18May 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Sykes backs UK 20mph speed call in UN Road Safety Week

Sykes backs UK 20mph speed call in UN Road Safety Week

Borough news, road safety
The Oldham Liberal Democrats are backing an international call to the world’s policy makers to make 20 mph / 30 kph the default speed limit on the UK’s residential streets. The campaign is being called to mark UN Road Safety Week (17-23 May). Signing the open letter of support calling on Britain’s Transport Secretary Grant Shapps MP to acknowledge that 20 mph is plenty on Britain’s residential streets, Leader of the Real Opposition and Liberal Democrat Group, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE said: “The Liberal Democrats have twice now brought proposals before Oldham Council asking for action to create 20mph zones to save lives in our borough. I sincerely hope the Labour Administration will now finally take action to make it so. “But I am today writing to the Transport Secretary…
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18May 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Eastway bus shelter in Shaw just the ticket

Borough news
Shaw Liberal Democrat Councillors were delighted to hear that their campaign for a bus shelter on Eastway has finally paid off after many years. Transport for Greater Manchester has announced that they will be installing the new shelter outside 2/2A Eastway on Wednesday 21 May, just in time for this Thursday’s Market Day. Councillor Howard Sykes MBE said: “Ever since buses have been diverted along Eastway, local Liberal Democrat Councillors have been asking for a covered bus shelter on both sides of the road. Now we will have one and we shall be renewing our calls for the creation of a second one on the ASDA side of Eastway. This has been delayed because ASDA has yet to agree to release some land as the pavement is too narrow to…
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18May 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
May makeover promised for former Crompton Baths site in Shaw Town Centre

May makeover promised for former Crompton Baths site in Shaw Town Centre

Borough news
In response to repeated representations by Shaw Liberal Democrat Councillors, a makeover of the Crompton Baths site has been promised by Council officers before the end of this month. Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, newly re-elected to represent Shaw Ward, said: “The baths site is just a disgrace and there has also been fly-tipping on adjoining land behind the new Pound Bargains shop. “Having an eyesore in the heart of our town centre does nothing to attract shoppers or businesses to our high street, and it is clearly an irritant as my Liberal Democrat colleagues and I have relayed plenty of complaints from our constituents to council officers, and repeated called for some urgent action.” Councillor Sykes has now received the promise that the area will be strimmed, and litter picked…
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11May 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Greater Manchester Police fail to supply data on unsolved crimes

Borough news
In addition to the staggering 80,000 unrecorded crimes, Greater Manchester Police have failed to report figures on unsolved crimes to the Home Office since July 2019. Nearly a million crimes have gone unsolved across the country in the last five years – that 80,000 unrecorded crimes alone would take the figure well past a million. Local Liberal Democrat Councillor Sam Al-Hamdani said: “We have just seen Andy Burnham returned as Greater Manchester Mayor, taking on the role of Police and Crime Commissioner, despite the police being placed into special measures on his watch. “If we do not see a complete change in what is happening in Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham should not see out his term. It is residents across our Borough who are suffering as a consequence of these…
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11May 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
One bedroom ‘tomb’ slammed by local councillor

One bedroom ‘tomb’ slammed by local councillor

Borough news
A tiny “home” being advertised in Oldham for rental has been condemned by a local councillor as the worst example they have seen of substandard housing. The “home” is a tiny garden shed with just enough room for a foldaway bed and a chemical toilet. Lib Dem Councillor Sam Al-Hamdani said: “This is shocking. We have seen more and more examples of standards falling, with regulations being weakened to ‘increase development’ – unfortunately at any cost.” Cllr Al-Hamdani overlooking the development site at Dovestone reservoir The Housing and Homelessness Shadow Cabinet Member continued: “We recently introduced a motion to Oldham Council about housing standards that breach human rights. It seems unthinkable that we should have to do so. “I cannot believe that people think that they can get away with…
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11May 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Liberal Democrat team pledged to be Real Opposition to Labour

Liberal Democrat team pledged to be Real Opposition to Labour

Borough news
At a Group meeting held on 8 May, the Oldham Borough Liberal Democrat Group appointed, unanimously and un-opposed, 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 unanimous 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 Mark Kenyon from Saddleworth West and Lees to the team, and to welcome Diane Williamson back for Crompton. I was also more than a little pleased to be re-elected myself. It was a shame that Garth Harkness will not be with us. After last Friday’s results, the Liberal Democrats retain eight councillors and I know that…
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05May 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
High Court judgement banning virtual meetings ‘out of step’ with COVID-19

High Court judgement banning virtual meetings ‘out of step’ with COVID-19

Borough news, Parliamentary news
Liberal Democrat Group Leader Councillor Howard Sykes MBE has expressed his disappointment at the ruling by the High Court last week that councils will have to end virtual meetings after the May 6 local elections. “It seems crazy to expect councillors, staff and the public to sit down together for meetings of up to four hours duration, when Members of Parliament can still virtually attend sessions and when we are still unable to sit indoors for one minute in a restaurant or pub,” stated councillor Sykes. Councillor Sykes is one amongst many councillors of all parties who are concerned that restarting physical meetings so soon whilst there are still restrictions on indoor meetings because of the COVID-19 pandemic is ‘out-of-step’ with the current reality and needlessly endangers public health. After…
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04May 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Public call on Conservatives to withdraw offensive leaflet

Borough news
The crass arrogance and ignorance of local Conservative candidates has caused further anger amongst the public across Oldham Borough. Local Conservatives were told in no uncertain terms that using an outdated photo of Oldham councillors - three of whom had sadly died - on leaflets distributed in early April around Crompton and High Crompton was disgusting and likely to cause distress to family members and friends of the deceased. Now, weeks later, the same image is appearing in leaflets being pushed through letterboxes by the three Conservative candidates in Saddleworth, the home of one of the deceased Councillors, popular former Mayor Derek Heffernan, who died in 2019. Mick Scholes, Liberal Democrat agent in Saddleworth South Ward is demanding that the Conservative Party immediately cease the distribution of the offensive leaflet.…
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03May 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Shaw Liberal Democrats launch petition to restore Milnrow Road bus services

Shaw Liberal Democrats launch petition to restore Milnrow Road bus services

Borough news
Shaw Liberal Democrat Councillors have written to the residents of Dunwood Park Courts and along Milnrow Road asking them to sign a petition in support of restoring a bus service along the whole of Milnrow Road. Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, who also serves as Oldham’s representative on the Transport for Greater Manchester Committee, is co-ordinating the effort to get as many residents as possible to support the campaign. Councillor Sykes said: “From January, the 181/2 bus services coming from Manchester terminated at Wrens Nest and the 408 now turns onto and off Buckstones Road so no bus travels along the whole of Milnrow Road to Wrens Nest. “Shaw Councillors have received many complaints from residents who rely on public transport who are now finding it more difficult to connect with…
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03May 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Sykes calls for on-site COVID-19 testing at more local pharmacies

Sykes calls for on-site COVID-19 testing at more local pharmacies

Borough news
Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, Leader of the Opposition and of the Liberal Democrat Group on Oldham Council, has written to Oldham’s Director of Public Health requesting more work be done on signing up pharmacies in Shaw, Crompton, Saddleworth and East Oldham to carry out on-site testing for COVID-19. Although the government is responsible for commissioning the tests, Councillor Sykes hopes that Director Katrina Stephens can help apply pressure in the right places to roll out the provision in areas of the borough that are not currently served. Commenting Councillor Sykes said: “Although it is possible to pick up a home testing kit at four pharmacies and from the Crompton Library in my own Shaw Ward, many of my constituents have told me that they would prefer to be able to…
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