Metrolink Oldham Rochdale line – essential overnight maintenance works between Derker and Rochdale Town Centre Metrolink stops

X-BT-solution-online

I have also asked and been assured any use of the Metrolink car parks in Shaw will be in the car park on the tram stop side of Beal Lane away from local residents on Beal Lane and Britaina Avenue.

COPY RESIDENTS LETTER

Dear Resident,

Metrolink Oldham Rochdale line – essential overnight maintenance works between Derker and Rochdale Town Centre Metrolink stops

 I am writing to inform you that we will be carrying out essential overnight maintenance work to the Metrolink tracks between Derker and Rochdale Town Centre stops over five nights between the approximate hours of midnight and 04:30 between the following dates:

  • Sunday 30 October to Friday 4 November

 This work, which is being carried out by the Metrolink contractor M-Pact Thales, will involve the use of a tamping machine to compact the track ballast which will create some noise.  However, the workforce will minimise noise where possible in accordance with the safe operation of the works.  Head torches will be used as an alternative to floodlighting.

This work can only take place outside normal working hours when the trams are not in operation.  Please note that this does not mean that work will be continuous at any one location for the duration of the programme of works.  The completion of these works will help to reduce tram noise and improve the quality of the ride.

We apologise for any inconvenience this work may cause you.

How to find out more

Should you require any further information, our Customer Relations teams can be contacted on Twitter, by emailing customer.relations@tfgm.com or by calling 0161 244 1000 between 07:00 and 20:00 Monday to Friday or 08:00 and 20:00 hours on weekends.

To report urgent issues or incidents relating to this work, please call 0161 205 2000.

Yours faithfully – Peter Cushing, Metrolink Director, Transport for Greater Manchester

Do not ban Council Bus Companies, says Liberal Democrat Leader

26611846393_e289b95671_b

The Leader of the Liberal Democrat Opposition Group on Oldham Council, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, has condemned a Government proposal under new legislation to prevent councils creating and operating their own bus company if they feel that best helps deliver public transport in their areas.

Councillor Sykes, who also serves as one of Oldham’s representatives on the Transport for Greater Manchester Committee, particularly objects to Clause 21 of the Bus Services Bill which is currently going through the House of Lords.

Councillor Sykes said: “Although many of the provisions of the Bus Bill enjoy cross-party support, the Conservative Government’s proposal under Clause 21 to stop local councils from forming a company to operate bus services is most unwelcome.”

“The clause should be opposed as it defies common-sense.  Council-owned bus companies have a track record of attracting more passengers and providing excellent, value-for-money services.”

“And, as a Liberal Democrat, I believe this clause should be opposed as it denies democratically-elected local authorities the choice over how best to run bus services in their area; and this part of the legislation also rolls back powers granted to councils under the 2011 Localism Act.”

“In surveys this view has been backed by the public; most of whom oppose a ban.”

The Bus Bill comes before the House of Lords for its third reading on the 24 October. The Liberal Democrat Transport Spokesperson, Baroness Randerson, has tabled her opposition to Clause 21 in the Lords, and her efforts are backed by colleagues in the cross-party Local Government Association.

“I spoke at length to Baroness Randerson about Bus Bill matters on behalf of TfGM at two meetings with her at the Liberal Democrat Party Conference in Brighton in September, added Councillor Sykes.

“I welcome the opposition to Clause 21 from Liberal Democrat peers and wish them every success in forcing the Conservative Government to back down on this measure which seems solely to be driven by an ideology that is opposed to bus services being provided by public bodies rather than private operators.”

V C Hero Sergeant Hogan recognised in Royton Street Naming

DFSM01-2

The Leader of the Liberal Democrat Opposition Group on Oldham Council, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, has welcomed the recent naming of a street in a new housing development off High Barn Street in Royton after a First World War hero.

One of the streets has been named after Sergeant John Hogan, a winner of the Victoria Cross, Britain’s highest military award.

Sergeant Hogan, who came from Royton, was serving in the 2nd Battalion Manchester Regiment when he was awarded his Victoria Cross for recapturing a trench near Festubert in October 1914. Sergeant Hogan received his V C from King George V in 1915.

Commenting Councillor Sykes said: “In 2014, the Liberal Democrats asked the Administration to name local streets after V C winners to honour and remember them. We recognised that it was our duty to remember the bravery of these heroes who fought so hard for king and country.”

“It is gratifying to see that our suggestion is now being put into practice.”

Copy of my Question 10 Sept 2014: Question 3 – Honouring The Great War Heroes

My third question concerns our recognition of three local men who in the First World War won Britain’s highest military award, The Victoria Cross.  I am sure the Leader will recall the correspondence that he received last year from my colleague, the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, Cllr John McCann, requesting that local streets be named after local heroes.

