road safety – Saddleworth Liberal Democrats

30May 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani

How much public money have you wasted on Clean Air Zone signs Mr Mayor?

Oldham’s Liberal Democrat Leader has criticised wasteful clean air signs after Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham was forced to backtrack on his plans for a £60 per week Clean Air Zone. Shaw Councillor and Leader of Oldham Liberal Democrats, Howard Sykes MBE said, “Everybody can see the Clean Air Zone (CAZ) for what it is, a complete and utter shambles. In recent weeks, we’ve had the spectacle of Mr Burnham going cap-in-hand to the Government asking to be allowed to scrap the charges from his Clean Air Zone. This U turn is welcome but why did he not do this in the first place? This is just months after he announced plans to implement Europe’s largest clean air charging zone. And just weeks after he had to scurry around Greater…

11May 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Liberal Democrat leadership team pledged to be Real Opposition to Labour on Oldham Council

Borough news, environment, fairer council, road safety

At a Group meeting held on 7 May, the Oldham Borough Liberal Democrat Group elected 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 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 Alicia Marland from Saddleworth West and Lees to the team, and to welcome Dave Murphy and Hazel Gloster back for Crompton and Shaw Wards. After Friday’s results, the Liberal Democrats are up one to nine councillors and I know that all of us will continue to make a difference.” “Liberal Democrats will be the only real opposition party holding Labour…

27Apr 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Anger as Shaw residents wait years for working speed signs despite the cash having been found

Borough news, road safety

Shaw councillor, Howard Sykes MBE hit out at council complacency today as he called the wait for replacement Vehicle Activated Speed (VAS) signs on Buckstones Road, Shaw “an absolute disgrace”. Councillor Sykes said, “Speeding on Buckstones Road is a huge concern for Shaw residents. These signs have been faulty many years. More than two years ago cash found to replace them and yet the council are still not getting the basic jobs done, like this. Meanwhile, drivers, horse riders, walkers, church goers and children in Shaw are left with an unnecessarily dangerous road. Lives are at risk or injury every week these sign are delayed.” When in operation, VAS signs have proven to be a cost-effective way to tackle speeding in areas where speed cameras have been refused like Buckstones…

01Apr 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Cutting speeds through community action

Borough news, road safety

Making the roads safer in Oldham is one of the highest priorities for people who live in Oldham and Saddleworth says Liberal Democrat Councillor for Grotton, Springhead and Lees, Mark Kenyon. He has campaigned over the last year to introduce a community speedwatch scheme in the borough and has just got the go-ahead that the scheme will finally be piloted by Greater Manchester Police. The scheme will be run by the Police but operated by community volunteers. The aim is to make motorists who speed through neighbourhoods aware of the impact of their actions on local people, or the danger they pose to other road users and pedestrians. A team of local residents who are willing to volunteer a small amount of time each week are trained and issued with…

21Mar 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Credit where credit’s due: Lib Dem proposals for recycled roads are making their way forward

Borough news, road safety

Shaw and Crompton Liberal Democrat Councillors, Dave Murphy and Hazel Gloster sat astonished as Cllr Amanda Chadderton, Deputy Leader of the Council, waxed lyrical about a trial using tyres when answering a Liberal Democrat question, without ever acknowledging that this had been repeatedly proposed by the Liberal Democrats, and refused each time by the Labour administration. Cllr Murphy said: ”This is unbelievable. Yet again we suggest something to the administration either in our budget amendments or a notice of motion and the administration say it can't be done – yet they are now trialling the use of tyres in road surfaces, which is something the Liberal Democrats have spoken about.“ Recycled car tyres could soon be used to resurface roads across the country after a pioneering trial found that it…

18Mar 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Support for change on speed cameras is a start, but 20s plenty is still needed

Borough news, road safety

Over 1,000 signatures have been collected in Oldham and Stockport to support the Liberal Democrat campaign to allow speed safety measures to be more readily introduced in accident hotspots across Greater Manchester. The petition, which will be presented to Safer Roads Greater Manchester and the Department of Transport, calls for guidance to be amended so that there is no longer a requirement for three separate incidents resulting in death or serious injury before a fixed speed camera can be installed. Local Liberal Democrat Councillor Sam Al-Hamdani said: “Everyone knows where the local safety hotspots are near them – that’s why nearly 300 people in my ward have signed a petition to get safety improvements on Cooper Street, where cars have been recorded travelling at over 70mph in a 30mph zone outside…

09Mar 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Action needed on speed cameras to save lives say Liberal Democrats

Borough news, road safety

Oldham Liberal Democrats are calling for rules on speed cameras to be changed to save lives. Current rules require at least three separate collisions involving deaths or serious injuries to have occurred before they are even considered. “These rules are out of date and a straight jacket that prevents the installation of speed cameras in many areas and as a result accidents are not prevented and lives can be lost,” stated Crompton Liberal Democrat Councillor Dave Murphy. “These regulations do not include non-injury incidents which it is estimated there are a 100 of for every injury or fatality meaning there could be 300 accidents before any action is considered. We think this is just not good enough.” “Road fatality rates are on the increase,” said Councillor Murphy. “This is why…

23Feb 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Councillor welcomes progress on Huddersfield Road junction

Borough news, Campaigns, road safety, Saddleworth News

Plans to remodel the junction of Huddersfield Road and Stamford Road have moved a step further, with a survey of over 150 local residents whose houses are closest to the junction having gone out this week, so that planners can work with parking needs and current access. Local Liberal Democrat councillor Sam Al-Hamdani, who organised for the survey to happen, said: “People have been shocked by the two fatal incidents which have happened right outside their own houses. Just last week a car was overturned in an incident at the top of Dunham Street. “With limited parking being a very pressing issue, I wanted to make sure that this survey took place at the start of planning – so residents’ requirements came baked into the design work. “We need Stamford Road…

07Feb 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Liberal Democrats say residents will be safer, greener, and cleaner in their budget proposals

Borough news, environment, housing and development, road safety

Safer, greener, and cleaner, these are the watch words when the Liberal Democrats present their budget amendment proposals to the Policy Overview and Scrutiny Committee on Tuesday 8th February (6pm). Shaw Councillor Chris Gloster, Shadow Cabinet Member for Finance and Green, is looking forward to presenting the budget amendment to the committee and believes that the Liberal Democrats have come up with sensible adjustments to the budget that will have no impact on council finances but deliver maximum impact to residents whose valuable input as to what residents want to see is at the heart of the proposals. “The Oldham Liberal Democrats want to make further efficiencies in civic centre bureaucracy to squeeze out more money for our priorities, and those of the public – more cash to spend on…

14Sep 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Councillor welcomes critical safety designs for Lees junction

Borough news, road safety

Plans to improve safety at a dangerous junction in Lees have been welcomed by local Liberal Democrat councillor Sam Al-Hamdani. The junction saw two fatal accidents in nine months, and the surrounding roads have been plagued with reports of drivers speeding – in particular on Dunham Street and Stamford Road. Councillor Al-Hamdani said: “This has been traumatic for the family and friends of the people involved, and for the local residents, who have seen two such terrible accidents outside their houses. “I am glad that so much effort is being put in to redesigning this junction by the highways team. It has long been a problem area, with an unusual legacy of criss-crossing junctions meeting on to a main road.” The initial designs involve a major reconfiguration of the junction, which…