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
The Parish Council’s Planning Committee has for at least three consecutive times not met to look over planning applications due to Oldham Councils seemingly forgetfulness for not sending them out.
This is also following on from the recent announcement that the Head of Planning and Infrastructure, Steven Irvine, has been suspended from the Council (and now resigned).
Councillor Louie Hamblett Liberal Democrat Group Leader on the Parish Council recently sent a query to Oldham Council’s Helen Lockwood Deputy Chief Executive asked “ We know that Planning committee has not met due to having not received the list for three times this upcoming Monday being the 3rd, I cannot speak for our colleagues in Saddleworth however as we are a statuary consultee it’s really important that Parish Councillors on the committee be allowed to have a say and give a view on all plans within the Boundary of the Parish” he also went to say “
I hope that a reasonable
answer can be found for this with a plausible explanation and hopefully it not
be repeated.”
The Borough Council is
legally obligated to send on all planning applications that fall within the
boundary of Shaw & Crompton Parish Council even if the application falls in
favour or against the judgement of the parish councillors.
This shows the full
transparency of how local democracy should work and how two authorities no
matter how greater or minor they are in administrative size should be working
as a team for those they serve.
Councillor
Howard Sykes MBE, Liberal Democrat and Opposition Leader on Oldham Council, has
welcomed the U-turn by the Rail Delivery Group (RDG) to remain part of the
unlimited rail travel schemes, Interrail and Eurail.
Earlier
this week Councillor Sykes was very critical of the decision (see below).
“I
welcome this U-turn; it was a silly idea.
Credit where credit is due, the RDG have listened to the uproar caused
by their plans and very sensibility thrown them in the bin,” stated Councillor
Sykes.
Copy of what I said on 8 August 2019
Interrail axed by British Rail Group is
a nail in coffin for UK tourism and young people says Liberal Democrats
As of next
year, Britain will no longer be part of the European wide Interrail scheme. Eurail, who runs Interrail, have stated that Britain’s
Rail Delivery Group (RDG) will not be part of the Eurail and the Interrail Pass
effective from January 2020.
Liberal
Democrat Councillor Howard Sykes MBE says this move would mean young people will
have their travel options restricted and end up harming UK businesses in the
process. The RDG stopped the scheme because they say it was
confusing to offer it alongside the BritRail pass.
Although
people from other countries will be able to use the Eurostar to get to London,
they will be discouraged from exploring outside the City and not provide
tourism and spending to the rest of the UK, especially the north. This makes it complicated for tourists abroad
but also difficult for UK citizens wanting to explore Europe, some may even
have to fly.
Councillor
Sykes MBE commented:
“These
tickets are popular among teenagers and gap year students in Oldham Borough who
wish to explore a bit more of the world.
This is a small-minded limitation on those who have less money to spend,
this silly move by the British Rail Delivery Group is limiting youth opportunity. There may also be other consequences for
those in the UK if people from Britain end up excluded from the Interrail
tickets on mainland Europe.”
“The big irony
is, that the changes will make it more confusing and inaccessible. Many people have been Interrailing in
mainland Europe I fear this is the start of the end of that very cost-effective
experience for our citizens and especially the young or those on limited
budgets.”
“The Interrail
pass allows holders to travel on almost all trains within Europe to explore the
continent. But from 1 January 2020, they
will no longer cover the UK. The fear is
that UK citizens will then be excluded from this scheme as another consequence.”
First Manchester will be making some changes to commercial services 24, 181 & 182 with effect from 2nd September.
Service 24 (Rochdale – Royton – Manchester): This
Monday to Friday peak only service (which currently consists of departures from
Rochdale at 0600, 0626 & 0650 and departures from Manchester at 1623, 1723,
1753 & 1823) will be withdrawn. Service 409 provides an alternative
service between Rochdale and Royton and services 181 & 182 continue to
provide links between Royton, Chadderton and Manchester.
First Manchester have provided patronage data which shows on
average 6.55 passengers per trip boarding between Rochdale and Royton on the AM
journeys.
Alternatives exist by transferring at Royton, between
services 409 and 181/182.
Service 181 (Rochdale – Shaw – Royton – Manchester): The
Monday to Saturday day-time service will be reduced from every 30 minutes to
hourly. The weekday peak service will still operate every 30 minutes.
Service 181 will combine with service 182 to provide a 20 minute off peak
daytime service betweenChadderton and Manchester.
Service 182 (Rochdale
– Shaw – Royton – Manchester): Morning peak journeys which currently
extend from Rochdale at 0526 and Milnrow at 0604, 0633, 0658 & 0723 will be
revised and replaced by journeys (from Milnrow only) at 0559, 0623 &
0653. The following Saturday early morning journeys will be revised:
0514 Chadderton – Manchester – retimed 30 minutes later
0550 & 0650 Manchester – Shaw – replaced by one journey
at 0620.
0551 Shaw – Manchester withdrawn. There are
alternative journeys within 30 minutes.
The journeys at 0514 and 0550 were introduced in April 2018
as part of a trial to stimulate early morning usage. On average these journeys
are only carrying 5 passengers per trip.
For the changes to services 181 and 182, there are alternative journeys on service 58 from
Rochdale to Milnrow and Shaw at 0600 and 0700. Metrolink also provides an
option for passengers travelling between Manchester and Shaw.
As of next year, Britain will no longer be part of the European wide Interrail scheme. Eurail, who runs Interrail, have stated that Britain’s Rail Delivery Group (RDG) will not be part of the Eurail and the Interrail Pass effective from January 2020.
Liberal
Democrat Councillor Howard Sykes MBE says this move would mean young people will
have their travel options restricted and end up harming UK businesses in the
process. The RDG stopped the scheme because they
say it was confusing to offer it alongside the BritRail pass.
Although
people from other countries will be able to use the Eurostar to get to London,
they will be discouraged from exploring outside the City and not provide
tourism and spending to the rest of the UK, especially the north. This makes it complicated for tourists abroad
but also difficult for UK citizens wanting to explore Europe, some may even
have to fly.
Councillor
Sykes MBE commented:
“These
tickets are popular among teenagers and gap year students in Oldham Borough who
wish to explore a bit more of the world.
This is a small-minded limitation on those who have less money to spend,
this silly move by the British Rail Delivery Group is limiting youth opportunity. There may also be other consequences for those
in the UK if people from Britain end up excluded from the Interrail tickets on
mainland Europe.”
“The big irony
is, that the changes will make it more confusing and inaccessible. Many people have been Interrailing in
mainland Europe I fear this is the start of the end of that very cost-effective
experience for our citizens and especially the young or those on limited
budgets.”
“The Interrail
pass allows holders to travel on almost all trains within Europe to explore the
continent. But from 1 January 2020, they
will no longer cover the UK. The fear is
that UK citizens will then be excluded from this scheme as another consequence.”
I am
pleased to confirm that the planning issues relating to Hodge Clough Road and
Knowls Lane have been considered and that the planning decisions are lawful and
in accordance with planning legislation.
In
addition, the staffing issue you raised is unrelated and I am therefore unable
to comment further.
Helen Lockwood – Deputy Chief Executive – Oldham Council
