Poowatch progress report requested

Poowatch Logo

Recent press cutting from LGA First : First Magazine – LGA

Mrs Helen Lockwood, Executive Director Economy, Skills & Neighbourhoods, Mrs Carol Brown, Assistant Executive Director – Environment

Dear Mrs Lockwood & Mrs Brown,

I am sure you will recall that I wrote to you in December 2015 about Poowatch, a free web app for smartphones, tablets and personal computers.

Poo Watch was launched in November 2015 in Worcester to help clean up the city’s streets and to shame irresponsible dog-owners to clear up after their pets. There has recently been further positive publicity in the local government press – attached – and I still believe this technology could be of great use in helping Oldham Council tackle this blight in our borough, particularly in hot spots such as Dunwood Park in my own ward.

To reiterate the contents of my first letter, through the Poowatch app, Worcester residents can record any dog litter they spot in the city. The information they provide will help identify dog litter hotspots so action can be targeted in areas of greatest need.

The good thing with this approach is that the public can be the Council’s eyes and ears in the community, and they are reporting real incidents in real time to enable prompt action to be taken. This app gives residents the ability to help change the behaviour of irresponsible dog owners and to contribute to both a more co-operative and a cleaner borough.

The new web app has been jointly developed by the Safer Worcester Partnership, the Duckworth Worcestershire Trust (DWT) and Worcester City Council with funding from West Mercia’s Police and Crime Commissioner. It is free to access and uses GPS locaters to provide a simple and easy way for people to report dog mess and will help create an interactive map of the city showing the worst affected areas. It also shows the nearest poo bin to the location of the person accessing the app.

As this is free there is no deterrent to residents who are tech savvy from accessing it and using it. As you will know from complaints relayed to you, Councillors are constantly approached by constituents who are enraged by seeing dog poo on our pavements and who demand real action now. Poowatch allows them to be part of that action and make a difference rather than simply registering a complaint.

I would therefore like to ask you for an update as to where this authority is at in terms of introducing Poowatch to the Oldham Borough.

I have enclosed a recent article from First Magazine from the LGA.

I shall look forward to receiving your reply.

Yours sincerely

Howard Sykes

CC Cllr Fida Hussain

Active Citizens’ Fund – cash up for grabs

On Monday 15 August my Active Citizens’ Fund reopens, and I am inviting community groups and organisations across Greater Manchester to apply for their share of £200,000.

Organisations can apply for grants of up to £5,000 for projects that help reduce crime and anti-social behaviour in their local area.

All the information about how to apply can be found here: gmpcc.org.uk/funding

The deadline for applications is 4pm on Thursday 22nd September.

There will also be a series of events across Greater Manchester where people who are interested in applying can come along and find out more information.

Please note, places are limited and must be booked at gmpcc.org.uk/funding:

Oldham Civic Centre, West Street, Oldham, OL1 1UT,

30 August, 2pm to 4pm.

I would be grateful for your support promoting the fund, and please pass this information on through your networks to any groups or organisations you think would be interested.

Best wishes – Tony Lloyd, Mayor and Police and Crime Commissioner

Former Shaw Market demolition and anti social behaviour

Market demolish web

Joint statement from Shaw and Crompton Councillors about the anti-social behaviour on the former market site in Shaw Town Centre.

Tuesday evening (2 August), saw a group of young people wreaking havoc on the former market site, where demolition work is being carried out to remove the stalls and create more parking spaces.

This was not the first time it had happened.  On Monday evening (1 August) they had wrecked the site by pulling down the fencing.  So, it was agreed that a security guard would be deployed to the site the following evening, to monitor the situation.

Last night (2 August), he was assaulted by these young people, who were throwing objects at him, one of which was a broom that hit him on the shoulder.  Not only that but they were pulling the fencing down and riding their bikes over them.  Somebody said they looked like a “pack of wolves”.

Councillor Rod Blyth, who was going home at 8:45pm, saw a police officer talking to a group of young people.  However, the youths were not dispersed and were still congregating on Kershaw Street and Westway when the police officer left.

Then about 9:00pm the situation escalated and Councillor Rod Blyth called the police again and called his colleagues, two of whom were available to assist.  Councillors Dave Murphy and Diane Williamson attended at 9:30pm where they were greeted with a group of young people being dragged back to a police car, where one young person had to be put inside the car.

