14Aug 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
£400 million Brownfield Fund ‘welcome but not enough’, says Liberal Democrat Leader

£400 million Brownfield Fund ‘welcome but not enough’, says Liberal Democrat Leader

Borough news
“Welcome, but not enough” says the Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group on Oldham Council, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, in response to the recent Government’s announcement that £400 million will be made available to Mayoral Combined Authority areas, such as Greater Manchester, through a new Brownfield Fund. Commenting, Councillor Sykes said: “As the Oldham Liberal Democrat Group adamantly favours building new homes on brownfield sites, and as we have previously called on this government to provide the cash to do this, it would be churlish of me not to welcome any announcement of government money to make this happen, but we have yet to see how much of this money comes to Oldham and in any case Oldham’s share will not be nearly enough.” Councillor…
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13Aug 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Promise of special council meeting on Labour’s green belt homes plan welcomed

Promise of special council meeting on Labour’s green belt homes plan welcomed

Borough news, Campaigns
The Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group on Oldham Council, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, has welcomed confirmation from the Leader of Oldham Council that a special meeting of the full Council will be called with a one-item agenda to discuss Labour’s green belt homes plan, called the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework, and its impact on the Oldham Borough. Responding to a letter sent from Councillor Sykes 22 July asking once more if such a meeting would be convened soon, and when, the Leader has replied in writing confirming that ‘an extraordinary meeting of the full council (will be held) with a single item agenda to discuss the plans, and that it will take place as an addition to this year’s council meeting cycle’. The Council…
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27Jul 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Third time lucky: Liberal Democrat Leader calls again for special Council meeting to discuss Labour’s green belt homes plan

Borough news
The Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group on Oldham Council, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, has written to the Leader of Oldham Council to ask once more for a special meeting of the full Council to be convened to consider a one-item agenda – the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework and its impact on the Oldham Borough. Councillor Sykes first asked the Leader for such a meeting in the Full Council meeting in September 2018, and again in December of that year.  Council minutes have since recorded that the matter is ‘in progress’.  After almost two years of waiting for a meeting, Councillor Sykes’ patience has worn thin and he is concerned that time for further meaningful debate on the issue is fast running out. Commenting Councillor…
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29Mar 2019 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Greater Manchester housing figures ‘not mandatory’ and greenbelt building should be ‘exceptional’, says Government Minister

Borough news, Campaigns, Saddleworth News
In a reply to the Leader of the Opposition and the Liberal Democrat Group on Oldham Council, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, a Conservative Minister conceded that Government policy appears to allow for building less housing than is currently planned under Greater Manchester Spatial Framework proposals and the green belt can only be built on ‘in exceptional circumstances’. Councillor Sykes wrote to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, James Brokenshire MP, in February. Kit Malthouse MP responded on Mr Brokenshire’s behalf earlier this month as Minister for Housing. Although original government estimates were that there be a need for 213,380 extra homes in Greater Manchester by 2035, later projections released by the Office for National Statistics in 2016 put the figure at only 164,000.  In his letter,…
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23Mar 2019 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Green Belt Land Grab ‘completely unacceptable’

Borough news, Campaigns
The Leader of the Opposition and the Liberal Democrat Group on Oldham Council, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, has submitted a strongly-worded letter of objection on behalf of the Oldham Liberal Democrat Group outlining why the revised Greater Manchester Spatial Framework proposals still remain ‘a massive and inequitable land grab’ in Crompton, Shaw and Royton (deadline for submissions was the 18 March).   These proposals will result in the devastation of local Green Belt and Other Protected Open Land Sites for housing development being ‘completely unacceptable’. Councillor Sykes said: “The Liberal Democrat position remains clear and unequivocal.  We want to see all new housing developments built on brownfield sites or on existing sites with planning permission for housing, or through bringing existing empty homes back into use, or the conversion of empty mills, offices and…
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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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08Feb 2019 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Liberal Democrats seek more affordable, accessible and environmentally friendly homes – but NOT on Greenbelt

Parliamentary news, Saddleworth News
The Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, has responded to a consultation with Councillors on the proposed new Housing Strategy for the Borough by asking for more affordable, accessible and environmentally friendly homes to be built. Howard Sykes, leader of the opposition Councillor Sykes said: “More affordable homes are needed, including more homes for social-rent and for part-ownership, especially for first-time buyers and renters on a lower income who need a helping hand to get on the housing ladder.  With our growing population, we will also need more accessible properties catering for the needs of older people with disabilities, for families with one or more children with disabilities and for young adults with disabilities wishing to live independently.” “Finally, we are…
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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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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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