26Oct 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Liberal Democrats call to save our rivers

Liberal Democrats call to save our rivers

Borough news
Oldham Liberal Democrats are calling for the UK Government to do more to improve the water quality of Britain’s rivers as one of their commitments at the upcoming COP26 climate change conference in Glasgow. Crompton Councillor Dave Murphy and Shaw Councillor Hazel Gloster will be proposing a motion to the next meeting of Oldham Council (3 November 2021) highlighting the urgent need for action, after discovering that the borough’s watercourses all failed recent tests for chemical pollution carried out by the Environment Agency and that the rivers Irk and Tame are under real threat. Proposer of the motion, Councillor Murphy said: “It is shocking that in 2019 only 14% of England’s rivers were rated ‘good’ by the Environment Agency, despite Conservative Government promises to improve the quality of watercourses over…
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25Oct 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Welcome news on cameras can benefit local community

Welcome news on cameras can benefit local community

Borough news
Funding seems to be on the horizon to provide a new speed camera in Grotton, with a much-delayed decision by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority finally being taken to provide funding for cameras across the region.  Local Liberal Democrat campaigner Alicia Marland has been pursuing the authority for over two years to get the speed camera in Grotton replaced. After hearing the news, she immediately contacted the officers responsible to find out when this will help deliver a new camera. Alicia said: "For many years the frequency of speeding vehicles on Oldham Road have been a great concern so local residents and I wanted to challenge why we had a camera but it wasn't in use. So, after my daughter was nearly knocked over by a speeding driver whilst using…
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25Oct 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Residents relief after works ignored for three months

Residents relief after works ignored for three months

Borough news
David Sawford at the works Grotton residents have finally seen repairs completed on a collapsed section of road on the junction of Thornley Park Road and Station Lane, after local resident David Sawford and councillor Sam Al-Hamdani got together to highlight how long the works had been ignored. Three months after the works had been started, leaving a major hole in the road, nothing had happened, with United Utilities and Cadent Gas saying that the collapsed section of road had nothing to do with them, but no-one else picking up the baton. Finally, after they went to the press with the issue, the Council did pick it up, and within days the works had been completed. Local Liberal Democrat Councillor Sam Al-Hamdani said: “I’m glad that – finally – when…
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25Oct 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Liberal Democrats welcome second reading of new bill to bar sex offenders from public office

Borough news, CSE, domestic abuse and violence, Parliamentary news
Oldham Liberal Democrats have welcomed the second reading in Parliament (22 October 2021) of a new bill which would bar sexual offenders from seeking, or remaining in, elected public office. In July, Liberal Democrat Group Leader Councillor Howard Sykes MBE wrote to the Conservative MP for Mole Valley, Sir Paul Beresford, offering his support for the Local Government (Disqualification) Bill and providing his office with a comprehensive briefing on the current legal situation and options. The bill, now published, will on becoming law disbar anyone from standing or remaining in public office who is subject to a ‘notification requirement’ or ‘order’ relating to sexual offences. Current legislation only bars individuals who receive a custodial or suspended prison sentence of three months or more. Commenting, Councillor Sykes said: “Over the last…
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19Oct 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Review of Greater Manchester scrutiny practices ‘long-overdue’, says Sykes

Review of Greater Manchester scrutiny practices ‘long-overdue’, says Sykes

Borough news
One year on from a promise made by the Mayor of Greater Manchester to conduct an independent review of the way in which decisions made by the GM Mayor, Council leaders and chief officers are scrutinised and challenged, the city region’s Liberal Democrat remain frustrated and disappointed by the lack of progress. Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Opposition Group on Oldham Council, who serves as a member of Transport for Greater Manchester, feels that the current arrangements are ‘wholly unfit for purpose’. “Having efficient mechanisms in place to enable the effective scrutiny of decision-making by the Mayor, Council leaders and senior officers of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority is an essential prerequisite for good governance, a genuine democracy, and devolved power. At present they are not…
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17Oct 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Tragic death of Conservative MP represents a sad day for democracy

Borough news, Parliamentary news
Responding to horrifying murder of Conservative Member of Parliament, Sir David Amess, Oldham Liberal Democrat Group Leader, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE has made the following comments: “This is indeed another sad day for democracy. No one in elected office should have to fear carrying out their duties or meeting the people they represent. Sir David is the second MP to be murdered in just over five years, whilst, like the late Jo Cox MP, attending an advice surgery specifically to listen to, and support, his constituents in Southend.” “My thoughts and prayers are with Sir David’s family and friends to whom I express my sincere condolences.”
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13Oct 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

United Utilities ignore road damage for three months

Borough news
Substantial repairs required at the junction of Station Lane and Thornley Park Road have been ignored for over three months by United Utilities. Residents have had to cope with a badly boarded over junction for nearly 13 weeks so far, with no sign in sight of a resolution. The original damage was reported to the Council in June by local Lib Dem Councillor Sam Al-Hamdani, who reported a sunken section in the road to the highways team at the Council, after it was raised with him by resident David Sawford. Three and a half months later, the work is still incomplete, and the excavations have remained untouched since the initial investigation. David said: “The hole is extremely dangerous as it is deep and unsafe. There have been a number of…
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12Oct 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Shaw and Crompton councillors set record straight on Shop Direct brownfield development, in Shaw

Shaw and Crompton councillors set record straight on Shop Direct brownfield development, in Shaw

Borough news
Shaw Councillor Howard Sykes MBE has countered Labour Cabinet Member Councillor Hannah Roberts assertion that both he and his fellow Liberal Democrat Councillors are opposed to housing development on the former Shop Direct site. “Not only did Councillor Roberts completely misrepresent our position she also described the site as having previously been the ownership of Sports Direct, rather than Shop Direct,” said Councillor Sykes. “In fact, all three local Liberal Democrat Councillors support housing on the site, as it is far better that it is developed than left empty and developing housing here will help take some pressure off Shaw and Crompton’s Green Belt. “Our concern is more that there has been no planning or provision for the extra health and school places that Shaw will require to meet the…
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06Oct 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Places for Everyone must not compromise Green Belt for anyone

Places for Everyone must not compromise Green Belt for anyone

Borough news
The Oldham Liberal Democrats have submitted their response to the consultation being conducted by the Labour Mayor of Greater Manchester outlining their opposition to his latest Places for Everyone plan.  Group Leader Councillor Howard Sykes MBE summarised the position of Liberal Democrat Councillors to the Mayor’s proposals: “We remain implacably opposed to any plan to build new homes on our open spaces; our view remains Places for Everyone must not compromise Green Belt for anyone.  We believe that the requirement for new homes can be met with our stated policy to build first and always on brownfield sites, to push for the completion of development on sites with existing planning permission for new housing, and to act with purpose to bring back into use our empty homes or to convert…
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06Oct 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Sykes secures U-turn on free bags for Oldham’s valiant litter-pickers

Sykes secures U-turn on free bags for Oldham’s valiant litter-pickers

Borough news
After an exchange of emails, Liberal Democrat Leader Councillor Howard Sykes MBE has secured a U-turn in Council policy over the provision of free bin bags from the Council to the borough’s volunteer litter-pickers. Councillor Sykes said: “I am delighted that common sense has finally prevailed. It was crazy for a Council not to provide free bin bags to members of the public who in their own time are ‘doing their bit’ to help keep our borough clean.” Councillor Sykes made his request for free bags on behalf of one of his constituents and her friend: “My constituent has been going out with her friend to collect rubbish, but after running out of bin bags was told they had to pay for their own as the Council was ‘unable to…
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