Local Communities Secretary Eric Pickles has commissioned commemorative paving stones to be laid as a mark of honour and remembrance in the locality of every Great War VC winner.  In announcing the initiative, Mr Pickles said: “It’s our duty to remember the British and Commonwealth troops who lost their lives fighting in the Great War and we are determined to make sure their bravery for King and Country is not forgotten.”  Sentiments that I am sure the Leader will endorse.

Three paving stones will be received for local heroes John Hogan, of Royton; Walter Mills, of Oldham; and Thomas Steele, of Springhead.  Lest we forget their heroic deeds, please allow me to give a brief summary.

Sergeant John Hogan, of the 2nd Battalion Manchester Regiment, received his VC from King George V in 1915.  He was awarded the VC for recapturing a trench near Festubert in October, 1914.

Private Walter Mills was awarded the VC posthumously after he was caught in a gas attack on the Western Front in December 1917. Despite being gassed, a truly horrible fate, he remained at his post alone, throwing grenades until the enemy retreated.

Private Thomas Steele served with the 1st Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders in Mesopotamia (now Iraq).  He was awarded his VC for an action in January, 1917, when he helped a comrade carry a machine gun into position under heavy fire.

Can I ask the Leader if he and Councillor Ball will agree to work with me, Cllr McCann and ward members to identify new developments where these gallant men might have local streets named after them?

Liberal Democrat welcome for Council Investigation of Coal Mine Heat

coal-mine-350

The Leader of the Liberal Democrat Opposition Group on Oldham Council, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, has welcomed a recent report to the Overview and Scrutiny Board (11 October 16) which confirms that Oldham Council will be supporting a bid for money to investigate the possibility of tapping heat from disused coal mines.

Councillor Sykes said: “Exactly two years ago in full Council I asked the then Leader of the Council to commission a study with the other Leaders of the Greater Manchester authorities to explore the potential of this power source across the county.”

“I first became aware of that geothermic energy might be a viable possibility in Oldham when I read about the exciting plans in Scotland.”

In late 2013, the Scottish Government published a study that identified that as much as a third of the heat needed to keep Scotland warm could be provided by tapping geothermal energy from old coal mines across the central belt.

In Council, Councillor Sykes pointed out at the time that the Oldham borough shares a rich coal mining heritage and that the many former coal mines may give off residual ground-source heat that could form part of the borough’s renewable energy strategy.

Oldham Council has just agreed that this possibility is worth investigating. The Council will be supporting a bid to Innovate UK (formerly the Technology Strategy Institute) for £200K of funding to carry out feasibility work to look at the potential of ground source heat from disused coal mines to supply district heat networks.

Councillor Sykes added: “Although it has taken two years, I am pleased that the Council has finally decided to take forward my suggestion. Let us hope that this leads to some concrete proposals that will help make Oldham a greener borough.”

Link to report (see section 2.9): http://committees.oldham.gov.uk/documents/s73866/OS%20October%2016%20-%20Climate%20change%20and%20Brexit.pdf

Copy of my question: Council 22 Oct 14 – Leader Question 3: Geothermic Heat

My final question concerns geothermic heat; that is heat sourced from below ground to heat homes.  Let us be clear from the outset – I am not referring to fracking.

The Times reported recently that a 350-million year old volcano located deep beneath Stoke-on-Trent could help to heat more than a thousand homes.  On reading this article I naturally checked the facts as my first thought was that this must be a late-running April Fools’ Day joke.

But no; Stoke-on-Trent City Council has prepared a business case to drill a 2.5km borehole to an aquifer in which the water is heated naturally to at least 85C (185F). This heat would be transferred to the surface to heat homes and the Government has pledged £20million to fund it.  This got me thinking.

It is unlikely that Oldham sits on an ancient volcano, but we do have a rich coal mining heritage (as those amongst you who have seen the 19th Century photographic panorama of the town centre in Gallery Oldham will know).

So I wondered do former coal mines give off residual ground-source heat which we could possibly utilise as part of the borough’s renewable energy strategy?  And guess what they DO….  The Herald in Scotland reported in November 2013 that:

“As much as a third of the heat needed to keep Scotland warm could be provided by tapping geothermal energy from old coal mines across the central belt, a major new study for the Scottish Government has concluded.

“Warm water piped up from abandoned mine shafts between Glasgow and Edinburgh and in Ayrshire and Fife could help heat many thousands of homes and other buildings for decades, researchers said. They are urging ministers to embark on an ambitious attempt to make geothermal energy a major new source of clean, renewable power within a few years”.

As Oldham is far from unique in historically sourcing power from coal, would the Leader be agreeable to looking to commission with the other Leaders of the Greater Manchester Authorities a study of the potential of this power source across our county?