Starts Xmas Eve – Essential Metrolink overnight maintenance works at Beal Lane junction from 10pm Saturday 24 Dec

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Copy of letter to local residents.  Also I have also asked that they use the car park on the tram stop side of Beal Lane so as to minimise any impact on those living close by.

I am writing to inform you that essential overnight maintenance work will be taking place at the Beal Lane / Oldham and Rochdale Metrolink line junction, overnight from approximately 10pm on Saturday 24 December.

The work, which will take approximately 24 hours to complete, is being carried out by the Metrolink contractor, M-Pact Thales. As well as the track maintenance work, some repairs to the highway will also be carried out at this time.

While some noise is expected, the workforce will minimise this where possible in accordance with the safe operation of the works. Flood lighting is required but will be directed onto the worksite to minimise disruption.

A signed road diversion will be in place for the duration of this work as follows: Beal Lane, Rochdale Road, Crompton Way, Milnrow Road, Buckstones Road, Hillside Avenue, Grains Road, Beal Lane.

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

Public consultation on the first draft of Greater Manchester Spatial Framework is being extended until January 16 2017

 

imagesPublic consultation on the first draft of Greater Manchester Spatial Framework is being extended until January 16 2017

Greater Manchester Combined Authority has been consulting on the first draft of the GM Spatial Framework since 31 October.  This is an important plan and it has already generated a huge amount of public interest.  Many public events have taken place across the region and more than 32,000 people have logged on to our consultation website to find out more about the proposals and how to respond.  The GMCA  wants to make sure that everyone who wants to, has the opportunity to take part in the consultation, and some people have told us that they need longer so GMCA  has decided to extend the consultation until Monday 16 January 2017 (23.59)

Go to the web page to have your say at https://www.greatermanchester_ca.gov.uk/info/20081/draftplan

You can also follow the GMSF on Twitter https://twitter.com/gmspatialframe (@GMSpatialframe)

Oldham Council 14 December 2016 – leaders questions from Councillor Howard Sykes

questions-to-ask-your-LASIK-doctorLeaders Question 1 – Greater Manchester Spatial Framework

Mr Mayor, my first question of the Leader tonight again relates to the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework.

I make no apology for it, Mr Mayor, because in my part of the world this is undoubtedly the single most important local issue to our citizens.

I was surprised by the response of the Leader last time.

She talked of the need for more homes in our Borough and more aspirational homes in our Borough – something I do not disagree with – but there was no recognition that the growth and pain should be shared across the Borough, rather than concentrated in one corner of it!

Mr Mayor, I would like to reiterate that the land earmarked to build an awful lot of these new homes is in Shaw, in Crompton and in Royton.

It may be that only three percent of the Borough’s Green Belt is being lost, but the lion’s share of that amount is being lost is in the wards represented by myself and my colleagues for Shaw, Crompton and Royton.

Under the proposals outlined under the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework, over 3000 new homes will be built on green field sites in Shaw and Crompton alone!

Vast swathes of Green Belt stretching from the rear of Dunwood Park to Burnage will be lost forever to bricks, concrete and tarmac.

3,000 new homes built in two wards in which, as a consequence of the withdrawal of local facilities or underinvestment, we have primary schools that are already overcrowded and full; a secondary school that is falling apart; a dilapidated health centre that is near cardiac arrest; no swimming facilities or dry leisure provision; precious few youth facilities and no municipal tip.

3,000 new homes that are built for growing families will need more primary and secondary school places; more GPs and dentists; and new highways and more buses and trams to get them about their daily business.

And doesn’t the decision not to replace the Crompton Pool and Gym now look a little short-sighted given the number of new young residents that will need to learn to swim and the number of adults that will want to keep fit?

More and more of my constituents are frankly getting more and more fearful and angry about these proposals.

This frustration was reflected in the fact that more than 200 residents turned up recently to a public consultation and we have had to organise a second event tomorrow, Thursday 15 December.

