05Aug 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Moors still at risk as government refuses to get tough over portable BBQs

Moors still at risk as government refuses to get tough over portable BBQs

Borough news
With the easing of COVID-19 quarantine restrictions, more people will be taking advantage of their summer break to head off to enjoy our Borough’s beautiful countryside.  Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, Leader of the Oldham Liberal Democrat Group, knows that the vast majority of local day-trippers will be considerate, but fears that our moorland may once more be placed in grave danger by irresponsible visitors using portable barbeques. “We have seen the devastation caused by moorland fires triggered by idiots and arsonists in the past,” said Councillor Sykes.  “I can only pray that over the summer, especially if we experience more heatwaves, this will not be repeated, because the Conservative Government has recently told me it has no plans to outlaw portable bbqs and stiffen sentences for those causing catastrophic damage…
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03Aug 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
‘Told you so’: Opposition Leader says street cleaning plan mirrors previous Liberal Democrat Budget proposals

‘Told you so’: Opposition Leader says street cleaning plan mirrors previous Liberal Democrat Budget proposals

Borough news
“Well we told you so,” was the response of Oldham Liberal Democrat Group Leader Councillor Howard Sykes MBE to news that Oldham’s Labour Cabinet has chosen to invest more in street cleaning and tackling fly-tipping.  “Oldham people want to see cleaner streets and for the Liberal Democrats this has always been a budget priority.” Councillor Sykes said:  “I welcome the new Council Leader’s commitment to establish a ‘street cleaning force’ to tackle fly-tipping and rubbish in this borough’s dirty streets, but the Liberal Democrats made similar proposals in each of our ‘alternate budget’ amendments over the last five financial years, including reinstating three enforcement officer posts.  Labour has always turned us down saying they were rubbish.  Just think how much cleaner our borough would be with five years of our…
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03Aug 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Liberal Democrats hold Council to promise on findings from national CSE inquiry

Liberal Democrats hold Council to promise on findings from national CSE inquiry

Borough news, CSE, domestic abuse and violence
Oldham Council’s Safeguarding Partnership is working to introduce recommendations from the national Independent Inquiry into Child Sex Abuse (IICSA), following further work from the Liberal Democrat group on the Council. Having already received a promise from the Council that it would apply any relevant local recommendations into their work, Councillor Sam Al-Hamdani went through the last two IICSA reports in detail to identify those that applied, and demanded a detailed response from the Council on how they were being implemented. Those recommendations have now been taken to Oldham’s Safeguarding Partnership by the Managing Director of the Children & Young People team, who will then be reporting back on what specific actions are being taken. Councillor Al-Hamdani said: “We worked hard to ensure that the Council made that commitment, but we…
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02Aug 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Ash dieback detected

Borough news
Ash die back disease has been detected in Crompton Cemetery which has led to the felling of twenty mature trees in the cemetery as a matter of urgency. Cllr Hazel Gloster, Liberal Democrat Councillor for the Shaw Ward said: "It is regrettable that these mature trees have had to be felled however the Ash tree is a very important tree in the ecological system and we need to ensure that action now prevents further damage in the cemetery as the disease spreads between July and October during leafage." Crompton Liberal Democrat Councillor Dave Murphy added: "We will be working with Oldham Council’s Environmental Services Department to look at how we can replace these trees, preferably doubling the numbers felled, as replacements. "It would be nice if each tree replaced was…
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02Aug 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Third time lucky: Liberal Democrat Leader again backs change in law to bar sex offenders from public office

Borough news, CSE, Parliamentary news
Oldham Liberal Democrat Leader Councillor Howard Sykes MBE recently wrote to a Conservative member of parliament backing his plans to change the law on when councillors will be barred from public office. The name of the Conservative MP for Mole Valley, Sir Paul Beresford, was drawn in an annual ballot held recently in Parliament. Selection entitles Sir Paul to propose a private member’s bill. He has chosen to introduce a bill titled the Local Government (Disqualification) Bill. Councillor Sykes wrote to Sir Paul asking him to ensure the new law will ban anyone convicted of a sex offence and placed on the Sex Offender’s Register from seeking, accepting, or staying in public office. The Oldham Liberal Democrats have already twice asked the Conservative Government to do this. “At present, only…
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28Jul 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Councillor gets review of highways reporting problems

