30Aug 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
‘The times they are a changing’: Liberal Democrat Leader calls for halt to Labour’s Green Belt homes plan

‘The times they are a changing’: Liberal Democrat Leader calls for halt to Labour’s Green Belt homes plan

Borough news, Parliamentary news
“New Conservative planning proposals will now make Labour’s old plans to build thousands of homes on Oldham’s Green Belt redundant”, says Liberal Democrat Leader, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE. “It is time to stop and take stock.” Earlier this month, the Conservative Government published a consultation document on their proposals to bring in new legislation, called ‘Planning for the Future’, that will radically alter how new homes and businesses are developed in the future. Each local authority will be required to develop its own new Local Plan within thirty months of the legislation being passed, based on new ‘zones’. Councillor Sykes commented:  “This legislation will ultimately be passed, and it will make Labour’s current plans redundant and unfit for purpose immediately they are adopted”.  He has written to the Leader of the Council,…
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24Aug 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Two storey permitted development a nightmare for neighbours

Two storey permitted development a nightmare for neighbours

Borough news, Parliamentary news
Housing Minister Robert Jenrick has announced that, from 31 August, householders will be able to build a two-storey extension to their property with the normal planning rules ceasing to apply, and the Oldham Liberal Democrats are far from happy about the change. Under the new permitted development rules, Liberal Democrat Councillors are concerned that there will be few checks and balances on what goes up, and that poorly planned and executed developments, which ride roughshod over local objections, could be an eyesore and cause neighbourhood tensions. Commenting the Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, said:  “There has always been an opportunity for homeowners to extend their property, but only if planning considerations are met and neighbours are consulted.  Now with this change, these planning safeguards will be…
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21Aug 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Undecided fate for Saddleworth School site must be resolved

Undecided fate for Saddleworth School site must be resolved

Borough news
Following a written request, Oldham Borough Council has confirmed to local councillor Sam Al-Hamdani that there is no agreement to transfer the site of the existing Saddleworth School in Uppermill to local developer Wiggetts. Councillor Sam Al-Hamdani, the Liberal Democrats spokesperson for Saddleworth, said: “This is a large site in the centre of Saddleworth’s most populous village. It is clear that we need to know what the existing site is going to be used for, and to ensure that we can maximise the benefit to the community. “It seems that most people’s understanding that the site was to be transferred to Wiggetts in exchange for the new school site was incorrect. We need to know what the alternatives are, and push the Council to deliver the best solution for Saddleworth…
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18Aug 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Nowhere to go: Conservative planning reforms fail 25,300 Oldham households on Council waiting list

Borough news, Parliamentary news
Oldham Liberal Democrats have condemned the Conservative Government for focusing on reforming the planning system instead of forcing developers to build at least 100,000 new homes a year in the UK for families to rent. The Liberal Democrats believe the Conservatives’ proposals will fail those stuck on waiting lists and zoning proposals risk “leaving whole areas behind”. Instead, the Party is calling for “an urgent house building programme”, with proposals to build 100,000 social homes for rent every year. Liberal Democrat Group Leader, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, said: “The Conservatives are once more failing the poorest residents of this Borough. Their plans to reform the planning system will do nothing to alleviate the housing crisis in Oldham borough. 25,357 families are stuck on Oldham Council’s housing waiting list with no-where…
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07Aug 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Lib Dems: Jenrick’s planning reform won’t solve housing crisis

Parliamentary news
Responding to Robert Jenrick's comments today about the Government's reforms to the planning system, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Housing, Communities and Local Government Tim Farron said: “Robert Jenrick’s comments this morning have done nothing to persuade anyone that these planning reforms will alleviate the problems behind the UK's housing crisis. It is not the lack of planning permission that stops houses being built, but Conservative Minsters' refusal to invest in social housing. "Across the the UK thousands of families are stuck on housing waiting lists – but with councils approving nine out of ten planning applications, it is obvious to everyone that reforming planning laws will not help those stuck on waiting lists or those struggling to afford to buy a home. "Rather than tinkering with planning laws, what Robert…
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03Aug 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Govt’s planning reform shows they’re not serious about tackling housing crisis

Parliamentary news
Responding to the Government's announcement of planning reform in England which will allow new homes and hospitals to be granted automatic permission to be built, Liberal Democrat MHCLG Spokesperson Tim Farron said: “The announcement to reform England’s planning laws today reveals that once again Ministers are not serious about solving the housing crisis. It is not the lack of planning permission that prevents new, genuinely affordable, homes being built, but this Government’s refusal to properly invest in social housing. "Across the country thousands are on housing waiting lists – but with councils approving nine out of ten planning applications, it is clear that these changes announced today will not help those on waiting lists or those saving to buy a home. "Rather than tinkering with planning laws, what Robert Jenrick…
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28Jul 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Planning rule changes mean more substandard housing

Borough news, Parliamentary news
Changes to permitted development announced by the Government mean that far more substandard houses are likely to be built in the UK over the next few years. Sam Al-Hamdani, the shadow cabinet member for Housing and Homelessness on Oldham Council said: “We cannot abandon housing standards for the sake of getting these extra houses. The Conservative Government is rushing through rules that are going to create a new generation of slums. And the places that are most going to be affected are the places which are already struggling to get new housing – such as Oldham.  On the same day that the changes were rushed through, a damning report investigating the results of the previous changes to permitted development showed that only 21% of houses created using permitted development would meet…
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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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14Jul 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Planning errors undermine public confidence in Council

Borough news
After a blunder on the dates for the public to respond to a planning application at the former Fytton Arms pub led to the application having to be deferred in the middle of the meeting, it has emerged that other similar problems have been happening in recent weeks.  Mark Kenyon, a Liberal Democrat campaigner in Saddleworth West and Lees, said: “Exactly the same thing happened on a planning application in Springhead at the end of May. Fortunately, one of the residents responded to the error, and let us know. We were able to speak to the planning office, and on that occasion at least, residents were able to get their voice heard. “This has happened at the same time as we have had problems with the consultation dates on a…
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12Jul 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Broken conservation links need fixing urgently

Borough news
Liberal Democrat Shadow Cabinet member for Housing and Homelessness Sam Al-Hamdani is calling on Oldham Council to urgently repair the online systems for checking on the status on conservation areas and listed buildings. Councillor Sam Al-Hamdani said: “The Council has moved many of its services online – and for the most part it is of great benefit to residents. However, that reliance means that we need to ensure that those services stay available. “One of my local residents had an issue with an overhanging tree – a large branch had fallen into her garden, and she was understandably worried about the risk of it happening again in the future, particularly because her husband is registered blind, and their garden is a safe space for him to go out. Before we…
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