My question tonight Mr Mayor is in three parts.

  • I would firstly like to ask the Leader whether she really is convinced that there is a need for such a large land grab of Green Belt to build so many homes and such an increase in industrial provision in our Borough?
  • And if the answer is yes, why is it that the lion’s share of that burden is placed upon Shaw, Crompton and Royton rather than apportioned out with other parts of the Borough having a Fair Share?
  • And lastly would the Leader agree with me that we first need to develop on brown field land, on land with existing planning permission for housing and on unloved derelict sites, and also bring back empty homes into occupation and convert empty factories and mills into flats, before we look to touch any part of our precious Green Belt and Green Spaces?

 

Leaders Question 2 – Promoting the Borough’s Real Ale, Music and Comedy Scene

 In July 2013, I asked the then Leader of the Council to join me in backing Oldham’s live music and comedy scene.

At that time, the former Castle Pub, a well-known music venue, had just closed on Union Street but there was still a vibrant music scene with six venues for live performances in the town centre.

With the recent bad news that Marks and Spencer will not be joining us at Prince’s Gate, we need to highlight the positive things that Oldham has to offer.

With the opening of the new Cinema complex and a new Coliseum Theatre complex on the way, our night-time leisure offer is being transformed.

No longer is Yorkshire Street and Union Street like the Wild West by night – instead we have cafes and bars that are safe for families and couples to visit after dark.  So let’s celebrate that.

This presents us with the opportunity to showcase the best of what Oldham has to offer – shopping or a visit to our Gallery or Museum during the day, a bite to eat in the early evening in the restaurants in Parliament Square or the Independent Quarter, a performance at the Theatre, and then maybe the opportunity to stay on into the late evening for a drink or two in a real ale pub and the chance to listen to some live music or a comedy show.

Oldham potentially offers the perfect day out and; with the Metrolink network now being even more extensive and trams more frequent; it is possible for people to visit this Borough from every part of Greater Manchester.

We need to shout about that.  So now is the time to revisit how we promote the Borough.

As part of a new tourism strategy can I ask the Leader to ask officers to produce a brochure, or brochures if one is not enough, of real ale pubs and live music and comedy venues around the Borough with their links to public transport?   And that this information is made available in print, web and an app.

Graduated and want some real life work experience?

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Do you know someone who has graduated in the last 18 months and wants the opportunity to get some real life work experience and develop project management skills?

http://www.groundwork.org.uk/Sites/bbor/pages/vpa-programme

Groundwork’s Volunteer Project Assistant (VPA) programme has helped over 2,000 unemployed graduates to kick-start their first steps into professional careers. The programme started in the early 1990’s as a way to provide unemployed graduates with real project management experience and to break the cycle of no job = no experience = no job.

Placements are available at all three Groundwork Trusts in Greater Manchester: Bolton, Bury, Oldham & Rochdale (BBOR); Cheshire, Lancashire & Merseyside (CLM); and Manchester, Salford, Stockport, Tameside & Trafford (MSSTT).

The closing date for this first round of applications is 5pm on Friday 6th January 2017.  Interviews will take place in Oldham on Wednesday 18th January 2017.

Oldham Liberal Democrats call for enforcement of offences relating to Pavement Parking

pavementparkingAt the full Council Meeting on Wednesday 14th December 2016 Oldham Lib Dems will call for action on pavement parking.

Cllr Chris Gloster, Lib Dem spokesperson for Highways said: “One issue that brings me a lot of complaints from residents relates to vehicles parked on the pavement causing inconvenience to residents and footpath users alike.”

“There is currently no specific legislation outlawing parking on the pavement per se. Instead Police officers are forced to use the offence of unnecessary obstruction when dealing with these incidents, and on a scale of priorities, these types of calls fall to the bottom of the list for Greater Manchester Police to resource, as like every other public service, they are stretched to the limit due to under funding and under staffing.”

