07Jun 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Oldham falls behind as demand for electric vehicle charging points grows

Oldham falls behind as demand for electric vehicle charging points grows

Borough news, environment
Council plans to increase electric vehicle usage across Oldham Borough have been labelled as “ineffective and empty words” by Oldham’s Liberal Democrats after it emerged that Oldham has just 36 charging points and has missed key opportunities to expand its supply. Oldham Liberal Democrat councillors have previously raised concerns about the Labour controlled Council’s strategy for electric vehicles, pointing out existing plans would not be good enough if Oldham is to reach the key target of 3,000 charging points by 2025. Oldham Liberal Democrat Leader councillor Howard Sykes MBE said: “Labour have dragged their heels on this for too long now. We have Mayor Burnham rolling ahead with Clean Air Zone plans that will make electric vehicles ever more important, but lack of action from our Labour controlled council has…
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07Jun 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Oldham recycling rates are the worst in Greater Manchester and 231st in the country

Oldham recycling rates are the worst in Greater Manchester and 231st in the country

Borough news, environment
Oldham Council has been slammed for its pitifully low recycling rates. Data from LetsRecycle.com shows that, in Oldham Borough, only 36.7% of household waste was sent for reuse, recycling or composting last year. Labour controlled Oldham council ranks 231st on the national recycling league tables and is tied with Manchester City Council as the worst local authority in Greater Manchester for recycling. The best local councils in the country are St. Albans, South Oxfordshire, Three Rivers District and Vale of White Horse District Council Councils. All four are run by the Liberal Democrats. Oldham Liberal Democrat Leader councillor Howard Sykes MBE said: “These figures are a disgrace. Residents expect the council to be leading on recycling. People want to do their bit for the environment, but these figures show that…
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01Jun 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Oldham Council shamed by staff survey results

Oldham Council shamed by staff survey results

Borough news, fairer council
A survey into council staff satisfaction has exposed a culture of slipping standards at Oldham Civic Centre, with 50% of council workers saying they would not recommend Oldham Council as a place to work. Liberal Democrat Group Leader and Leader of the Opposition, councillor Howard Sykes MBE said, “These results show that a long-term culture of falling standards is developing under Labour’s leadership of Oldham Borough Council. The Labour administration has failed to get the basics right under successive council leaders and we now have a mountain to climb to get our staff back on board.” Sykes’s comments come after 2021 staff survey data revealed that the council’s performance as an employer had dropped sharply across the board when compared with the last staff survey which was completed in 2016.…
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30May 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani
How much public money have you wasted on Clean Air Zone signs Mr Mayor?

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

Borough news, environment, road safety
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…
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22May 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Government threatens to scrap levelling up plans days after they were announced

Government threatens to scrap levelling up plans days after they were announced

Borough news, housing and development, Parliamentary news
The government came under heavy criticism from councils and developers after it emerged that plans had been made to scrap their Levelling Up plans just days after the Bill was announced in the Queen’s Speech. Oldham Liberal Democrat Leader, Howard Sykes MBE said, “The government have promised to deliver a levelling up agenda for years now and when we finally see a Bill being brought forward, they’ve left themselves a sneaky hidden option to drop it all together when things get tough. Clearly ‘Levelling Up’ is just a political slogan to this Conservative government and they want to make sure they can still use it at the next General Election. “The Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill commits the government to ‘levelling up missions’ around the country. These missions – which…
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13May 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Protections for cash machines announced in Queen’s Speech

Protections for cash machines announced in Queen’s Speech

Borough news, Parliamentary news
Oldham Liberal Democrat Group Leader and Shaw councillor, Howard Sykes MBE has been campaigning against cash machine closures in recent years and has welcomed the recent Queen’s Speech announcement about cash machines (ATMs). According to analysis from consumer researchers at ‘Which?’, since 2015, almost half of the UK’s bank branch network has closed. In addition, a further 12,178 free-to-use cash machines have vanished since 2018. During yesterday’s Queen’s Speech, the government pledged to introduce a Financial Services and Markets Bill, which will contain measures to protect cash machines and keep them readily available to businesses and members of the public. “Access to cash is vital for businesses and individuals, even in today’s environment where so many transactions are cashless. We have already lost several cash machines in Shaw and Crompton.…
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15Apr 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Council urged to use powers to punish fly-tippers as Government scraps ‘Tip Tax’

Council urged to use powers to punish fly-tippers as Government scraps ‘Tip Tax’

Borough news
News that the Government plans to scrap charges for the disposal of DIY materials has been welcome by Liberal Democrat Opposition Leader and Shaw councillor, Howard Sykes MBE. “Placing the financial burden of waste disposal onto residents who are trying to do the right thing was wrong and it’s right that the charges should be axed. The ‘Tip Tax’ has created more problems than it has solved as residents have been turning to private collectors. In many cases fly-tipping has increased because of these unregulated operators,” stated councillor Sykes. “This will be welcomed as even more people than usual are doing DIY due to the cost-of-living crises. But fly-tipping will continue to be an issue in our communities unless the Labour council gets tougher with offenders,” councillor Sykes explained. Under…
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07Apr 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Councillors deeply disappointed that the Dunwood Park Café, Shaw has closed three months earlier than planned

Borough news
Shaw and Crompton councillors have been informed of the early closure (31 March) of the café in Dunwood Park for operational/staff reasons. Pure Innovations who operated the café have been forced to close it now due to staff departures since they announced they would be closing in July. They continue to pay rent until the end of their notice period in July. “This does mean that Oldham Council has not yet had time to make alternative provision. However, interest has been great, and people can, if they want to find out more and fancy running the café please click on this link: https://www.unitypartnership.com/property/ ,” stated Shaw councillor Howard Sykes on behalf of all his colleagues. “This is a great loss to the local community, and we will be doing all…
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03Apr 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Plans for a new Shaw and Crompton Health Centre dropped at last minute

Borough news, health and social care
Shaw and Crompton communities have had a bomb shell delivered that the plug has just been pulled on their new Health Centre at the last minute. Shaw and Crompton councillors have been informed that a new health centre for Shaw and Crompton is now not affordable, and so Oldham Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) have axed the scheme. “Shaw and Crompton councillors have worked incredibly hard to reach the position where this was ready to go, with the site ready to go, capital funding allocated, a developer commissioned, and plans developed. This is a massive kick in the teeth and a great disappointment to our local community and those who use and work in the current Health Centre,” stated Shaw councillor and Liberal Democrat Group Leader, Howard Sykes. Shadow Cabinet Member…
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09Mar 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Action needed on speed cameras to save lives say Liberal Democrats

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…
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