01Jun 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

An opportunity for green transport

Borough news, Campaigns
Councillor Howard Sykes, Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group on Oldham Council, has suggested a five point response to deal with the way that Covid-19 has impacted on our local travel.  Councillor Sykes said: “This could kickstart our local transport needs in a green direction.  The Council could be been given up to £500,000 by the Mayor of Manchester to make streets safer.  The five points are a solid guide on how to spend that money.” He suggested: A commitment to provide additional financial support to our local public transport network. Power for Highways Authorities to introduce dedicated cycle lanes.Councils should be able to solve problem areas by changing the limit where appropriate.Protection for Local Authorities using the enhanced Traffic Reduction Orders against legal challenge.Get the…
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19May 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Lib Dems launch calls for more mental health support for health and care staff in Oldham

Borough news, Campaigns
The Liberal Democrats are calling on the Government to ramp up mental health support for health and care staff in Oldham to ensure “world-class” support for those tackling the virus head on. Highlighting the “deep scar” coronavirus will leave on health and care staff in Oldham, the local Liberal Democrats have put forward a package of mental health measures, including:  24/7 access to mental health support for health and social care workers, through a dedicated helplineGuarantees that health and care staff will no longer be penalised for time off due to mental or physical ill health, including when transitioning between rolesIntroduce an ‘occupational health passport’ so workers do not have to relive mental health traumas when they change jobs.Additional training to ensure there are mental health first-aiders in every health and care workforceSteps to standardise…
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14May 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Lib Dems say Manchester Airport money must come with green conditions

Borough news
Following reports that Oldham Council is set to borrow in the region of £13 million to contribute to a Greater Manchester scheme to support Manchester Airport, Lib Dem Councillor Sam Al-Hamdani called on the scheme to be balanced by a requirement for the airport to introduce improved green targets.  Councillor Al-Hamdani said: “Manchester Airport is extremely important for the region in terms of jobs and investment. However, if we are serious about the green targets that Oldham Council – and indeed Councils across Greater Manchester – have set, we must make sure that any investment comes with a green badge.” Traveller numbers have dropped dramatically, and at the moment, no-one knows quite what long-term impact the coronavirus and lockdown will have on international travel. But whatever the impact, lowering our carbon emissions…
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14May 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Councils need more support from Government or families will break apart and more people will die

Borough news
Councillor Howard Sykes, Leader of the Liberal Democrats and Opposition Leader on Oldham Council, says the Government must stick to its promises – to help families and Councils.  Many people are living below the bread line, many are dependent on food banks.  Some families will become vulnerable to loan sharks or turn to crime in order to ‘put bread on the table’ for their family.  Councillor Sykes thinks it is imperative that the Government funds Councils properly so they can prevent problems like this arising. Councils are being hit the hardest through loss of income much more than extra spending demands. In Oldham’s case loss of income are projected at £27M for 12 months compared to just over £19M on increased expenditure.  To date we have received £14.2M. Oldham Borough…
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11May 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

GMTC deliberately blocking scrutiny over Coronavirus transport crisis

Borough news
The Liberal Democrats have accused the Chair of Greater Manchester Transport Committee (GMTC) of deliberately blocking scrutiny and avoiding input from across the region. The Chair of GMTC, Councillor Mark Aldred, has ignored multiple requests from Liberal Democrat members of the committee to constructively scrutinise how the region's transport will begin to recover from the Coronavirus crisis once lockdown beings to ease. Lib Dem representatives on GMTC, John Leech and Howard Sykes, accused Councillor Aldred of deliberately avoiding scrutiny and input from across the region and political divide. The Liberal Democrats set out five points that GMTC must urgently answer in order to address concerns about how the region's transport will begin to recover from the Coronavirus crisis: How will social distancing be maintained at the same time as getting people back on public transportAddress the budget implications…
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06May 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Liberal Democrat victory as tips are slowly reopening

Borough news
Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, Liberal Democrat and Opposition Leader Oldham Council recently wrote to Council bosses to reopen local waste sites in Oldham Borough.  This is now being done in a safe and sensible manner in line with social distancing.  Council leaders have now started to reopen these sites but following strict safety guidelines.  There had recently been a spate of fly tipping locally.  New measures being introduced will hopefully solve some of the issues surrounding waste during the Covid-19 pandemic. “I’m very glad we have started to drift back towards normality.  I think this will solve some public health issues associated with the lockdown. Less fly-tipping and piles of waste on our streets means a healthier Oldham Borough,”  said Councillor Sykes. These calls to reopen waste sites came after…
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06May 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

“Stay safe and stay strong” on 75th anniversary of VE Day

Borough news
Marking the 75th Anniversary of VE Day, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, Leader of the Liberal Democrat group on Oldham Council, paid tribute to VE Day and frontline staff in the NHS and other key workers.  The 8th May marks the end of World War Two in Europe as Victory in Europe Day (VE Day).  It is an important day for many people across the UK, Europe and Commonwealth Nations.  People use this time to contemplate and pay respect to the personal sacrifice of others. There will be an address from the Queen on the BBC.  Other plans include a public doorstep singing of Dame Vera Lynn's We'll Meet Again. Councillor Sykes says: “This VE Day is especially important.  Many will feel frustrated they cannot see loved ones and pay their respects as usually…
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27Apr 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

The Liberal Democrat plan to support frontline healthcare staff and their families

Borough news, Campaigns
Councillor Howards Sykes MBE, Liberal Democrat and Opposition Leader on Oldham Council, reveals a new plan for frontline works in the National Health Service (NHS).  This is a Liberal Democrat idea that will give frontline staff an extra £29 a day.  Better PPE equipment and increased support for their families would also be provided.  The NHS is a vital part of British life, and our NHS is needed now more than ever before.  NHS frontline workers should have the same privileges as those serving on the frontline in war.  This is their war in the fight against Covid-19. It is a sad truth that some NHS staff and care staff are being put at unnecessary risk because the personal protective equipment (PPE) they need is not readily available.  This Liberal…
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24Apr 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Saddleworth plan ignored with bus cuts

Borough news, Campaigns
Despite strong and repeated representations from Saddleworth Liberal Democrats, Transport for Greater Manchester have gone ahead with bus cuts to subsidised bus services in Saddleworth. The 353, 354 & 355 have been scrapped and partially replaced by 356 Saddleworth Rambler which no longer serves Greenfield Station. Instead it is rerouted from Uppermill along Bridge Street, Carr Lane, Queensway, Wellington Road, Chew Valley Road, Shaw Hall Bank Road, Church Road and High Grove Road to Mossley Road and then to Top Mossley and Ashton Liberal Democrat Councillor for Saddleworth North Garth Harkness said: “Important areas will now have no service, and the new links are poor. I raised concerns about this but I was given reassurances that it would not be as bad as we thought. Instead it is worse as…
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23Apr 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Concerns over impact of school closures for most disadvantaged pupils

Borough news
Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, Liberal Democrat and Opposition Leader Oldham Council, is concerned over the worrying slump in school performance in Oldham Borough.  Earlier this year before the outbreak of Coronavirus (Covid-19), the Department for Education has published school performance tables based on last summer's GCSEs results (2019).  The tables show that nine out of 16 Oldham schools were ‘below average’.  A further two schools were noted as being simply ‘average’ in their performance.  Councillor Sykes wants additional funding and says the way to get that help is not to mask the problems.  Pupils will now find it even harder to achieve academically and vocationally because of the outbreak of Covid-19 and the closure of schools. “Many teachers and other staff in schools are going more than the extra mile…
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