08Sep 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Return to sender: Royal Mail refuse local Olympian gold post box

Borough news
A plea from Shaw Liberal Democrat Councillors for a gold post box in the town to mark the recent Olympic success of local hero Matthew Walls has been refused by Royal Mail. Shaw cyclist Matthew won a Gold and Silver medal at the recent Tokyo Olympics. Councillor Howard Sykes MBE who made the request on behalf of his Shaw colleagues to the Chief Executive was ‘very disappointed’ at the response. “It is clear that Royal Mail regard the action they took after the 2012 London Games in painting post boxes gold as a never-to-be-repeated homage to this nation’s Olympic success,” said Councillor Sykes. “It is a real pity that they do not feel able now to continue the practice as a gold post box is a clear symbol to local…
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08Sep 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
“Affordable” homes funding is not what it appears

“Affordable” homes funding is not what it appears

Borough news, Parliamentary news
Just a fraction of Government funding promised for housing development is going to go on social housing, failing to keep a Tory promise from last year that it would be targeted to help the most vulnerable. Liberal Democrat Councillors hit out after an announcement of £8.2 billion for “affordable” housing turned out to be money already announced a year ago. Even worse, hardly any of the money was for socially rented housing – what most people are thinking of when the term “affordable” is used. Shadow cabinet member for housing in Oldham, Sam Al-Hamdani, said: “Time and again, people in Oldham get really angry about so-called ‘affordable’ housing, and I say to them ‘You are right”. The Government have given that name to housing which is sold at slightly below the…
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08Sep 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Lack of consultation frustrates public and councillors

Lack of consultation frustrates public and councillors

Borough news
A new consultation on the housing proposed for the Knowls Lane site in Grotton, Springhead and Lees, is not taking place publicly, with the developer citing coronavirus restrictions as the reason – despite the restrictions no longer being in force.  A letter has been sent out to local residents from the developer, giving them two weeks to respond to the proposed designs. As this is not part of the formal planning process, this means that they do not have to adhere to the formal consultation periods that are required when planning permission is brought. Local Liberal Democrat Councillor Mark Kenyon said: “Our immediate response on getting a copy of this letter was ‘What restrictions?’ There was a public consultation this weekend on the proposals for Northern Roots which took place…
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08Sep 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

We demand to be treated with decency!

Borough news
Mrs Shona Farnworth asks Pennine Acute Hospital Trust to treat her with the respect and decency she deserves. What should be a usual visit to the gynaecology department for a cervical screening test has proved to be a lengthy and degrading ordeal for Mrs Farnworth. As a wheelchair user with a complex disability, Mrs Farnworth requires use of a hoist for the procedure at Oldham Royal Hospital. However, at multiple appointments, she was met with a hostile environment. Mrs Farnworth said: “My disability gives me plenty of challenges, which I manage to overcome in my own way. However, I am quite shocked by my experience with hospital appointments these past few months. I did not expect to get turned away from a smear appointment because of the lack of disability…
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06Sep 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Unsung heroes in our overlooked emergency services deserve government cash

Unsung heroes in our overlooked emergency services deserve government cash

Borough news
The Oldham Liberal Democrats want to see government financial support for the UK’s mountain and cave rescue services; air ambulance services; and the Royal National Lifeboat Institute. At the next meeting of the Full Council (Wednesday 8 Sept, 6pm), Crompton Councillor Dave Murphy and Shaw Councillor Hazel Gloster will be calling for government cash for these unsung emergency services run by courageous and selfless volunteers. “With the ending of COVID restrictions, more people will be out and about on our moors or visiting the seaside, and there will be greater demands on these services as a result”, said Councillor Murphy. “It is great that the public have historically given generously to support these services, but after the lockdown, a great many people will be losing their jobs and charitable donations…
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06Sep 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Anger as local Tory Councillors take credit for a scheme they tried to slash

Borough news, Saddleworth News
After trying on three separate occasions to slash the money for a community toilet scheme across Saddleworth, Tory Councillors have now tried to take credit for the scheme when it reopened after lockdown. Liberal Democrat Councillors repeatedly stopped local Conservative Max Woodvine’s plans for participants in the scheme to have their money cut in half, preserving the payments for local businesses across Saddleworth. Liberal Democrat group leader Sam Al-Hamdani said: “I was astonished when I then saw the Conservatives pretending that they were the driving force behind the scheme. I did think that they had more integrity than that, but it seems I was wrong.” The scheme, run by the Parish Council for the last decade, was on hold during the pandemic, as participating members were unable to keep the…
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03Sep 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Continued wait for EU replacement cash means Conservative government ‘short-changing Oldham’, says Sykes

Continued wait for EU replacement cash means Conservative government ‘short-changing Oldham’, says Sykes

Borough news
Oldham Liberal Democrats are disappointed that promised government cash to replace the development grants previously provided by the European Union is too little and still hasn’t arrived. In the last round of European funding (2014-2020), the ten Greater Manchester authorities received £322.75m [European Regional Development Funding (ERDF) (£176.78m) and the European Social Funding (ESF) (£145.97m)]. Over each of the six years this represented £53.8m per year. In 2017, the Conservatives promised to replace these funds with a new UK Shared Prosperity Fund once the UK exited the European Union. Ministers now say they plan to launch this in 2022 and in the meantime have made only £220 million available this year through a stopgap UK Community Renewal Fund. Local authorities have been invited to bid, with those councils in greater…
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03Sep 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Bus Lane fine chaos

Bus Lane fine chaos

Borough news
Roadworks in Lees have led to a deluge of incorrectly issued bus lane fines says newly elected Liberal Democrat Councillor for Saddleworth West and Lees, Mark Kenyon. He has contacted the Council demanding that the fines are automatically cancelled. “We’re all sadly used to the left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing. But when one of those hands is slapping £60 fines on people, patience quickly wears thin and something needs to be done. “To add further irritation, people, already busy enough as it is, are being forced to take the time to appeal a decision that wasn’t their fault. To say it sticks in a lot of peoples’ throats is a bit of an understatement.” Mark Kenyon believes that all the fines from a certain date…
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03Sep 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Health and wellbeing must be front and centre in local plan development

Borough news
The Council’s vision for Oldham must include health and well-being as key to the development of the Borough and its regeneration, says local Liberal Democrat Councillor Louie Hamblett. While the Council’s new local plan consultation includes them as objectives, they are nowhere to be seen in the vision statement, and that is a massive loss, says the shadow cabinet member for Health and Social Care. He said: “We want to have a thriving borough, where everyone is able to live their lives to the full. We can only achieve that through improvements to the local economy, so I entirely understand why that is there, but we are doing it so that people can live happy, healthy lives. “If we do not include that in our vision of what our town…
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03Sep 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Vibrant district town centres also key to post-COVID recovery

Vibrant district town centres also key to post-COVID recovery

Borough news
Liberal Democrat Councillors have called for the new Local Plan to have as a core objective ‘the creation and maintenance of vibrant district centres in each of our traditional townships’. Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Main Opposition Group, said: “Oldham’s Labour Council seems to be completely fixated upon regenerating Oldham town centre, with the other townships, Chadderton, Failsworth, Greenfield, Lees, Royton, and Uppermill, and my own Shaw and Crompton, hardly getting a look in. “After COVID, more people are visiting their local high street to shop, meet with friends for lunch, or to socialise over a drink”, added Councillor Sykes. “We need to invest in our district shopping centres to make them attractive and vibrant, with a variety of inviting and accessible shops and leisure outlets…
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