Unused tram line and points could make Metrolink safer

Councillor Howard Sykes MBE challenges local tram operator to create fully functioning tram turn-back facilities.  These would be at Westwood and Oldham Mumps.  The Liberal Democrat Leader on Oldham Borough Council told Transport for Greater Manchester (TFGM) that by motorising the existing points and modifying the signalling system they would create a safer travel network for residents.   The overall aim is to utilise the resources the network currently has, in full.

There have been several incidents recently where Oldham Town Centre Metrolink tracks have been blocked.  Passengers have had to leave the trams at Freehold Tram Stop for trams coming from Manchester, and Derker Tram Stop for trams coming from Rochdale.

There have also been cases when trams have been damaged by vandals and the travelling public have been ‘thrown off’ in places they are unfamiliar with and the alternative transport options are less than clear.

Councillor Sykes MBE highlights the problem of not using these unused tramlines:

“When a tram is blocked or damage it has to drop everyone off at the next stop.  This is inconvenient, uncertain and unsafe for continuing the rest of the journey.  Abandoning the travelling public, including single women and other vulnerable people, in an area they do not know is awful and we can and must do better.”

“There are evident safety and safeguarding issues already.  The infrastructure is already in place and this would be a cost-effective way of making tram travel on the Oldham line safer.  I am surprised Metrolink and TfGM have not already thought of this and actioned it!”

Copy of letter:

15 August 2019

Bob Morris, Chief Operating Officer,

Dear Bob Morris,

Re: Unused tramlines could make the network safer

I am sure you are very aware there have been several incidents recently where Oldham Town Centre Metrolink tracks have been blocked.  

Transport for Greater Manchester

Passengers have had to leave the trams at Freehold Tram Stop for trams coming from Manchester, and Derker Tram Stop for trams coming from Rochdale.

These stops are inconvenient, uncertain and unsafe for continuing the rest of the journey by bus. There is infrastructure to turn the trams at Westwood and Oldham Mumps but the crossovers are not authorised for passenger use.

If the crossovers were modified for passenger use, passengers could leave the trams at Westwood and Oldham Mumps which are more convenient for Oldham Town Centre and local buses in the event of blockages of Oldham Town Centre Metrolink tracks.

This council therefore calls on Transport for Greater Manchester to create fully functioning trams turnback facilities at Westwood and Oldham Mumps by motorising the points and modifying the signalling system. This would make for a safer travel network for residents and utilise the resources we currently have in full. This would require minimum investment since the lines are already there.

If there is an issue on the Tram and passengers, especially very young or old passengers, must be dropped off at the next stop late at night without knowing how to finish their journey, there are evident safeguarding issues.

I look forward to receiving your response as soon as possible.

Yours sincerely,

Howard Sykes

Liberal Democrats demand for safer trams!

Liberal Democrat Councillor Howard Sykes MBE has backed the need for a safer tram network.  The focus is on creating safer journeys for residents.  The presence of a conductor would mean that passengers will be ensured safer travel and that fare dodgers will be caught and deterred.  This common-sense solution and has been applied successfully elsewhere, in Sheffield and Birmingham.

Councillor Sykes MBE has asked what progress has been made to introduce conductors to the Oldham Borough local tram network.  This follows a Liberal Democrat suggestion at the July 2019 Council meeting, where the council agreed this was a good idea and the way forward.

Councillor Sykes states:  “There has been a long history of anti-social behavior on the trams and people fare dodging, especially on our tram line.  It’s double standards for some, and residents are getting fed up.”

At the July 2019 council meeting, the Liberal Democrats asked for an update on what discussions have taken place since the Council resolved to support this course of action.

Now Councillor Sykes MBE, the leader of the Opposition on Oldham Council wants more clarity on the issue and a definitive time scale of the action being taken.  E

Copy of letter:

22 July 2019

Carolyn Wilkins OBE, Chief Executive, Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council

Dear Dr Wilkinson,

Re: Safety on trams

I am sure you are very aware of the Liberal Democrat focus on creating safer journeys for residents using our much loved and highly used TFGM trams especially those using the network from the Shaw & Crompton stop.

I am writing to you to ask what progress has been made to introduce conductors to our local tram network since Oldham Council, following a Liberal Democrat suggestion, agreed this was a good idea and the way forward.

