20Feb 2019 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Why can’t we use lower housing figure to save greenbelt?

Borough news, Campaigns
The Leader of the Opposition and the Liberal Democrat Group on Oldham Council, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, has written to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, James Brokenshire MP, to ask him whether it would in fact be permissible for the ten local authorities in Greater Manchester to use the lower figures for expected household growth published in 2016 to decide on the number of homes to be built in the conurbation under the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework. Thousands of these new homes would be built on Green Belt sites in Crompton, Shaw, Royton and Chadderton. Figures published by Mr Brokenshire’s own department in 2012 indicated that households in Greater Manchester would increase by 213,380 by 2035, or 18.75%, yet by contrast the more recent figures…
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13Jan 2019 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Liberal Democrats vow to continue to fight to save Oldham’s Greenbelt from massive land grab for housing and industrial use

Borough news, Campaigns
The Liberal Democrat Group on Oldham Council is gearing up for the next round in its fight to save Oldham’s Greenbelt and green spaces. Labour’s Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham and the 10 Council Leaders are due to agree the latest proposals for the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework (GMSF) which identifies where future houses will be built and industry based. Last year, public opposition, backed by support from Liberal Democrat Councillors across Greater Manchester, forced the Mayor to withdraw the original proposals to build homes on greenbelt across the county, including many thousands in Shaw, Crompton, Saddleworth, Chadderton and Royton. The so called new proposals are now in the public domain and according to Shaw Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, Leader of the Opposition and the Liberal Democrat Group on Oldham…
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26Sep 2018 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Backroom deal by Labour on 20-year homes plan threatens Green Belt

Borough news, Campaigns
Oldham Liberal Democrats have discovered that the Labour Council leaders of the ten local authorities in Greater Manchester have made ‘a backroom deal’ with Labour Mayor Andy Burnham that only they will need to sign off on plans to build new homes and factories across the city region as proposed as part of the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework (GMSF).  Each of the 10 authorities need to agree to the plans but previously it was the councils (and all their councillors) that agreed such matters, this has now all changed. Commenting the Leader of the Opposition and of the Liberal Democrat Group, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, said: “Local Councillors and local residents deserve a say in how many homes are built, and where and when.  The Greater Manchester Spatial Framework, when it…
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25Jun 2018 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Liberal Democrats vow to fight to save Oldham’s Greenbelt from house building threat

Borough news
The Liberal Democrat Group on Oldham Council is gearing up for the next round in its fight to save Oldham’s Greenbelt from housing. In just a few weeks’ time, Labour’s Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham will be publishing his latest proposals for the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework (the GMSF) which will identify where he wants housebuilding to take place across Greater Manchester over the next twenty years. Last year, public opposition, backed by support from Liberal Democrat Councillors across Greater Manchester, forced the new Mayor to withdraw the original proposals to build homes on greenbelt across the county, including many thousands in Shaw, Crompton, Saddleworth, Chadderton and Royton. The new proposals will be the subject of further public consultation. Commenting Shaw Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, Leader of the Opposition and…
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23Jun 2018 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Liberal Democrats vow to fight to save Oldham’s Greenbelt from house building threat

Borough news
The Liberal Democrat Group on Oldham Council is gearing up for the next round in its fight to save Oldham’s Greenbelt from housing. In just a few weeks’ time, Labour’s Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham will be publishing his latest proposals for the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework (the GMSF) which will identify where he wants housebuilding to take place across Greater Manchester over the next twenty years. Last year, public opposition, backed by support from Liberal Democrat Councillors across Greater Manchester, forced the new Mayor to withdraw the original proposals to build homes on greenbelt across the county, including many thousands in Shaw, Crompton, Saddleworth, Chadderton and Royton. The new proposals will be the subject of further public consultation. Commenting Shaw Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, Leader of the Opposition and…
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01Jul 2017 by Saddleworth Lib Dems
Lib Dems fighting Labour’s LAND GRAB in Saddleworth

Lib Dems fighting Labour’s LAND GRAB in Saddleworth

Saddleworth News
The Liberal Democrats have welcomed a rethink of the controversial Greater Manchester Spatial Framework. Following pressure from Liberal Democrats, the recently elected Greater Manchester Mayor has appointed Salford’s Mayor Paul Dennett to oversee a review and rewrite of the proposals. As part of the proposals, Saddleworth is at major risk from massive over-development of open spaces for housing in two phases. Phase one grabs large strategic sites like Fletcher’s Mill and neighbouring Green Belt. Phase two focuses dozens of local sites that have been offered by landowners for development and profit across Saddleworth for hundreds of new houses affecting every village. Many of these sites are in really sensitive open spaces and would have a devastating effect on our local communities if developed. Local Liberal Democrats are encouraging residents to…
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