The police who attended the scene tried to explain to the young people that they would be complicit in any crime that was committed, if they did not do one of three things.  Ring the police; tell the others to stop what they were doing; or walk away.  Needless to say the young people did not take on board this message, despite being reminded of a similar situation that had happened in Ashton last week, which had sadly resulted in a death.

The young people said that they were protesting about the demolition of the market, because it was their chill space.  However, because of a history of anti-social behaviour, not just by these young people on the market, the site needs to be cleared so that those living in Shaw Town Centre are not frightened to go out at night.

It took a couple of hours for all of this to calm down, with the Councillors calling First Response (the Council’s Emergency Team) to ask for assistance, but because the security guard was not employed by the council, all they could do was carry out a welfare check.

All six Shaw and Crompton Councillors have requested a co-ordinated approach to this, so that we can stop these young people from acting so atrociously and ensure the safety of the residents and the security guard on site.  This has been happening for years, but each year the young people’s behaviour has become more anti-social.

The police, PCSOs, the Council and the Detached Youth Team will be out over the next two nights patrolling the area and a Dispersal Order has been drawn up which covers the area between Rochdale Road, Crompton Way, Market Street and Greenfield Lane.

We would urge anyone who sees anything happening around the market site, please contact the police by phoning 101.  Any intelligence about any anti-social behaviour would be welcomed.

In addition to this, Councillor Diane Williamson, as Chair of the District Executive, has written to the Leader of the Council asking for reassurances that despite the delay in the demolition, that all works will be completed in time for 22 August, as well as raising concerns about what happened on 2 August.

Local Councillors believe in zero-tolerance when dealing with these issues and a meeting with a number of partners will be taking place on Friday to review the measures that have been put in place.

Royal Mail latest re Beal Lane mail box

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Click link to see letter: Beal Lane Mail box Royal Mail letter

My most recent letter to Royal Mail:

Mr Mike Newnham, Chief Customer Officer, Royal Mail Plc, 100 Victoria Embankment, London EC4Y 0HQ

Dear Mr Newnham,

Re: Disappearance of Royal Mail Post Boxes, Milnrow Road, Shaw and Long Rushes; Shaw.

Thank you for your recent correspondence regarding the Post Box on Beal Lane, Shaw.

Whilst I have received previous replies regarding the Milnrow Road and Long Rushes Post Boxes, I am yet to receive a date of when they will be replaced.

I would welcome some further information about this matter.

Hopefully you will be in a position to replace the Post Box as soon as possible to alleviate the inconvenience and distress it is causing for my constituents.

I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Yours sincerely – Howard Sykes

Liberal Democrat Common Sense Prevails in Oldham EU Brexit Debate

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At last night’ Oldham Council meeting, in the debate on the report about the local impact of the EU referendum, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Opposition, urged Council to take action rather than simply noting the report presented to members.

Councillor Sykes had previously written to the Leader of the Council, Councillor Jean Stretton, requesting that a special report on the impact of Brexit be prepared by officers and brought to Council for debate.

Councillor Sykes said: “Although disappointed by the result, I am a democrat and accept that the UK and Oldham voted to leave.  However we should not bury our heads in the sand; as elected members, it is incumbent and expected of us to inform ourselves what the ramifications of Brexit are in terms of the impact on our local economy, Council and people, and that we take action to mitigate them or maximise the opportunities.”

Rather than resorting to rhetoric and the report was just to note, Councillor Sykes proposed two common sense suggestions to take forward.

The first was that the Administration writes to the new Prime Minister Theresa May seeking a guarantee that the Government will make up any shortfall in European funding once Brexit takes effect.

Councillor Sykes stressed that many other Councils, Cornwall, Farmers and the Local Government Association were already ahead in the queue making this demand and Oldham should join them as soon as possible.  Graciously, the Leader of the Council Councillor Jean Stretton assented and agreed to Councillor Sykes’s suggestion that both she and he should write this letter.

The second was that the Council Leader assign specific responsibility for EU exit issues to a cabinet member with the expectation that this cabinet member consult from time to time with Group Leaders and with other elected members, and that reports be brought back to Council periodically.  The Council Leader agreed on the spot to assign this responsibility to the Cabinet Member for Finance, her Deputy Leader Councillor Abdul Jabbar.

All Oldham Councillors approved both suggestions.

