25Jun 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Lib Dems: Jenrick must resign or be sacked

Parliamentary news
Responding to Nadhim Zahawi’s comments today suggesting that voters should consider attending Conservative Party fundraisers in their local area if they want access to MPs and local authorities, Liberal Democrat Housing, Communities and Local Government Spokesperson Tim Farron said: “The 'defence' of Robert Jenrick is in reality little more than an admission of cash for access. It seems the Tory Party's commitment to the 'levelling up' agenda amounts to sleaze and corruption. "Every new, scandalous detail that emerges about Jenrick's decision to railroad through a housing deal to help out a Tory donor demonstrates that he is entirely unfit to hold public office. "People deserve better. Up until a very few months ago, a Minister caught in this kind of situation would have done the decent thing and resigned before…
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06Aug 2019 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Shock suspension of Head of Planning at Oldham Council

Borough news, Saddleworth News
After a formal request, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, Liberal Democrat Leader in Oldham Borough has been informed that the Head of Planning and Infrastructure, Steven Irvine, has been suspended from the Council.  He has been suspended from duties whilst allegations of ‘gross misconduct’ are ‘fully investigated’.   Councillor Sykes MBE wants to know how long for and what steps have been put in place to maintain a planning service.  “Currently it is far from perfect and I and other councilors are getting lots of complaints from residents and business,” stated Councillor Sykes. “There is currently a large amount of public unrest in relation to the Planning Officer’s Reports in relation to two applications leading to decisions of approval: 1: PA/342008/18 Land at Hodge Clough Road Oldham 2. PA/343269/19 Land at Knowls Lane,…
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11Jul 2019 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Brownfield funding must be restored

Borough news
Oldham Council unanimously backed Liberal Democrat Councillor Diane Williamson motion to the 10 July meeting of Oldham Council demanding the Government honour its previous commitment to provide £50 million in funding to Greater Manchester to fund the development of new housing on brownfield sites.  The Conservatives recently made the unilateral decision to renege on the deal.  Councillor Garth Harkness is seconding the motion, and their proposal is backed by the whole Liberal Democrat Group.  Wards across Shaw and Crompton and Saddleworth are threatened with the prospect of thousands of new homes on the green space and surrounding green belt under the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework (GMSF) proposals. Councillors Williamson and Harkness, and their colleagues, want to see any new housing built on brownfield sites, former industrial land, rather than by destroying any…
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11Jul 2019 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Lib Dems complain over shambolic planning meeting

Borough news, Saddleworth News
Liberal Democrat Councillors Garth Harkness and Diane Williamson have written to the Chief Executive of Oldham Council, Dr Carolyn Wilkins and the Leader of Oldham Council, Councillor Sean Fielding to complain about the way in which the decisions were made for applications to build on protected land in Saddleworth and green spaces in Sholver. “A previous application in Royton was refused on the same grounds as what was proposed for the protected land in Saddleworth.  The professionalism of the meeting was that bad that it descended into a shambles, with members of the public not knowing what how the committee voted,” said Councillor Garth Harkness. Councillor Diane Williamson added: “We have lodged a formal complaint on the grounds of unfairness and procedural impropriety due to the poor leadership of the meeting 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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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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15Nov 2018 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Liberal Democrat councillor praises Ashbrook and Thornley Brook planning decision – but ready for next steps

Borough news, Campaigns
Liberal Democrat Councillor Sam Al-Hamdani has praised the decision of Oldham’s planning committee to refuse the planning application for the development of 265 houses on Thornley Brook and Ashbrook in Saddleworth West and Lees. Sam said: “This decision – that the importance of the protected open land was greater than any theoretical benefits of the scheme – is a victory for common sense, and for the hard work of so many local people. The Save Our Valleys campaign have been tireless in their efforts. And as well as being able to mark the success of our campaign, It felt good to be one of the residents in the chamber who were able to celebrate the decision. “I have spoken to so many local residents who would be directly impacted by…
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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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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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