Liberal Democrat Councillors have responded to a government consultation on pavement parking by asking for new powers to be granted to Councils to tackle nuisance parking.

In his letter to the Department of Transport, Group Leader, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, has identified the options being considered by government which both he and his colleagues’ favour as most practicable and reasonable.

Commenting Councillor Sykes said:  “We do not favour a complete blanket ban on all pavement parking.  In Oldham, we have many narrow, terraced streets where there is no off-road parking as properties were built way before the motor car was invented; in these circumstances motorists have to sometimes park their vehicles partially on the pavement to allow traffic to pass.  However, we want the government to grant new powers to local councils to tackle pavement parking where this represents a nuisance to pedestrians”.

Councillor Sykes added:  “Pavement parking must be considerate to the needs of pedestrians, especially residents living with the complete or partial loss of sight; using wheelchairs or walking frames; or pushing buggies with young children.  In December 2015, the Liberal Democrat Group brought a motion to Council asking for a Street Charter to be developed for the borough addressing the needs of these footpath users.  Although this is a voluntary code, we believe the government should also make it easier for councils to apply Traffic Regulation Orders on streets or in areas where pavement parking is a continual nuisance and grant our officers more civil enforcement powers to tackle ‘obstruction’ where pavement parking represents only an occasional problem.”

As part of the development of new legislation in this area, Liberal Democrats would like to see the government consulting with charities and campaign groups representing disabled people, especially wheelchair users and people living with sight loss.

Hundreds of businesses which have been legally required to close as a result of local or national restrictions have now received a Local Restrictions Support Grant.

This includes hospitality venues, soft play centres, hairdressers and barbers and non-essential retailers.

As of Wednesday, 448 grants had been paid. All applications received have been processed by the business grants team which is making payments daily.

Businesses apply via a simple online form which can be found at www.oldham.gov.uk/localrestrictionssupportgrant.

The amount of money businesses will receive is dependent on the rateable value of the property:

•             Properties with a rateable value of £15,000 or under – grants of £1,334 per four weeks of closure.

•             Properties with a rateable value over £15,000 and below £51,000 – grants of £2,000 per four weeks of closure.

•             Properties with a rateable value of exactly £51,000 and over – grants of £3,000 per four weeks of closure.

Further schemes, including a discretionary fund and support for businesses which remain open but have been affected by restrictions, will be announced soon.

Liberal Democrat Councillors were surprised when the Leader of the Oldham Conservative Group was so dismissive of a Liberal Democrat backed plan to introduce 20mph zones across the Borough to help reduce road deaths and injuries.

Shaw Councillor Howard Sykes, Leader of the Opposition, proposed a motion at the meeting of the Council last Wednesday (4 November) which called upon the Council to look again at introducing a 20mph speed limit on residential streets across the borough to save lives.  The Liberal Democrats had previously asked for 20mph to be the default speed limit in 2014, an action that the Labour Administration chose not to pursue at the time.

Tory Councillor John Hudson OBE described the plan as “a load of crap” and “unnecessary” passing judgement on a measure which studies show reduces road accidents by 20%.  Conservative Councillors then abstained on the motion.

Councillor Sykes said:  “In this debate, the Conservatives showed they are out-of-touch with people’s concerns when it comes to road safety.  In surveys, over seven in 10 people support the introduction of 20mph zones, and this level of support goes up when they are introduced.   At a time when people feel powerless in preventing deaths from Covid-19, is it ‘crap’ to ask drivers to help prevent more deaths on our roads by slowing down to save lives? 

“Responsible people wear face coverings and socially distance to help prevent Covid deaths; responsible drivers can be encouraged to reduce their speed to help prevent road deaths.  Having a 20mph limit signposted on our residential streets will, like the messaging to wear a face covering and make space, make responsible drivers aware of what the right choice is – and it is to kill your speed and not a child.”

Crompton Councillor Diane Williamson backed her colleague in seconding the motion.  Councillor Williamson also seconded the motion when it was first discussed in 2014.  She added: “Road casualty statistics show that you are at least five times more likely to die if struck by a vehicle travelling at 30mph than 20mph or 10 times if over 60 years old.  And there are also 20 percent less injuries on roads with 20mph speeds.  Reducing the speed limit on our residential streets is common-sense”.

Despite the Conservatives refusing to support the measure, the motion was overwhelmingly carried, and the proposal will now go before the Council’s Overview and Scrutiny Board for in-depth examination.  Councillor Sykes concluded:  “We must now hope that this second time around, the Administration choses to invest in this worthwhile road safety measure.  It’s time to say 20’s plenty in 2020”.

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For real time information: https://oldham.roadworks.org/