A conductors’ presence means that passengers will be able to travel more safely and that fare dodgers will be caught and deterred increasing revenue.  I am sure you will agree that this is a common-sense solution and has been applied successfully elsewhere – in Sheffield and Birmingham, for example. 

There has been a long history of anti-social behavior on the trams and people fare dodging, especially on our tram line. 

At the July 2019 council meeting, Councillor Hazel Gloster asked for an update on what discussions have taken place since the Council resolved to support this course of action.  

We asked the relevant cabinet member to inform the Council of progress on this matter.  

Now I ask you what is being done and if you or other officers have had a meeting with Transport for Greater Manchester on this issue.  The offer of a meeting was reported to Council some time ago as being offered.  Has this been taken up, and if so what was the outcome?  If not, why not?

I look forward to receiving your response as soon as possible. 

Yours sincerely

Howard Sykes

Safe Car Wash App alerts UK anti-slavery charities of Human trafficking

Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group and Leader of the Opposition, was appalled to hear that over 2000 instances of possible human trafficking occurring in the UK.  These were reported through the Safe Car Wash app in the first year of its launch.

In October 2018, on the eve of Anti-Slavery Day, Councillor Sykes called on the residents of Oldham Borough to support the campaign.  Set up by the Church of England and the Catholic Church, it aimed to expose instances of slave labourers employed in Britain’s car washes by reporting concerns online using the Safe Car Wash app. 

Councillor Sykes MBE said:  “The fact that around five reports of potential slavery were reported every day by users of the app is great, but the findings are horrific, particularly in a modern Western European state.”

“People with smart phones who uses car washes should take five seconds to download this app and to use it if you spot something of concern.  You could be saving someone from terrible suffering as a modern slave.” 

The Home Office estimates that there are more than 10,000 victims of slavery in Britain working for little or no pay with no rights, without decent working conditions and often in dangerous or unhealthy situations.  Hand car washes are frequent employers of such labour. 

The app can be found at https://www.theclewerinitiative.org/safecarwash/   

Copy of call in 2018

Date: 10 October 2018

Liberal Democrat Leader’s Plea to help make Car Washes Slavery Free

On the eve of Anti-Slavery Day (18 October 2018), Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group and Leader of the Opposition, is urging local drivers, and their passengers, to be vigilant for the presence of modern slavery when they use local car washes.

Councillor Sykes said: “We have recently debated in Council the existence of modern slavery in British society, and politicians of all parties are determined to see an end to it. Slavery in all of its forms is totally abhorrent, but it still exists even in Britain and it is often occurring right under our noses.”

The National Crime Agency has indicated that they are thousands of people being exploited in this way in the UK, often working long hours for little or no pay, in the most atrocious conditions and with scant regard for health and safety legislation. Some of these individuals are being coerced to work with the threat of violence.

Councillor Sykes added: “Although we may think that such exploitation may be limited to unscrupulous gang-masters herding their workers to carry out endless, menial tasks in agriculture, modern slavery is on our streets and one of the places it can be seen is amongst the many thousands of on-street hand car washes that have been established in our communities.”

The Church of England has launched a Safe Car Wash app that can be downloaded by the general public to their smart phones and devices to help the police tackle the problem. Users are asked to open the app and complete a short survey about the working conditions for staff that they observe whilst using the car wash. The data is anonymised and then shared with the National Crime Agency and the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority.

Councillor Sykes concurs: “Put simply, the Safe Car Wash app is one way that each of us as individuals can make a real difference. I would urge everyone to use Anti-Slavery Day to resolve to download this app and to complete the questionnaire every time they use a car wash to help to bring the scourge of modern slavery to an end.”

  The app can be found at https://www.theclewerinitiative.org/safecarwash/

Tour of Britain cycling race coming to Shaw and Crompton Saturday 14 September 2019

The 2019 Tour of Britain Cycling Race is coming to Greater Manchester and, more importantly, to Shaw and Crompton.  This prestigious sporting event is watched by millions of people.

Given our rich sporting history, with scores of internationally recognised athletes hailing from the Borough of Oldham, we hope that you too will support the event and welcome this major national sporting event on your doorstep!

Further information will be available shortly.  We hope you will get involved and enjoy this exciting occasion coming to Shaw and Crompton

Explore the 2019 OVO Energy Tour of Britain route