Are you coming into town for #IlluminateOldham this Saturday?

The fun begins on Saturday 24 February from 6pm with the annual illuminated Parade from the Oldham Civic Centre to the Old Town Hall.  Here is everything you need to know…

See hundreds of community-made lanterns, galloping horses, flying birds and a giant illuminated octopus that will be sure to light up the High Street.

Look out for illuminated puppets, dancers and drummers from Global Grooves, alongside groups from across Oldham as they create a joyous explosion of colour, music and creativity.

From 6pm until 9pm, explore the 10 light artworks at various locations across the town centre – all you need to do is grab a brochure and follow the trail.

Don’t miss the activities at Gallery Oldham and Oldham Library throughout the night:

Life with the Wave by Interplay National Sensory Theatre: Experience a playful underwater journey in an illuminated dome. Shows at 6:30 and 7:30pm.

There will also be live music from Illuminate Parade Bands and a pop-up cafe where you can grab a bite to eat.

At 8pm, head over to the Old Town Hall as it transforms with vivid projection mapping, music and storytelling to bring the Grade 2 listed building to life with the colours of nature. 

Plus, much more!

More information here

Oldham Way Closure

Oldham Way will be closed for three nights on Wed 28, Thurs 29 Feb, and Fri 1 March. 

The closures will be in place from 8pm until 5am. 

The closure will be between the Manchester Road roundabout to the junction of Prince Street/Oldham Way.  Diversion signs will be in place.

Shaw Liberal Democrat councillors’ step in as residents report building site disturbances

Residents in the Linney Lane/Oak Street area of Shaw have been plagued by noise pollution and mess on the site of the former ‘Very Group’ fulfilment centre, which is currently being redeveloped for 130 three and four bedroom homes. 

Shaw’s Liberal Democrat councillors have stepped in, calling on Oldham Council officers to ensure that considerations are made to residents and the surrounding area. 

Leader of Oldham Liberal Democrats and Shaw representative, councillor Howard Sykes MBE said, “For some time now, residents have been putting up with noise and mess from site.  The lack of effective sweeping and wheel-washing facilities on the site are also causing issues.” 

“Everyone accepts that some disturbance and mess is part of the deal on a job like this.  But contractors have a responsibility to show consideration to the public and council officers have a responsibility to ensure that checks are carried out,” he added.

“Since contacting the Council about this matter the piling has stopped as it is complete on that section of the development, but similar works will be required later on in the construction,“ stated councillor Sykes.  “I have also been assured measures will be taken to reduce the mud and mess being deposited on to the highway which has been an issue for much longer.”

More from Oldham Liberal Democrats on the Linney Lane redevelopment: Former Very site Linney lane – Howard Sykes (mycouncillor.org.uk)

Oldham Liberal Democrats slam Council as they refuse to clear blocked drains

Oldham Liberal Democrats have condemned Oldham Council “drain clearing failures” after a statement was issued by Oldham Council Highways Department saying that the Council is “not currently accepting reports of blocked gullies”.  The statement came in response to a request made by councillor Howard Sykes MBE of Shaw Ward, who was trying to report several blocked drains in his patch. 

According to Highways officers, all drains are inspected and cleared once a year and “ad-hoc” callouts to respond to individual complaints from councillors and residents just slow this work down. 

Councillor Sykes said, “Firstly, it’s simply not the case that every drain in Oldham is maintained each year.  I and local residents can list plenty of drains that look like they haven’t been cleared for years.”

“It is astounding that the Labour Council think it is acceptable to point blank refuse to accept complaints and genuine requests for maintenance.”   

“Oldham Council now has a reputation for failing to get the basics right and this is just further proof.  The Labour administration clearly doesn’t have a handle on things otherwise officers wouldn’t think it’s appropriate to send out memos refusing to do such much need work.”    

Response from Oldham Highways Department – 19/2/24

Dear Cllr Sykes,

Thank you for your Email. Oldham Council provide a Gully Cleansing Service to fulfil a statutory duty. The aim of the service is to provide cyclic gully cleansing of all roadside gullies and to assess complaints of blocked gullies and flooding.

We aim to cleanse all roadside gullies once per year, however there may be operational difficulties such as road works, parked cars etc. which prevent access and it is not possible to return to these once the area has been visited. By working to a scheduled programme the Council is able to ensure that the available resources are used efficiently and ensure that every street in the borough receives treatment. Ad-hoc visits will delay the programme, therefore Council is not currently accepting reports of blocked gullies. If a blocked gully is putting your property at risk of flooding, please let us know and we will inspect and arrange for it to be cleared if necessary. 

If you wish for further information with regards to these issues please contact the highways email address highways@oldham.gov.uk

Best Regards,

Oldham Council Highways

Illuminate returns

A reminder that next weekend, is the annual celebration of light, Illuminate.

