30Apr 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
New Police Chief appointment no excuse to delay publication of report

New Police Chief appointment no excuse to delay publication of report

Borough news
Oldham Liberal Democrats are dismayed that the Mayor of Greater Manchester and Police and Crime Commissioner is not immediately publishing a damning report into Police management and performance. Oldham Liberal Democrat Group Leader councillor Howard Sykes MBE has previously raised his concerns in letters and meetings with Mayor Andy Burnham. Commenting councillor Sykes said: “Regrettably Mayor Burnham’s tenure as Police and Crime Commissioner has not been a happy one. Greater Manchester Police has under his woeful watch allowed over 80,000 crimes to go unrecorded in a single year, seen the departure of a Chief Constable under a cloud, and spent a fortune on a new iOPs Police computer system which still doesn’t work properly and at one point was functioning so poorly that officers had to go back to using…
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27Apr 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Liberal Democrats back call for No Moor BBQs

Liberal Democrats back call for No Moor BBQs

Borough news
As yet another wildfire ravages Marston Moor, Saddleworth North Liberal Democrat Councillor Garth Harkness is backing the No Moor BBQs campaign of the British Mountaineering Council for a complete ban on disposable barbecues, and wants to see more action and powers to tackle the arsonists who deliberately or inadvertently set fire to precious moorland. Councillor Harkness is standing for election again next month and intends to take this issue up as a priority if returned to office. “We have all seen the devastation caused by idiots who start fires deliberately or irresponsibly use and leave disposable barbecues,” Councillor Harkness said. “Too much of our precious and beautiful moorland has over the years already been lost to this madness and along with it sadly much of our wildlife.” It is estimated…
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26Apr 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Ancient woodlands decision is a failure for our history and our future

Ancient woodlands decision is a failure for our history and our future

Borough news
The decision of the Oldham planning committee to reject the implications of Ancient Woodland status on Knowls Lane in Lees is a blow not just to the protection of this site, but other threatened environments, says Lib Dem campaigner Mark Kenyon. Ancient Woodland makes up just 2% of woodland in the UK. An earlier decision to grant outline planning permission on the site was taken before the trees had been identified as an Ancient Woodland site. The application to change some of the conditions on the development meant that the Ancient Woodland designation would be considered as part of that application. Despite the recognition of the importance of Ancient Woodland in a recent Liberal Democrat motion passed by the Council, the majority of Labour councillors approved the application, and ignored…
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25Apr 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Liberal Democrats say NO to threatened loss of Peak District National Park

Liberal Democrats say NO to threatened loss of Peak District National Park

Borough news, Saddleworth News
Local Liberal Democrats are continuing to lead the fight to protect our public green spaces. Oldham and Saddleworth Liberal Democrats are saying NO to Conservative Government plans to replace the local management of National Parks with a so-called National Landscape Service, states Saddleworth North Liberal Democrat Councillor Garth Harkness. The Conservative Government is expected to make an announcement shortly (may be after May 6) on the future of National Parks, like the Peak District, as well as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty after a two-year delay following the Glover Review in 2019. 17 April marked the seventieth anniversary of the Peak District National Park, and Councillor Harkness is greatly concerned about plans to scrap, or downgrade, the National Park Authorities in favour of a centrally controlled and distant National Landscape…
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21Apr 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

European Super League is kick in the teeth to lower league football

Borough news, Campaigns
UPDATE: with the withdrawal of the majority of clubs from the European Super League, the threat to the game's finances in the immediate term has been withdrawn. However, until fundamental change to address the systemic failures to the games finances and its fundamental values – particularly the visible levels of racism – this threat will not go away. SA 21/04/21 The announcement of the proposed European Super League (ESL), with 12 of the world’s richest clubs forming a midweek league from which they cannot be relegated, is a kick in the teeth for lower league clubs who have been struggling without crowds during the lockdown. The 12 clubs are proposing to share €3.5billion to offset the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, with at least €10billion in ‘solidarity’ payments expected during…
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19Apr 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Another month and the promised Crompton Moor signs have still to appear

