“Show Shaw and Crompton at its best”: Sykes challenges council leaders to clear weeds from Tour of Britain cycle route

Oldham Liberal Democrat Leader and Shaw representative councillor Howard Sykes MBE has challenged council bosses to treat weeds along the Tour of Britain cycle route ahead of Sunday’s race this Sunday (03/09).  The Council had been without a weed’s contractor since before May, but weed spraying is set to resume in early September. 

Councillor Sykes said, “The Tour of Britain will pass through Shaw and parts of Saddleworth on Sunday.  As a community we want to show Shaw and our borough at its best.  But currently large parts of it have been taken over by weeds.  It is like Day of the Triffids since the Council lost its contractor.”

The Liberal Democrats hit out at the council leadership earlier in August when it emerged the Council had no plans to put temporary arrangements in place, despite rising numbers of complaints from residents. 

Councillor Sykes said, “Oldham Council continually struggles to get the basics right.  People are proud to live and work in Shaw, but when the council falls short it makes the place look rundown and unloved.”

“With people visiting in large numbers and watched on TV by many more, I’ve written to council bosses urging them to prioritise the Tour of Britain route now that a contractor is finally in place.  Let’s put our best foot forward on Sunday.”