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

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

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

Hopefully you will have the results you wanted.

Regardless of your results the web site below contains load of useful information.

www.oldham.gov.uk/nextsteps

Use the hashtag #nextstepsoldham

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/

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

Posted from Councillor Louie Hamblett.

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 3^rd, 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.”