In advance of the UN Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women (25 November), the Oldham Liberal Democrats have written to government ministers asking for the Rail to Refuge scheme, which supplies free train tickets to enable women to flee domestic violence, to be made permanent.

The letter sent by the Leader of the Opposition, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, on behalf of his colleagues to the Secretary of State for Transport, Grant Shapps MP, and the Home Office Minister responsible for safeguarding women and children, Victoria Atkins MP, suggests that retaining the scheme is both a ‘necessary and logical thing’ to do.

Councillor Sykes has also twice written to the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, seeking his support.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, domestic violence has hugely increased.  Tragically, two women are killed every week in the UK by abusive partners and ex-partners.  Often the only way they can escape a violent partner is to move to a place of safety across the country, but such women frequently do not have access to the money needed to pay for train tickets.  At present, the scheme is time-limited and is currently due to end in March 2021.

Councillor Howard Sykes said:  “Rail to Refuge is both brilliant and simple because it enables women to access free train tickets to allow them and their children to find a place of safety swiftly. The public money invested in this scheme will spare countless women and children from abuse or death, and it will enable them to transform their lives in a place of safety, so making this scheme permanent would be the only decent and humane choice to make.” 

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

About Carers Rights Day

Whether you are a new carer or have been caring for someone for a while, we believe that it’s important that you understand your rights and are able to access the support that is available to you as soon as you need it. Each year, Carers Rights Day helps us:

• ensure carers are aware of their rights
• let carers know where to get help and support
• raise awareness of the needs of carers.

The theme for Carers Rights Day 2020 is ‘Know Your Rights’

In a recent survey of nearly 6,000 carers, we found:

• Four in five unpaid carers are providing more care for relatives
• 78% reported that the needs of the person they care for have increased during the pandemic
• Two thirds (67%) worried about how they will cope through further lockdowns or local restrictions.

Carers need to know their rights wherever they are in their caring journey: whether they are in the workplace, in a healthcare setting, when interacting with professionals or at home. This Carers Rights Day, we want to empower carers with information and support, so they can feel confident asking for what they need. We also want carers to know how to challenge things when their rights are not being met.

If you are caring for someone and want to know more about your rights, click here to read our Looking after someone guide.

The Oldham Council Liberal Democrat Group wants to see front line health and care workers and the relatives of care home residents given top priority when mass COVID-19 testing is rolled out across Oldham.   

The Government has announced that Oldham will be one of 67 new areas to be targeted for mass testing because of the high number of new cases detected each week in the Borough.

Testing the front line health and care workers in our National Health Service and care homes who are leading the fight to save the lives and alleviate the suffering of others from this terrible disease must, for the Liberal Democrats, be an absolute priority, but Group Leader, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, makes a plea for a third category of our residents not be overlooked. 

According to a recent survey carried out by Age UK, seven out of ten people with a close relative in a care home have not seen them since the start of the pandemic in March.

Commenting Councillor Sykes said:  “In this pandemic, one of the greatest tragedies has been seeing the forced separation of the residents of our care homes from their loved ones.  For the residents of the care homes in our Borough who have waited many months to finally meet up with family this cannot come soon enough, and that is why we believe that the relatives of the residents of care homes should be prioritised and offered access to tests so they can arrange to visit.  Let’s hope this can happen in time for Christmas.”

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has this week announced an extra £16.5 billion for Britain’s armed forces over four years, saying he was determined to “end the retreat” in military spending, but Oldham Liberal Democrat Leader Councillor Howard Sykes MBE is disappointed that he has made no similar commitment on long-term funding for other public services.

Commenting, Councillor Sykes said:  “Whilst this is undoubtedly welcome news for our armed forces, public services such as local Councils, Police, Fire and Health struggle along with year-by-year announcements on funding by central government.  We need a similar four-year plan.  It would enable us to plan services more effectively and to make better use of the money that is allocated to us.”

