17Jan 2023 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Liberal Democrats call for free school meals for all primary school children

Borough news, health and social care
Oldham’s Liberal Democrat leader councillor Howard Sykes MBE has called for free school meals to be extended to all children aged 11 and under. Currently the policy is only in place for children aged up to seven, but child poverty is on the rise in Oldham and Liberal Democrat councillors are calling for all primary school children to be offered a warm meal at lunchtime. Councillor Sykes said: “Free school meals are a lifeline for so many families in Oldham. For some children, this might be the only warm meal they get in a day; and we know that a nutritious lunch helps children focus in the classroom. The problem is that too few children are getting this opportunity and in Oldham, where a disproportionate number of our children are…
Read More
29Dec 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani

River blocked, action promised

Borough news, environment
Thornley Brook – the main river flowing through Grotton, Springhead and Lees – has been blocked in recent days by huge amounts of soil near Rhodes Hill, Lees. Action has already been taken, with local Liberal Democrat councillor Mark Kenyon meeting with the Environment Agency on site, who have already contacted the owners with concerns over the works. Mark said: “Thanks to the eagle eyes of a community already concerned about the Knowls Lane development further up the valley, this was reported to me on Boxing Day. I called the Environment Agency straight away and met them on site this morning. “The Environment Agency can see that someone has caused a real problem; there’s the blocked river and then there’s tonnes and tonnes of loose and unstable material ready to…
Read More
20Dec 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Outrage as outgoing Deputy Mayor gets specially created job

Borough news
It has been revealed that recently resigned Deputy Mayor Beverley Hughes is to get six months extra part-time work in a new “assistant deputy mayor” position, but which carries exactly the same pay (pro-rata) as the deputy mayor. Liberal Democrat Councillor Sam Al-Hamdani said: “It’s one thing to have a good handover; it’s quite another to hand someone an ‘assistant’ role – on exactly the same wages as the full role – for six months. “This will simply be reviewed in six months’ time. Really? “If we need an assistant, there should already be one. Why has it just been created at this time? Is it poor organisation? Or is it an opportunity to give the outgoing Deputy Mayor a well-paid send-off?” The Deputy Mayor recently stood down after GMP…
Read More
20Dec 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Knowls Lane loss highlighted by woodlands research

Knowls Lane loss highlighted by woodlands research

Borough news, environment
Work has now started on the link road between Knowls Lane and Oldham Road, including the destruction of an ancient woodland site which was fiercely contested by residents and local councillors at the planning stage. New research has shown that it is likely that that was the only ancient woodland site in the area. Local archaeologist Jane Barker researched maps of all the local wooded areas of note, but none of them fulfilled the likely criteria for being ancient woodland. Jane said: “This just shows the importance of the ancient woodland at Knowls Lane, and how unjustified this decision was.” “Ancient woodland is so important to our country because it provides a local ecology that has been undisturbed for hundreds of years. It is rare, and often has not been…
Read More
19Dec 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Families in need are missing out on free food vouchers

Borough news
Liberal Democrats in Oldham have warned that “thousands of eligible families” are missing out on the governments ‘Healthy Start’ voucher. The vouchers are for pregnant women and families with children aged under four who are on Universal Credit. They can be used to buy milk, infant formula, fruit, vegetables, and pulses. But analysis from the Local Government Association (LGA) has revealed that 150,000 eligible households are currently missing out on support. Oldham’s Liberal Democrat Leader councillor Howard Sykes MBE said, “Every year millions of pounds of vital Healthy Start vouchers go unclaimed and families miss out on free fruit, vegetables, and milk. With money tight for so many families right now, the government can and must do more to improve the uptake on this scheme.” “One of the main barriers…
Read More
19Dec 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Oldham must break free of ‘artificial housing targets’ after government U-turn and save our green spaces