Another month and the promised Crompton Moor signs have still to appear

Borough news
Despite the pledge made to Shaw Liberal Democrat Councillor and Chair of Crompton Moor Users Group, Howard Sykes MBE, Oldham Council has still failed to put the signs up on Crompton Moor by the end of March like they promised. The signs advertise the Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) which is in place on Crompton Moor which allow local authorities to proscribe certain types of behaviour, imposing financial penalties upon those offenders who choose to ignore them. On moorland, a PSPO would typically prohibit the lighting of fires, the use of Chinese lanterns and irresponsible cycling and motor-cycling other than on certain defined routes, and place certain restrictions on dog-walking, hunting and dog fouling They are intended to keep the public safe and prevent harm to the natural environment. There…
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19Apr 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Conservatives vote to remove strip domestic violence register from landmark Bill

Borough news, CSE, domestic abuse and violence
The Conservative Government has chosen to vote down legislation establishing a register of serial and serious perpetrators of domestic abuse and stalking. The register, which was backed by a motion to Oldham Council by Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader Chris Gloster, would have meant active support for women at threat of violence from serial abusers. Local Liberal Democrat Councillor Sam Al-Hamdani said: “It is shameful that this amendment – and others aimed at protecting the safety of anyone who is the subject of domestic abuse – have been removed from the Bill. They received overwhelming support across the political spectrum when they were proposed in the House of Lords. “The Domestic Abuse Bill will make a huge difference to many people’s lives, but there are opportunities to save people from violence…
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19Apr 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Sykes seeks commitment to make Greater Manchester pension fund ‘Green’

Sykes seeks commitment to make Greater Manchester pension fund ‘Green’

Borough news
Local Liberal Democrat Councillors have begun the fight to make the Greater Manchester Pension Fund, one of the largest municipal pension funds in the UK, ‘green’. The Oldham Liberal Democrats first proposed that Oldham Council declare a Climate Emergency and were delighted to support the Administration’s ambition to achieve carbon-neutrality for Oldham Council by 2025 and for the Borough by 2030. In March Group Leader, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE wrote to the Council’s representative on the Greater Manchester Pension Fund management advisory board calling for it ‘to rapidly divest from fossil fuels’. He has yet to receive a reply nearly a month later. In March 2019, the Greater Manchester Pension Fund held investments of £1.71 billion in fossil fuel companies and funds. The biggest holdings are in BP and Shell.…
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08Apr 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
‘Don’t be a Fool in April, reuse your shopping bags’, says Sykes

‘Don’t be a Fool in April, reuse your shopping bags’, says Sykes

Borough news
Oldham’s Liberal Democrats welcome the increased charge for single use plastic carrier bags introduced on 1 April. All retailers, regardless of how big they are, will now have to charge customers 10p for a bag. Liberal Democrat Group Leader, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, said: “Environmental issues are incredibly important to Liberal Democrats, as they are for the general public. Who doesn’t feel angry and upset when they see the plastic detritus that is choking our oceans and killing our marine life? “The Liberal Democrats were glad when the 5p plastic bag charge was introduced at our bigger stores. It has already had a massive effect on the number of single-use plastic bags in circulation. Extending the charge to all stores and doubling it will make even more shoppers think twice…
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07Apr 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Sykes backs Trussell Trust campaign to end need for food banks

Sykes backs Trussell Trust campaign to end need for food banks

Borough news
Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, Leader of the Opposition on Oldham Council and Liberal Democrat candidate for Shaw in the forthcoming local election, is giving his backing to a campaign by the Trussell Trust to work towards ending the need for food banks after the May election. The Trussell Trust intends to formally launch its campaign on 9 April when all election candidates are announced. Commenting, Councillor Sykes said: “Tragically, Oldham is a borough with some of the highest levels of deprivation in the UK. Although I have some issues with the Trussell Trust, I do support this campaign. The Oldham Liberal Democrats believe strongly that in a country as wealthy as the UK it is criminal that some of our residents still do not have sufficient money to pay for…
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