The event opens on Saturday 24 February from 6pm, with the magical Illuminate parade from Oldham Civic Centre to the Old Town Hall.

The event continues into the night with a range of awe-inspiring light art installations and performances across the town centre.

By the Light of the Moon

The fun continues on Sunday 25 February for ‘By the Light of the Moon’ an exciting free family event that celebrates the magical world of moths at Northern Roots, located just near Alexandra Park.

There is also a free lantern-making workshops at Gallery Oldham on 17, 20, 21 and 22 February. Available for the whole family and participants can take home their lanterns after the parade.

The workshops can be booked through the Oldham Libraries Eventbrite site here

Are you looking for something to do this half-term?

Oldham Active Sports Coaches are hosting three family fun days next week, where kids can participate in sporting activities from 10 am to 2pm at the following locations:

• Monday – High Crompton Park
• Tuesday – Limeside Park
• Wednesday – Berriesfield Park

Free to attend – Perfect half-term entertainment with family and friends!

Oldham Way – overnight closures  

Oldham Way will be closed in both directions for three nights on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 21, 22 and 23 of February for resurfacing work.

The closures will be in place from 8pm until 5am between the Manchester Road roundabout up to the junction of Prince Street/Oldham Way. 

Signposted diversions will be in place.

United Utilities set to raise water and sewage bills in Oldham by £35  

Oldham Liberal Democrat Leader councillor Howard Sykes MBE has slammed United Utilities bosses, branding plans to increase water bills by £35 per year “disgraceful.”

Liberal Democrats in Oldham have called for United Utilities to scrap their water bill hike, arguing that there should be “no price rises until water firms scrap insulting overseas dividends and executive bonuses”.

Councillor Sykes said, “This insulting price hike should be scrapped immediately. There should be no price rises until water firms scrap insulting overseas dividends and executive bonuses.” 

“These price hikes are the last thing that families across Oldham need right now.  During a cost-of-living crisis, it is a slap in the face to all those in our community who now have to pay more to water companies who have been pumping filthy sewage into our rivers for years.”

“It’s astonishing that the government is allowing water companies to behave like cowboys, jacking up prices with one hand while illegally dumping sewage into our rivers and streams with the other.”

Water UK has released figures which forecast water bill price changes which show that in Oldham, water bills are expected to rise by 8%, or £35, a year for 2024/25. 

Single-use plastics still in use at Oldham Council nearly six years after they voted to ban them

Oldham Liberal Democrat Leader councillor Howard Sykes MBE has written to Civic Centre bosses demanding answers after the Council appears to have rowed back on its policy to ban the use of single-use plastics.

Councillor Sykes said, “Oldham Council supported a Liberal Democrat motion banning single-use plastics in Council buildings back in March 2018.”

“Nearly six years later I am disappointed to see single-use plastic cups are still available at water coolers in the Civic Centre and other single-use plastics are prevalent inside council buildings.”

On October 1^st 2023 a wider ban on single-use plastics came into effect, impacting businesses across the UK.  Oldham Council is responsible for enforcing this ban locally through trading standards.  But the Liberal Democrats say the Council is “not doing enough to lead by example.”

Councillor Sykes said, “How can we hope to encourage businesses in Oldham to do their bit for the environment by cutting out single-use plastics, if the Council can’t even get this right in its own buildings?  Just another case of not getting the basics right.”

“I’ve written to the Leader of the Council urging her administration to take serious action to make this ban a reality.”

NOTES:

Councillor Arooj Shah, Leader of Oldham Council

Harry Catherall, Chief Executive of Oldham Council

Dear Councillor Shah and Mr Catherall,

Single use plastics

I am writing to you in relation to the council’s use of single-use plastics. 

As you will be aware, Oldham Council supported a Liberal Democrat motion banning single-use plastics in council buildings back in March 2018. 

Nearly six years later I am disappointed to see single-use plastic cups are still available at water coolers in the Civic Centre and other single-use plastics are prevalent inside council buildings.  I understand the need to use up stocks but six years on that is not the case their use has not stopped. 

You will also be aware that more recently on October 1^st 2023, a wider ban on single-use plastics came into effect, impacting businesses across the UK.  Oldham Council is responsible for enforcing this ban through trading standards, yet we are clearly not doing enough to lead by example. 

Please can you therefore provide an update on what the council is doing to take this important ban seriously and ensure that we are doing our part for the environment by truly cutting out reliance of single-use plastics. 

I look forward to your response.

Best wishes.

Councillor Howard Sykes MBE 

Liberal Democrat motion on single-use plastics passed by Oldham Council (Mar 2018)
Liberal Democrats call for Oldham to become a Plastic-Free Borough – Howard Sykes (mycouncillor.org.uk)