08Aug 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani

From an ambulance station to 12 apartments

Borough news
Crompton Liberal Democrat Councillor, Diane Williamson, and her two Crompton colleagues, have learnt that the owner of the former Ambulance Station on Moor Street has put an outline planning application for 12 apartments. “Currently our stance is that we would support, in principle, this application. This is because for a long time the site has been an eye sore, with anti-social behaviour as well as littering and fly-tipping, which has caused residents much concern,” said Councillor Louie Hamblett. Councillor Dave Murphy added: “We are keen to understand how the application will affect local residents and we would also like to guide them through the planning application process. This is only an outline application, which means it is just the principal of building on that land.” “We obviously want to listen…
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17Sep 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Ed Davey statement on opening of Lib Dem conference

Ed Davey statement on opening of Lib Dem conference

Parliamentary news
Speaking ahead of the opening of the Liberal Democrat Autumn Conference today (Friday 17 September), Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey said: “The Liberal Democrats go into this conference feeling energised by our recent successes and determined to stand up for people who are sick and tired of being taken for granted. “Our stunning by-election win in Chesham and Amersham showed we are the party that can take on Boris Johnson’s Conservatives and deliver a fair deal for families around the country. “Already we have forced the government into watering down their undemocratic planning reforms imposed on communities and U-turning on illiberal Covid passports. “Boris Johnson is kidding himself if he thinks these U-turns will stem the tide of voters turning to the Liberal Democrats in former Conservative strongholds across the…
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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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26Jul 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Liberal Democrats to lead battle in Council to save Oldham’s Green Belt

Liberal Democrats to lead battle in Council to save Oldham’s Green Belt

Borough news
Oldham Liberal Democrat Leader Councillor Howard Sykes MBE and his party colleagues will vehemently oppose the Places for Everyone plan when it is debated by Oldham Council at a special meeting on 28 July. Oldham Council’s Labour Cabinet is expected to approve taking the plan to Council when it meets on 28 July, and Councillor Sykes and the Liberal Democrat Group will be leading the battle in Council to save Oldham’s green belt from the threat of housing development. “Oldham residents should be in no doubt that Places for Everyone is simply the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework rebadged and repackaged. It contains the self-same fatal flaw – an assumption that it is right and necessary to build thousands of new homes on our precious and irreplaceable Green Belt and on…
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21Jun 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Davey: Planning reforms must go after Lib Dem win

Davey: Planning reforms must go after Lib Dem win

Parliamentary news
Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey has called for an end to Boris Johnson's Planning reforms, following his party's stunning victory in the Chesham and Amersham by-election. On Thursday, the voters of Chesham and Amersham elected Sarah Green with an 8,000 majority - a stunning reversal of the 22,000 majority the Conservatives held just four years ago. One of the key issues during the campaign was the Government's planning reforms and the impact it will have on the Chilterns. Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey said: "The message from the doorsteps of Buckinghamshire couldn’t be clearer. People are fed up with being taken for granted by Johnson and his Government and demand to be listened to. That's why the Conservative's ill-thought through and undemocratic planning reforms must go. "These reforms are nothing…
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16Jun 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
New proposals for Lees housebuilding

New proposals for Lees housebuilding

Borough news
Proposals for an additional 42 homes to be built at the rear of Maltby Court are being brought forward by developers, and local Liberal Democrat Councillor Mark Kenyon is encouraging as many local residents to respond to the current consultation as possible. At the moment, no formal application to the Council has been brought forward, but a planning application from Wiggett Group is expected in September. Councillor Kenyon said: “It is vital that as many people as possible have the opportunity to respond on the application, and have their voices heard. “We should not wait for this to come to the planning committee, which can only consider the legalities of an application. The earlier that people can respond and ensure that their concerns are put across, the better. If we…
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31May 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Irony of Labour call for “residents first” planning approach

Irony of Labour call for “residents first” planning approach

Borough news
The call for a “residents first” planning approach by new council leader Arooj Shah has been called “deeply ironic” by local Liberal Democrat councillor Sam Al-Hamdani. In recent years the Labour Council has changed the rules around being able to challenge planning applications, making it increasingly difficult for them to be heard in public. With just one resident allowed three minutes to speak, it has left residents feeling more and more excluded from the planning process, especially on contentious applications, such as the recent application from 256 houses at Knowls Lane in Lees and Springhead. Councillor Al-Hamdani said: “I would love for there to be a ‘residents first’ planning approach in Oldham. That would mean changing the system to better engage with residents, and to make sure their voices are…
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26May 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Conservative planning bill favours developers over local democracy

Conservative planning bill favours developers over local democracy

Parliamentary news
Oldham and Saddleworth Liberal Democrats are fearful that the announcement in the Queen’s Speech that the Conservative Government intends to press ahead with its proposals for new planning legislation will favour developers and mean an end to local people and councillors having a say in planning decisions. Under Conservative plans, central government will designate whole swathes of the country for ‘growth’, meaning that developers will have ‘planning permission in principle’. Conservative ministers claim it will eliminate ‘red tape’ but the Liberal Democrats fear that it abolishes any meaningful involvement of local councils and residents in planning matters. Liberal Democrat Group Leader, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, said: “The Conservatives claim that this legislation will speed up the planning process. In reality it kills off any opportunity for local people and their…
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18May 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Government silencing local people for property mates

Government silencing local people for property mates

Parliamentary news
Liberal Democrats have called on the Government to scrap its controversial planning reforms. Today, the Local Government Association (LGA) and Shelter both gave evidence against the Government's proposed reforms to Permitted Development Rights. The reforms will make it easier for developers to convert properties to housing without consulting the local community, as well as get out of affordable housing commitments. Developments delivering fewer than 50 units will have no requirement for affordable homes. Liberal Democrats Spokesperson for Housing, Communities and Local Government Tim Farron MP said: "The Government's planning reforms will rip powers away from local people and give them to wealthy property developers, threatening the delivery of the affordable homes we need and our local environment. "The Government seems to think that the reason houses are not being built…
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11May 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Queen’s Speech: Government’s crushingly disappointing plans fail on every account

Queen’s Speech: Government’s crushingly disappointing plans fail on every account

Parliamentary news
Responding to the Queen's Speech, Ed Davey MP, Leader of the Liberal Democrats commented: "We must rebuild as a fairer, greener and more caring country in the aftermath of Covid. So it is crushingly disappointing that the Government’s plans will fail on every account – still failing small businesses and the self-employed, still not rising properly to the climate challenge and still ignoring millions of people caring for loved ones at home. "Their planning reforms will rip powers away from local people and communities in favour of wealthy property developers, threatening our environment and treasured green spaces. Their cruel asylum plans will stop people fleeing violence and persecution, from seeking sanctuary in the UK. And long delayed reforms to social care have been pushed back into the long grass once…
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