Oldham must break free of ‘artificial housing targets’ after government U-turn and save our green spaces

housing and development
Oldham’s Liberal Democrat Opposition Leader councillor Howard Sykes MBE has called on Oldham’s leaders to scrap ‘artificial housing targets’. Councillor Sykes was speaking after Housing Minister, Michael Gove MP confirmed the government would be scrapping the “mandatory targets” which have led to development plans being drawn up across Greater Manchester – including plans to build on Green Belt. Councillor Sykes said, “The government appears to have had a moment of clarity. Everyone can see that top-down housing plans are never going to work. Oldham now has an opportunity to scrap these targets which do nothing to deliver the housing we need in the places we need it. Local councils must be given the power to make the key decisions on local development. We can now save that green space for…
Read More
19Dec 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Cost-of-living: plan set out for enhanced winter care packs and free school meal support as ‘harsh winter’ hits Oldham

Borough news, fairer council
Oldham’s Liberal Democrat Opposition group will call on Oldham Council to provide enhanced winter care packs for vulnerable residents and step-up support for free school meals in primary schools. The party will bring its proposals to a vote at Oldham’s full council meeting on Wednesday 14 December. Shaw Liberal Democrat councillor Hazel Gloster, who is proposing the motion, said, “Mistakes and mismanagement at the top of the Conservative party have caused chaos in the economy. The people who will pay the price will be the most vulnerable in society. That means the elderly, the sick; and children – especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds.” “As councillors, we have a duty to make support available to those who need it. The plan that the Liberal Democrats will set out at Council will…
Read More
05Dec 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Government’s insulation failures cost Oldhamers millions

Borough news, housing and development, Parliamentary news
The Government’s failure to insulate Britain’s homes is leading to families in Oldham paying over £30 million more a year for their energy bills, research by the Liberal Democrats has revealed. Analysis by the Liberal Democrats shows 55% of homes across Oldham have received poor energy efficiency ratings (EPC Bands D-G) since 2008. These households pay an average of £931 more a year than those with a Band C rating. Meanwhile, those on the lowest energy efficiency ratings pay nearly £1,350 more a year. It means that in total, households in poorly insulated homes in Oldham are set to pay an estimated £30,670,638 more in energy bills a year because the government has failed to bring them up to at least a Band C rating. The government’s target is for all homes to be Band…
Read More
05Dec 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Oldham Council Leaders must find creative solutions for Oldham Coliseum Theatre

Borough news
Oldham’s Liberal Democrat Leader councillor Howard Sykes MBE has called on Oldham’s senior leadership to step up efforts to support the Oldham Coliseum Theatre. In November, the long-established Fairbottom Street theatre announced that it had not been successful in its bid to secure Arts Council funding; and that jobs and the future of the theatre were at stake. Councillor Sykes has written an open letter to The Leader of Oldham Council – Amanda Chadderton, and Oldham Council Chief Executive Harry Catherall - calling on the Council to offer more support. Councillor Sykes said, “The Oldham Coliseum is one of Oldham’s most treasured institutions. It has a first-rate reputation across Oldham Borough and far beyond. I’ve called on Oldham Council to show leadership in lobbying the Arts Council and the government…
Read More
05Dec 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Conservatives have handed local councils a “ticking time bomb” say Liberal Democrats

Borough news, fairer council
Oldham’s Liberal Democrats have warned that Conservative Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has handed councils a “ticking time bomb” with his Autumn Statement. Commenting on the Chancellors Statement and after securitising the detail, Oldham Liberal Democrat Leader councillor Howard Sykes MBE said, “Jeremy Hunt has just handed councils like Oldham a ticking time bomb with this Budget. His government has lost control of the economy and to make up for it, he is now passing the burden to councils and in turn, council taxpayers. All at a time when everyone is struggling with the worst cost-of-living crisis in decades. Conservative mistakes, but apparently everyone else must pay for them.” In a cross-party statement following Jeremy Hunt’s Autumn Statement the Local Government Association said, “Financial turbulence is as damaging to local government as…
Read More