30Aug 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Kept in the dark on Saddleworth School

Borough news
Saddleworth Councillors Garth Harkness and Sam Al-Hamdani have expressed concerns about being kept in the dark about Saddleworth School. This follows a rumour that had circulated that the land sale at Uppermill would not now go ahead. Liberal Democrat Councillor Sam Al-Hamdani said: “We need to know what is going to happen to the Uppermill site that currently occupies Saddleworth School and the rumours appear to contradict what we have been told. If so, we have either been misled or something substantial has changed and we need to know why?” Councillor Garth Harkness said: “We were told that the land sale in Uppermill was required to help fund a new school and highways work in Diggle. We have asked to be kept informed and involved throughout and are disappointed to…
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30Aug 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
‘The times they are a changing’: Liberal Democrat Leader calls for halt to Labour’s Green Belt homes plan

‘The times they are a changing’: Liberal Democrat Leader calls for halt to Labour’s Green Belt homes plan

Borough news, Parliamentary news
“New Conservative planning proposals will now make Labour’s old plans to build thousands of homes on Oldham’s Green Belt redundant”, says Liberal Democrat Leader, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE. “It is time to stop and take stock.” Earlier this month, the Conservative Government published a consultation document on their proposals to bring in new legislation, called ‘Planning for the Future’, that will radically alter how new homes and businesses are developed in the future. Each local authority will be required to develop its own new Local Plan within thirty months of the legislation being passed, based on new ‘zones’. Councillor Sykes commented:  “This legislation will ultimately be passed, and it will make Labour’s current plans redundant and unfit for purpose immediately they are adopted”.  He has written to the Leader of the Council,…
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24Aug 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Two storey permitted development a nightmare for neighbours

Two storey permitted development a nightmare for neighbours

Borough news, Parliamentary news
Housing Minister Robert Jenrick has announced that, from 31 August, householders will be able to build a two-storey extension to their property with the normal planning rules ceasing to apply, and the Oldham Liberal Democrats are far from happy about the change. Under the new permitted development rules, Liberal Democrat Councillors are concerned that there will be few checks and balances on what goes up, and that poorly planned and executed developments, which ride roughshod over local objections, could be an eyesore and cause neighbourhood tensions. Commenting the Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, said:  “There has always been an opportunity for homeowners to extend their property, but only if planning considerations are met and neighbours are consulted.  Now with this change, these planning safeguards will be…
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23Aug 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Government must extend support to protect local jobs, Lib Dems warn

Government must extend support to protect local jobs, Lib Dems warn

Borough news, Parliamentary news
The Liberal Democrats are urging the Government to continue furlough support until it is safe and extend support to those who have so far been excluded by the Government. Acting leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey MP, who is asking the public to join the party's campaign to protect workers, warned that the Government must not "undo the work and threaten mass unemployment." According to government statistics published this week, 32,000 of people in Oldham have benefited from the job retention scheme. Government statistics also show a further 8,900 people in Oldham are receiving financial support through the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme, following a successful campaign by the Liberal Democrats. However, the party has warned some of the worst hit are the country's self-employed workers, three million of whom…
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21Aug 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Councillor calls for changes on pavement parking

Councillor calls for changes on pavement parking

Borough news, Campaigns, Parliamentary news
Local Councillor Sam Al-Hamdani has written to the Transport Secretary urging him to ensure that a consultation to ensure pavements set to become safer for parents and disabled people does not get forgotten about. The consultation was due this summer, but has not yet happened. Sam said: “This year has been a turbulent one, and it is still difficult for all of us. But we have to make sure that we carry on fixing day-to-day problems for people. Running a consultation such as this can be done without any real impact from the Coronavirus, so is exactly the sort of work that the Government should be taking forward.” Pavement parking is a constant issue for parents with prams and buggies, and for anyone in a wheelchair, often necessitating that they…
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21Aug 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Nitrous Oxide advice must be updated, says local councillor

Nitrous Oxide advice must be updated, says local councillor

Borough news, Campaigns
After Government advice on restricting the supply of nitrous oxide for recreational use was withdrawn, local councillor Sam Al-Hamdani has written to the Home Office seeking for an urgent update on the issue. The advice was withdrawn three weeks ago (July 23), citing that it no longer represents Government policy, but with no link to any new advice, and no indication of replacement advice in the Home Office’s news and communications. Councillor Al-Hamdani said: “There is no part of our borough where you do not see these small canisters left around, night after night. Both myself and the Liberal Democrat leader Howard Sykes have raised this at council meetings. We need to ensure that more is done to stop their abuse. “As such, I have written to the Home Office…
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21Aug 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Undecided fate for Saddleworth School site must be resolved

Undecided fate for Saddleworth School site must be resolved

Borough news
Following a written request, Oldham Borough Council has confirmed to local councillor Sam Al-Hamdani that there is no agreement to transfer the site of the existing Saddleworth School in Uppermill to local developer Wiggetts. Councillor Sam Al-Hamdani, the Liberal Democrats spokesperson for Saddleworth, said: “This is a large site in the centre of Saddleworth’s most populous village. It is clear that we need to know what the existing site is going to be used for, and to ensure that we can maximise the benefit to the community. “It seems that most people’s understanding that the site was to be transferred to Wiggetts in exchange for the new school site was incorrect. We need to know what the alternatives are, and push the Council to deliver the best solution for Saddleworth…
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21Aug 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Local testing long overdue, but we need no repeat of shambolic start in Shaw

Local testing long overdue, but we need no repeat of shambolic start in Shaw

Borough news
The Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group on Oldham Council, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, is pleased that Covid-19 testing will finally be delivered from mobile testing units located in district centres across Oldham. But he condemns the chaos caused by the failure of the promised Shaw local testing unit to turn up on the first day, or arrive on time on the second day, or turn up without full kit on another day and left early on another day. Councillor Sykes said: “It was a total shambles. We were promised a testing unit in Shaw on Tuesday last week (4 August) – it failed to show. And we were promised another on Friday of last week (7 August) – it arrived two and a half…
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19Aug 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Lib Dems call for a rail fare freeze

Lib Dems call for a rail fare freeze

Borough news, Campaigns, Parliamentary news
The Liberal Democrats are calling for a freeze on rail fares following the announcement that the Retail Price Index rose by 1.6% in July, which will be used to calculate the increase in fares at the end of the year. The Liberal Democrats suggest that any increase in fares would be “a slap in the face” for consumers. Given the significant drop in passenger numbers due to COVID-19, the Party is calling for fare freezes to help restore confidence in the railways. The Party want to see additional funding to increase capacity and build a network “fit for the future”, vital if the UK Government are serious about cutting emissions and reducing air pollution. Liberal Democrat Transport Spokesperson Sarah Olney said: “Any plans to go ahead with a fare increase…
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18Aug 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Nowhere to go: Conservative planning reforms fail 25,300 Oldham households on Council waiting list

Borough news, Parliamentary news
Oldham Liberal Democrats have condemned the Conservative Government for focusing on reforming the planning system instead of forcing developers to build at least 100,000 new homes a year in the UK for families to rent. The Liberal Democrats believe the Conservatives’ proposals will fail those stuck on waiting lists and zoning proposals risk “leaving whole areas behind”. Instead, the Party is calling for “an urgent house building programme”, with proposals to build 100,000 social homes for rent every year. Liberal Democrat Group Leader, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, said: “The Conservatives are once more failing the poorest residents of this Borough. Their plans to reform the planning system will do nothing to alleviate the housing crisis in Oldham borough. 25,357 families are stuck on Oldham Council’s housing waiting list with no-where…
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