycling. People want to do their bit for the environment, but these figures show that…

30May 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani

How much public money have you wasted on Clean Air Zone signs Mr Mayor?

Borough news, environment, road safety

Oldham’s Liberal Democrat Leader has criticised wasteful clean air signs after Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham was forced to backtrack on his plans for a £60 per week Clean Air Zone. Shaw Councillor and Leader of Oldham Liberal Democrats, Howard Sykes MBE said, “Everybody can see the Clean Air Zone (CAZ) for what it is, a complete and utter shambles. In recent weeks, we’ve had the spectacle of Mr Burnham going cap-in-hand to the Government asking to be allowed to scrap the charges from his Clean Air Zone. This U turn is welcome but why did he not do this in the first place? This is just months after he announced plans to implement Europe’s largest clean air charging zone. And just weeks after he had to scurry around Greater…

11May 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Liberal Democrat leadership team pledged to be Real Opposition to Labour on Oldham Council

Borough news, environment, fairer council, road safety

At a Group meeting held on 7 May, the Oldham Borough Liberal Democrat Group elected councillor Howard Sykes MBE as their Leader and councillor Chris Gloster as their Deputy Leader. Councillor Howard Sykes said: “I am grateful once more to my colleagues for their support for my work as Group Leader and delighted that Chris will continue to serve as my Deputy. It was great to welcome newly elected councillor Alicia Marland from Saddleworth West and Lees to the team, and to welcome Dave Murphy and Hazel Gloster back for Crompton and Shaw Wards. After Friday’s results, the Liberal Democrats are up one to nine councillors and I know that all of us will continue to make a difference.” “Liberal Democrats will be the only real opposition party holding Labour…

27Apr 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Ban water company bosses’ bonuses until sewage discharges end say local Liberal Democrats

Borough news, environment, health and social care, Parliamentary news

Water company bosses were awarded £27 million in bonuses while pumping raw sewage into England’s waterways over 1,000 times a day. Oldham Liberal Democrats demand a “sewage bonus ban” to ban future bonuses until sewage dumps stop. England’s water company bosses have awarded themselves almost £27 million in bonuses over the past two years despite pumping out raw sewage into waterways 1,000 times a day, the Liberal Democrats have revealed. Analysis of Companies House records by the Liberal Democrats shows that executives at England’s water and sewage companies were paid £48 million in 2020 and 2021, including £27.6 million in bonuses, benefits and incentives. The eye-watering executive pay packets and company profits were made despite the Environment Agency reporting nearly 772,000 sewage dumping events taking place in 2020 and 2021…

22Mar 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Spreading the love in Grotton, Springhead and Lees

Borough news, environment

New artwork has gone up in Lees, Springhead and Grotton, celebrating the beautiful villages and the people in them. Councillors Sam Al-Hamdani and Mark Kenyon funded the new signs, after as a Parish Councillor, he tried to have artwork put up when the Tour of Britain came through Saddleworth, only to discover that there were no fixings in place in the villages to be able to do it. Sam said: “I think it’s really important to be able to visibly celebrate the best of our villages and special events, and putting these up is a small but very visible thing we can do to make this happen. The signs, which have gone up in the centre of Lees, Springhead and Grotton, currently show sunset over Leesbrook Mill, the linear park,…