“No one doubts the courage of our armed forces which has been tested in the field on numerous occasions and has never been found to be lacking, but in recent months, the fight has been largely at home and against COVID-19 and in this battle it is our public sector staff like health colleagues, emergency services and councils who are committed to the fight in the frontlines against this terrible disease and it would be good if the government could give them some financial certainty too.”

Chancellor Rishi Sunak MP is expected to announce his autumn Spending Review next week, and Councillor Sykes believes this would present an opportunity to make such a commitment.

Councillor Sykes added:  “After years of enforced austerity, as with our armed forces, it is now time for this Government to announce an end to the retreat in funding for the public sector and give them all some stability.”

The Foodbank has a shout out for more volunteers over the festive period.

We also know many of the usual volunteering opportunities over Christmas will not be available this year, but you might still want to do your bit ?

We know we will have increased demand and so the Foodbank will be open as normal up to Christmas Eve, but on Christmas Eve it will close at lunch time.

In between Christmas and new year they are going to open 10am till 2pm and so will need volunteer drivers and people to pack parcels.

If in the first instance they are looking for people willing to drive.

In general the Foodbank are short of drivers anyway on  a Monday , Tuesday, Wednesday. Shifts are 10:30 till 1pm or 1pm till 4:30 (close of play).

If you or anyone you know would be willing to volunteer, please can you ask them to contact Rebecca.Kershaw@actiontogether.org.uk

Email: sue.hay@ageukoldham.org.uk for AgeUK free energy check

At the start of the latest lockdown, Shaw Market traders were moved off Market Street onto Newtown Street, and the move is killing trade and is not supported by the Council.

Shaw Liberal Democrat Councillor Howard Sykes MBE has received reports that Oldham Council has failed to provide stall holders with tables and awnings, and that there has been no signage placed along the main street to say where the Market is. Traders cannot easily highlight their presence as the Council has not dropped the bollards, so they are unable to move forward a little to locate their stalls on the edge of Market Street.

Councillor Sykes said:  “If there was a textbook strategy of how to destroy a local market, the shameful conduct of Oldham’s Labour Administration towards Shaw Market, since it was first forced to move from the historic market ground in 2015, would win a national prize.  In 2015, thirteen traders moved onto Market Street, but as we predicted, trade has ever since steadily declined.”

“With the latest COVID-lockdown, the few businesses that still exist have been shunted off onto a side street in a move that was ill throughout out, ill prepared, and ill executed and without a thought for their future survival.  This Thursday (19/11/20) the Market was down to two stalls, and no one is sure if they will be back next week.  As a Shaw resident sadly said to me in an email ‘Shaw Market is being killed by a lack of care’. This is a shambles, and we need to sort it out before Shaw loses its market for good.”

Email: Tom Ingham tingham@thebondboard.org.uk for Bond Board.

Salford and Stockport Councils have this week postponed their meetings where councillors will decide on whether to adopt the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework and the Oldham Liberal Democrat Leader, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, has written to the Leader of Oldham Council suggesting it would be wise to do the same.

Liberal Democrat Councillors in Stockport were ready and keen to speak against the Labour-led plans at the meeting last Tuesday (17November), but at the last minute, the Labour, Conservative and Independent Group leaders backed an adjournment for two to three weeks to enable a backroom deal to be made between them.  In Salford the Conservatives have called in the plans for further scrutiny before a final decision is made.

With these new developments, Councillor Sykes has now written to the Leader of the Council requesting that the Oldham Council meeting on 25 November be deferred.

Commenting, Councillor Sykes said:  “When Oldham Councillors meet, we will not be making our decision in isolation.  What will now be changed in Salford and Stockport could have an impact on the residents of this Borough as housing numbers may be displaced.  The Greater Manchester Spatial Framework is a plan to deliver tens of thousands of new homes across the whole of the city region and so we need to know about the changes before we make our minds up here.

“I have written to the Leader asking for the Oldham Council meeting scheduled for 25 November to be deferred until after these discussions have been concluded and we are aware of the conclusions.  After the many delays amounting to years that have already occurred in making the final decision on the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework, an extra delay at this point to provide time for the situation in Salford and Stockport to become clearer would be common-sense.”