31Oct 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Councillor Sykes welcomes success of dogs on trams trial

Councillor Sykes welcomes success of dogs on trams trial

Borough news
Oldham councillor Howard Sykes has praised the success of a trial allowing dogs on trams across Greater Manchester. He was speaking at the meeting of Greater Manchester Transport Committee on Friday 14 October, where he reminded the committee, they rejected just such a proposal from him and the Liberal Democrats back in November 2015. Councillor Sykes added “This is something I have been campaigning on for years, so I’m pleased to see the trial going so well. This is a common sense move and I look forward to seeing dogs, and their responsible owners, on trams being made permanent.” The GM Mayor introduced the three-month pilot allowing up to two well-behaved pet dogs per passenger on trams and a supporting survey is due to close on 31 October. A decision…
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27Jul 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Liberal Democrats welcome U-turn allowing dogs onto trams for a trial period

Liberal Democrats welcome U-turn allowing dogs onto trams for a trial period

Borough news
Pet dogs will be allowed on Greater Manchester trams during a three-month trial, with a two dog per passenger rule. Oldham’s Liberal Democrat Leader, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, said: “It’s common sense to allow dogs on trams so I’m glad that Transport for Greater Manchester have finally listened. You can take a dog on a bus or a train with no problem. This trial should be made permanent. We want to see more people encouraged to use public transport so moves like this are very welcome.” Councillor Sykes’s Liberal Democrat group have previously called for pets to be allowed to travel but the move was blocked by Labour and Conservative councillors (see links below). Councillor Sykes said, “Hopefully this initial trial period results in something more permanent and responsible dog…
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13Jun 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Conductors on trams needed tackle anti-social behaviour and restore user confidence

Conductors on trams needed tackle anti-social behaviour and restore user confidence

Borough news
Oldham’s Liberal Democrat councillors have renewed their calls for Metrolink conductors/staff presence to be put in place on the Rochdale – Oldham line after it emerged that fear of anti-social behaviour preventing people using Metrolink, something the Liberal Democrats have said for several years now (2018). Leader of the Liberal Democrats and Shaw representative councillor Howard Sykes said, “The Metrolink is a huge asset for our communities. The continuing failure of Metrolink and Oldham’s Council to tackle anti-social behaviour has led to residents telling us that they are afraid to use the tram.” Last month, a report from Onward UK gave a damning insight into the realities of travelling around Oldham by tram. One respondent to the Onward UK study confessed they felt as though “you take your life into…
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15Dec 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Extend Trusted People scheme

Borough news
Crompton Liberal Democrat councillor Diane Williamson has welcomed the new scheme that has been launched to help women and girls feel safe on the tram network. “In this day and age, we should not have to be doing something like this, should we? Our girls and young women should feel safe and able to travel on the trams without fear of being verbally attacked or something more serious,” said Cllr Williamson. The teams are offering a friendly face around the Oldham tram stops in case residents are feeling uneasy, especially as the winter nights draw in. Until March 2022, the Youth Service are covering the stops between Freehold and Oldham Mumps at times when they are busy with school pupils and college students, with the Street Angels covering the later…
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25Jun 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Liberal Democrat Leader calls for free wifi to be restored on trams

Borough news, Campaigns
The Leader of the Opposition and of the Liberal Democrat Group on Oldham Council, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, has written to Metrolink bosses calling for Wi-fi to be made available on available on tram services. Councillor Sykes sits as an Oldham representative on the Transport for Greater Manchester Committee.  Councillor Sykes also represents Shaw Ward, which is located on the busiest Metrolink tram service and has the most used stop – Shaw and Crompton – on the Rochdale – Oldham line.  He was responding to a report from one of his constituents, himself a regular tram user, that the Wi-fi service has not been available on trams on the line since the onset of the Coronavirus Lockdown. Commenting, Councillor Sykes said: “I do not know why the Wi-fi service was…
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15Oct 2019 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Transport bosses challenged to boost tourism in Oldham Borough

Borough news
On tram stations across Oldham Borough there are very photogenic scenes of Didsbury park in south Manchester advertised to Metrolink passengers.  These are part of a recent tourism drive.  Councillor Howard Sykes MBE applauds the strategy to advertise different parts of the region and contacted Transport for Greater Manchester to see how they can build on this.  He wants Oldham Borough to get a fair share of the benefit.  This is so that local businesses and people can profit from additional foot fall.  “Right across Oldham Borough we have a rich industrial heritage.  Impressive architecture and areas of astounding and unique rural beauty are our daily gift.  I have asked that adverts supporting Oldham’s tourism and first class countyside might appear on Metrolink platforms across Greater Manchester.” “It is an…
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23Aug 2019 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Unused tramlines could make the network safer

Borough news
Councillor Howard Sykes MBE challenges local tram operator to create fully functioning tram turnback facilities.  These would be at Westwood and Oldham Mumps.  The Liberal Democrat Leader on Oldham Borough Council told Transport for Greater Manchester (TFGM) that by motorising the existing points and modifying the signalling system they would create a safer travel network for residents.   The overall aim is to utilise the resources the network currently has, in full.  There have been several incidents recently where Oldham Town Centre Metrolink tracks have been blocked.  Passengers have had to leave the trams at Freehold Tram Stop for trams coming from Manchester, and Derker Tram Stop for trams coming from Rochdale. There have also been cases when trams have been damaged by vandals and the travelling public have been ‘thrown…
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03Nov 2018 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Conductors mean safer trams, say Liberal Democrats

Borough news
The Leader of the Opposition and of the Liberal Democrat Group, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, is proposing a motion to the next full meeting of Oldham Council (Wednesday 7 November) calling on the Council to support the elected members of Shaw and Crompton who are campaigning for the introduction of conductors on the Rochdale–Oldham Metrolink line.  The motion is seconded by Councillor Sykes’ Shaw Ward colleague Hazel Gloster. Councillor Sykes, who also serves as a member of the Transport for Greater Manchester Committee representing Oldham Council, is adamant that the introduction of conductors will not only make tram travel safer for passengers, but it will make a major contribution to reducing fare evasion on the line. The Rochdale–Oldham line is the worst for violent and criminal incidents of any route…
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22Jun 2018 by Sam Al-Hamdani

‘Unfair Fares Increase’ faced by Shaw and Crompton tram passengers under Greater Manchester Mayor’s Zone proposals

Borough news
The Leader of the Opposition and of the Liberal Democrat Group, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, has written directly to the Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham opposing proposed fare increases for passengers taking the tram from Shaw and Crompton into Manchester. Under the Mayor’s recent proposals to introduce zonal fares across Greater Manchester, commuters travelling into Manchester from Shaw and Crompton, and vice versa, will be hit with a 4.5% to 6% fare increase. Councillor Sykes, who represents Oldham on the Transport for Greater Manchester Committee, supports the introduction of zonal fares, contactless payment and daily fare capping, as these are all proposals that Liberal Democrat Councillors in Greater Manchester have been seeking for several years, but he has real concerns about the impact of the new zonal fares for…
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