Theft of Royal Mail Post Boxes – Councillor Howard Sykes

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WARD QUESTION I SUBMITTED TO LAST NIGHT’S MEETING OF OLDHAM COUNCIL AND WOULD HAVE ASKED BUT it WAS RULED OUT OF TIME.

In Shaw and Crompton a large number of Royal Mail post boxes have been removed or stolen, greatly inconveniencing many of my constituents and those of Crompton colleagues, particularly constituents who are elderly or infirm.

I am sure Councillors in other wards in our borough have also experienced this.

I am also concerned about the amount of time that it takes Royal Mail to provide a replacement post box. The delay is certainly several months and in one case in my ward we are still waiting some 8 months after Royal Mail removed it.

Does the appropriate cabinet member share my concerns about post boxes being removed or stolen in our borough and the time taken to replace them, and will the Cabinet Member make representations on this matter to Royal Mail?

Removal of market stalls from former site

Market St CP sign Feb 2012 1

Presently sat in the Council meeting and two of my colleagues have asked questions in relation to Shaw Town Centre – in particular the cages behind Tesco Express and what is happening with the old market ground.

Interestingly enough work to remove the old market stalls will start on 25 July and will take approximately two weeks. Then on 8 August, weather permitting, work on the new car park will start. However this will mean that the car park will be closed for two weeks.

I am seeking clarification whether that is the full site – ie all the way down to Rochdale Road or just the old market ground.

TODAY IS POLLING DAY – POLLS ARE OPEN 7.00AM – 10.00PM

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Dear Neighbour,

Just a quick note to remind you that today Thursday 5 May 2016, is polling day for the local elections.

Polling stations are open 7.00am to 10.00pm.  You do not need your polling card to vote.

It has been great to speak to so many local people in the campaign so far and I wanted to take the opportunity to thank everyone for their support and encouragement – it really is appreciated.

As you may be aware I am the only local candidate in Thursday’s election, and live I the heart of Shaw.  The others on the ballot paper come from Uppermill, Higginshaw and Sholver!  Many people have said to me ‘what do they know about Shaw and Crompton’.

Everything points to this election being very close between myself and the Labour candidate from Sholver.  Last year just 220 voted separated Labour from the Liberal Democrats,   YOUR vote will really make a difference and YOUR support would be really appreciated.

If you need a lift to the polls tomorrow call us on 01706 840056.

Best Wishes,

Howard

Councillor Howard Sykes

Shaw Liberal Democrat FOCUS Team

PS – Please remember it will be really very close between Liberal Democrats and Labour tomorrow.  Voting for the Conservative from Uppermill will just risk Labour sneaking in!

A personal message for YOU from Howard Sykes

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Dear Fellow Shaw Ward Resident,

Soon it will be the local elections and you’ll have the opportunity to vote for your councillor for Shaw Ward.  I wanted to write to you personally, to ask YOU for your support on Thursday May 5.

I’ve lived in Shaw and Crompton for more than 50 years; my family has been brought up here and we live and work here in the heart of Shaw.  I’ve worked hard to help local residents and the community, where I live, with the issues that affect us but there is much more to do.

I listen to your views and concerns – at my regular ward surgeries, on one of my many ward walks, at dozens of community events and even in the aisles of ASDA, on Market Street or even in the Shay Wake on occasion!

I have a proven track record of action and I keep residents up-to-date through our all-year-round Focus newsletters and also via my website, Facebook, Twitter and email newsletters.

Shaw and Crompton deserve better from the Labour run Oldham Council and with YOUR help I want to continue to fight to make sure our area gets its fair share and is not forgotten or overlooked.

 I will make sure your voice is heard at Oldham Civic Centre.  I will fight on your behalf for:

  • A new Health Centre for Shaw and Crompton.
  • To get our roads and footways repaired.
  • To keep our town and neighbourhoods clean and tidy.
  • To support Shaw’s thriving community and it’s voluntary organisations.
  • To provide a swimming and leisure facility for Shaw and Crompton.

Thank you for taking the time to read this message.

Best wishes,

Howard Sykes 

PS.  Your vote in the local elections on 5 May could make the difference. In Shaw it is always very close in the local elections between Labour and the Liberal Democrats.

The Conservative from Uppermill will come either a very poor third or fourth, so a vote for them just lets Labour sneak in.  Please consider lending me your vote to stop Labour’s candidate from Sholver getting in.