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

The Liberal Democrats have won the Brecon and Radnorshire by-election in Wales.

This follows a petition to remove the Conservative MP who was found guilty of about the wrongful claiming of expenses. Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, leader of the Liberal Democrats in Oldham Borough has welcomed the fantastic result this morning:

“I was in Brecon and Radnorshire myself earlier this week to help Jane Dodd’s campaign.  This proves the Liberal Democrats can take on Labour and the Conservatives nationally.  This stinging result leaves the Conservative Party with a Commons majority of just one, the first failure of Boris Johnson’s new Government.”

“This makes things incredibly hard for the Conservatives, and it is the Liberal Democrats that are holding the Government to account, not the Labour Party, who did terribly last night.”

The result means the Liberal Democrats now have 13 MPs.  A figure slowly rising, one that will grow at the next General Election.

Jane Dodds MP overturned an 8,038 majority to beat the incumbent Conservative by 1,425 votes!

The Conservative candidate Mr Davies stood again after being unseated by a recall petition following a false expense claim.

The true extent of ‘criminal’ Conservative police cuts in Greater Manchester have been revealed by local Liberal Democrats.
 
Councillor Howard Sykes MBE comments on a Liberal Democrat analysis of new Home Office figures released recently.  They revealed that the Conservative Government cut funding to Greater Manchester by 6.3% in real terms between 2015-16 and 2019-20.
 
According to data from the Home Office statistical bulletin: ‘Police funding for England and Wales 2015 to 2020,’ total government funding to all 43 forces in the UK (in 2019-20 prices) fell from £8.48 billion in 2015-16 to £7.99 billion in 2019-20.  32 of the 43 forces across the country experienced cuts of 6% or more. 
 
Liberal Democrat Councillor Howard Sykes MBE said:
 
“Across the country, we are seeing rising crime and falling police numbers.  Far too many people now feel unsafe walking down their own streets.  This is unacceptable.
 
Taking 5,000 police off our streets in the last four years and cutting funding in real-terms by £490 million from 2015-16 to 2019-20 are big Conservative crimes.”
 
Councillor Sykes, Liberal Democrat Leader of the Opposition went on to say:

“Inflicting 6.3% cuts on our local police force over the last four years, given concerns about knife crime, shows just how out of touch the Conservatives are.  This is not what people want.”

“The Liberal Democrats demand better.  We will give police forces the resources they need to recruit more officers and restore real community policing in our Borough, so that we can make our streets safer and make people feel safer too.”

Notes:
 
The data is from the Home Office statistical bulletin Police funding for England and Wales 2015 to 2020, available here.
 
The 2015-16 figures have been converted to 2019-20 prices using HM Treasury’s latest GDP deflators, available here.
 
The calculations of real-terms cuts for each police force can be found here.

Carolyn Wilkins OBE, Chief Executive, Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council

23 July 2019

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?  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

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

Thoughtless dog owners are being targeted in fresh calls for max on the spot fines.  Liberal Democrats in Oldham Borough want to charge people the maximum allowed by law for those who don’t pick up their dog muck.  Owners who do not observe the law could be fined £100.

Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, the Leader of the Liberal Democrats on Oldham Council wants the full force of the law to tackle this issue.  He says: “Dog fouling is horrendous; it can make children go blind.  Also, people who fail to control their dogs can have tragic impacts on local residents.”

Councillor Sykes added: “I have raised this with the Deputy Leader and portfolio holder but if nothing happens, like it has before, I will continue to pursue this.  The vast majority of dog owners are responsible.  It is the mindless few that spoil it for everybody.  We need to have zero tolerance with such people”.ENDS/…

Copy of letter:

12 July 2019

Councillor Arooj Shah, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Social Justice and Communities, Oldham Council

Dear Arooj Shah,

Re: Dog Fouling & Nuisance Motion

It is with sadness that I must bring to your attention the dog attack that took place on Saturday the 6 July 2019.  A woman and two children were attacked by an out of control dog in Hollinwood, resulting in serious injuries and the on-site destruction of the animal.

Following this, I must address the Motion that Liberal Democrat Councillor Gloster and Councillor Murphy passed on Wednesday on 20 March 2019 at full council. This Motion resolved to increase the financial penalty for breaching Oldham Borough Council’s Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPO) from the historic £80 to the proposed £100.

As you know, PSPO & Dog Control Orders can be used to control behaviours which are having or are likely to have a detrimental effect on the quality of life of those in the locality.  With this in mind, the Council decided to increase the penalty given to those who make Oldham unsafe for the wider community four months ago.  Can you explain why this matter has not progressed?

The Liberal Democrat group have recently suggested a range of advancements in enforcing and increasing the penalty to protect our public spaces, including but not limited to: the defence of Saddleworth Moor from arson attacks.  It goes without saying that in the lambing season this year, a month after the Council motion passed, six sheep have been mauled to death near the Wharmton Mast at Greenfield.  Local press reports that Farmers are looking at lethal alternatives to protect livestock if people cannot control their dogs. Is this the kind of Borough we want to live in?

Considering the recent problems, myself and colleagues recently met with the Dogs Trust, a well-known and respected charity.  The purpose of this meeting was to bring the matter to the attention of the council and its residents, how dogs can improve the physical wellbeing of Oldhamers through exercise, how to clean up after your dog and the health importance of being a hygienic owner, when to and when not to let your dog off the lead and respecting other people and dogs.

Chris Gloster, one of my Shaw Ward colleagues has been active to place more signs regarding dog fouling around the area. The aims of Liberal Democrats and Dogs Trust campaign are simple. We want to encourage the many responsible dog owners recognising the good work they do but also highlight the irresponsible few to think again about how their behaviour impacts on others. 

I think it’s important to add that knowing how to look after your dog properly can improve the area and even go as far as saving someone’s life. I advise the Deputy Leader to give the Council an update on the timetable for implementation of the Motion, if it has not already been addressed and ask what advancements have been made upon current enforcement of the council’s protection orders.

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

Yours sincerely

Howard Sykes

Cowie Street, Shaw from its junction with Smallbrook Road to its junction with Duchess Street . For carriageway resurfacing.

Diversion: Duchess Street, Northdowns Road, Rushcroft Road, Rochdale Road, Crompton Way, Milnrow Road, Smallbrook Road in both directions.