The Tour of Britain cycling event, is set to return to Oldham on the afternoon of Sunday 3 September.

Elite riders from across the globe will be battling it out from Altrincham to Manchester, with the Oldham section of the race coming through Uppermill, Dobcross, Delph, Grains Bar and Shaw, before then crossing over into Rochdale.

A full map of the route – which is the same as the previous route when the Tour came through Oldham in 2019 – is on the Tour of Britain website here.

Find out more about the event, including road closure information, here.

Mosshey Street housing development

These 65 affordable and share ownership properties are being developed by the Great Places Housing Group.

Following regular contact with Great Places since work stopped on the site, I am now pleased to report they have now entered a contract with Terra Nova Developments, who will be mobilising on the site next week to begin site clearance works.  

Work stalled some time again when the original builder stopped trading and left the site.

It will be great to finally get the scheme back going again and these much-needed homes constructed.

Laneside Avenue

Following many months and years of pursuing various people at Oldham Council I am pleased to confirm the Highways Department have finally agreed to take action and undertake the much-needed repairs to the road surface (collection of patched potholes) of Laneside Avenue, Shaw by doing a much needed full resurface and not a so-called patch and mend.

Hopefully the work will be undertaken 16-18 August and during these dates access will be limited while the road is closed at certain times.

Laneside Avenue is just one of two streets in the whole of Shaw Ward that will get a full resurface this year 2023-2024.

The battle to get more highway and footway repairs and improvements continues. Many other streets need such works.

Liberal Democrats have consistently argued for more investment in the basics like footways and roads and have shown where the cash can be found to pay for it in our alternative budget proposals over many years.

Development of land Lilac View Close, Shaw

I confirm I have been pursuing this matter with the relevant Council Departments and have recently received a response from the Head of Planning which I would like to share.

Good afternoon Cllr Sykes,

Apologies for the delay in responding to you on the below.

We are still awaiting some input from statutory consultees on this application so, at the moment, we’re anticipating bringing it to Planning Committee in September (20^th) if we’re minded to recommend approval.  However, we will of course bring it to August Committee (23^rd) if matters get resolved sooner.

Kind regards,

Peter Richards – Head of Planning

Extra parking secured for Shaw Town Centre during health centre build  

Plans have been finalised to provide extra parking spaces at the Westway and Kershaw Street carparks in Shaw and some additional street parking, during the construction of the Town’s much awaited new health centre. 

Shaw Liberal Democrat councillor Howard Sykes MBE said, “Shaw desperately needs its first-rate new health centre and the Liberal Democrats have worked non-stop to make sure the redevelopment got off the ground.  But people and businesses also need parking spaces.  We have listened and we’ve delivered a plan that maximises the number of legal parking spaces.”

“I have been working with officers for months to try and find more parking while the health centre is being built and business have now been consulted, with their feedback being reflected in the final plans.  There is now a plan to create more spaces in the Westway and Kershaw Street carparks, and additional on street parking on Milne Street and Farrow Street East.  Proposals to allow parking in the loading bays on Market Street have been dropped following feedback from traders.”

Councillor Sykes said, “Shaw businesses deserve, and will receive, all the support we can give them.  We’ve left no stone unturned in providing the maximum number of parking spaces possible while construction is underway at the health centre.  We’ve worked hard to make sure that people can access our Town Centre.  Shaw businesses have had the opportunity to share their views and that important feedback has been reflected in the final plans.” 

More on Shaw and Crompton Health Centre:
Great news Shaw and Crompton Health Centre redevelopment now back on track  – Howard Sykes (mycouncillor.org.uk)

Extra parking deal 25/7/23:

Liberal Democrats strike extra parking deal for Shaw town centre during health centre build – Howard Sykes (mycouncillor.org.uk)

Oldham Liberal Democrats urge “maximum penalty” for littering and fly-tipping

Oldham Council’s Liberal Democrat Opposition Group have urged the ruling Labour Party to enforce “the maximum penalty” for littering and fly-tipping offences across the Borough.  Liberal Democrat Leader, councillor Howard Sykes MBE said that council bosses “must prove to people that they are serious about handling the basics.” 

Sykes’s comments come after the government announced new maximum fines of £1,000 for fly-tipping (up from £400 previously), as well as new, steeper fines for graffiti and other environmental crimes. 

Councillor Sykes said, “By the Council’s own estimate, it costs £2,500 per day to tackle fly-tipping.  People who blight our streets and our green spaces with dumped rubbish should pay the maximum penalty.  The Council must make full use of these new powers and crack down on offenders.”

Despite so-called high-profile marketing campaigns like ‘Don’t Trash Oldham’, Oldham Council has drawn criticism under successive Council Leaders in recent years for spiralling rates of fly-tipping and environmental crime. 

Councillor Sykes said, “Fly-tipping offences have spiralled out of control in Oldham.  We are seeing far sharper increases when compared with our neighbours.  Yet despite this, Oldham’s Labour leadership is issuing fewer fines than they managed during the covid years.  This is clearly not good enough.  The Council must prove to people that they are serious about handling the basics.”    

Fly-tipping rates soar in Oldham, but number of fines drop (April 2023)

“Failure to grasp the basics”: Oldham Council bosses slammed as fly-tipping rates soar, but number of fines drop – Howard Sykes (mycouncillor.org.uk)

Don’t Trash Oldham (£2,500 per day to tackle fly-tipping)

www.oldham.gov.uk

Please see photo of our leaky dam at the top of Whitesides.  This dam is turning into the best area of wetland on Crompton Moor.   Wildlife is beginning to gather there already.   We’re putting a fence around the top side to help deter dogs from going in and disturbing the wildlife, and doing a bit more clearing of vegetation to laying down some choir matting which has already been planted with seed.

We’re going up there again on Tuesday the 8^th of August to do some more work to prepare for future planting of both marginal and aquatic plants. 

Meet in Brushes Clough car park for a 10:30 am start, on Tuesday the 8^th of August 2023, and join us working in one of the most scenic parts of the moor.   Watch the dragonflies darting about.   An event not to be missed and take part in the creation of a beautiful wildlife wetland.

Please dress appropriate for the weather, and Wellingtons are advised if you want to work in the wettest areas.