Borough news
Local Liberal Democrat Councillor Sam Al-Hamdani has received assurances that a review of the reporting of highways issues will take place, after a four-foot hole in a Grotton street was reported as “completed”. When Councillor Sam Al-Hamdani first reported the issue, there was a small sunken section of the road on the junction of Thornley Park Road and Station Lane. It was promptly picked up by the Council team for work, inspected, and a repair started. However, after the highways system issued a “completed” notice, Sam was surprised to find the area surrounded by bollards, covered over with a temporary plate, under which was a much larger hole, several feet deep.  Despite reporting this to the highways team, two weeks later the repair was still marked as complete, so Councillor…
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28Jul 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
GP Patient Data: Halt the scheme and inform the public

GP Patient Data: Halt the scheme and inform the public

Parliamentary news
A report from Which? [published 29th July 2021] has shown almost half (45%) of adults in England, around 20 million people, are unaware of plans for GP patient data to be shared by NHS Digital to external organisations. The Lib Dems have called for the scheme to be halted until proper transparency on the data sharing has been shown from the Government. Liberal Democrat Health Spokesperson, Munira Wilson MP said: “Given the Government’s complete lack of interest in publicising this scheme and its disdain for any kind of transparency it is no wonder that so many have never heard of it. That so many are considering opting out will render this scheme almost useless. “Grim experience has taught the British public to be wary of trusting the Government with its…
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28Jul 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Beavering away; can one of nature’s superheroes can be reintroduced into the Peak District?

Borough news
At the last full meeting of Oldham Council (14 July 2021), Crompton Liberal Democrat Councillor Louie Hamblett posed an interesting question about enrolling an unusual ally to aid the Peak District National Park Authority in its fight against climate change. Councillor Hamblett asked the Council’s representative on the authority, Councillor Colin McLaren, if the authority was considering reintroducing beavers into the Peak District. The question came hot-on-the-heels of news that a baby beaver has been born on Exmoor for the first time in 400 years after the reintroduction of the species there. Martin Varley from the Cheshire's Wildlife Trust described the new-born as a “superhero who can create carbon-capturing landscapes and reduce the impact of floods, droughts and wildfires, and looks really cute into the bargain". Councillor Hamblett explained why…
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28Jul 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Shaw Selective Licensing ‘slow going and lacks sense’, says Sykes

Shaw Selective Licensing ‘slow going and lacks sense’, says Sykes

Borough news
Five months on from responding to Oldham Council’s consultation on a new Selective Licensing scheme for borough, Shaw Liberal Democrat Councillor Howard Sykes MBE is frustrated both by the pace of change, with seemingly little action being taken to implement new standards to police the conduct of both private-sector landlords and tenants, and by the lack of sense in the proposals, with certain streets in need of regulation still being excluded. Councillor Sykes first wrote to the Head of Public Protection, Neil Crabtree, who leads the Council’s project team, on 10 February seeking an update on progress and clarification on whether his ideas for improvements to the scheme in Shaw will be taken up. A response despite reminders is still not forthcoming. Commenting on the proposals, Councillor Sykes said: “I…
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28Jul 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Trent Road hot food takeaway

Trent Road hot food takeaway

Borough news
A controversial planning application on Trent Road, High Crompton, Shaw has been submitted to Oldham Council; the application is for a change of use from a retail premises to a hot food take away. This application has been refused twice before because it was considered that the nature of the proposed hot food takeaway use is such that it is not compatible with the predominant residential use within the locality. The proposal would introduce a night-time use that is not in keeping with the primarily quiet, residential nature of the area. In addition, due to the lack of adequate parking facilities and the proximity of the site to a bus waiting area, the proposal would cause unacceptable level of congestion on the highway. Furthermore, conflict with the use of the…
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