“When the Police can respond, it is usually in the shape of a local police community support officer who can only speak to the offenders and advise, as they are not empowered to deal with the matter by means of fixed penalty notice, unless they are a Traffic PCSO, which our community PCSOs are not.”

“In a town like Oldham, it is a difficult call to introduce local by-laws banning pavement parking outright, particularly in built up areas with on street parking and narrow roads, and the Liberal Democrat Group have resisted making that call in the hope that a sensible solution that targets the selfish and inconsiderate, but works for the wider community, can be achieved.”

Cllr Rod Blyth, who will second the motion stated: “Selfish pavement parking is a hazard for pedestrians, especially those with sight loss, parents with pushchairs, wheelchair users and other people with disabilities. Night-time is also a big issue with emergency vehicles unable to access some of our streets due to the narrowness that inconsiderately parked vehicles cause. A robust approach to enforcement is needed”.

Cllr Chris Gloster will propose a motion asking the Chief Executive to write to the Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police asking the force to enforce the legislation in relation to obstructive pavement parking and to empower local police community support officers to issue fixed penalty notices where appropriate.’

Council 14 December 2016 – Notice of Opposition Business – Enforcement of Offences relating to Pavement Parking

This Council notes:

  • Pavement parking can pose a hazard to pedestrians, especially people with sight loss, parents with pushchairs, wheelchair users and other disabled people.
  • People with sight loss are especially at risk as they can be forced into the road and faced with oncoming traffic that they cannot see.
  • Pavements are not designed to take the weight of vehicles and so surfaces can become damaged or subside, presenting a further hazard for pedestrians, particularly those with disabilities.

Council notes that there are currently offences in law where vehicles are driven over the footpath or where vehicles cause an unreasonable obstruction on the footway; regrettably these offences are frequently left unenforced.

This Council resolves to ask the Chief Executive to write to the Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police to request:

  • Greater Manchester Police enforce the legislation
  • That Police Community Support Officers (PCSO) be empowered to issue fixed penalty notices to offenders

Beal Lane traffic

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I have been contacted and observed myself the recent traffic issues with HGVs on Beal Lane.

I have pursued this matter with Council Officers – see below.

Photo of Beal Lane at 11.30 today.  The vehicles are not moving.  The queue stretched back to Crompton Way. It took 45 minutes to clear. Most vehicles were for Yodel.

This is not the first time in the last few days and people have been told it will be like this for a few weeks a yet.

I understand it is a busy time for Yodel and JD Williams but they cannot log jam a road a road like this on a daily basis, they should hold the wagons elsewhere until they have a clear run into their facility.

Something needs to be done about this and soon.

I have now received a response from Sarah Robinson, Traffic Engineer, shared herewith for your information.

Dear Cllr Sykes

Further to my e-mail to the Police, a police officer has been to visit the Transport Manager at Yodel to discuss the congestion problems being experienced along Beal Lane.  Further to the Police visit Yodel has now confirmed the following:-

Measures have been taken to prevent re occurrence of the problems experienced last week. Inbound goods have been diverted away from the Beal Lane site to a centre in the Midlands. These measures have significantly reduced the amount of traffic coming into Shaw.

Yodel has also adjusted the inbound times on some of the other collections so the spread is throughout the day thus preventing pinch points and the potential for congestion.

The above appears to be working well and doing what was intended.

Should you get any reports that the congestion problems have occurred again please let me know and I will try and resolve the matter either through the Police or with the assistance of Yodel.

Regards

Sarah Robinson

Traffic Engineer, Traffic and Network Management

 Unity Partnership Henshaw House, Cheapside, Oldham OL1 1NY

T  0161 770 4377 | F  0161 770 3411

E sarah.robinson@unitypartnership.com | W  www.unitypartnership.com

Hopefully this should help with the problem.

Shaw and Crompton Green belt under threat – additional meeting 3pm-7pm, 15 Dec 16

imagesFurther to our recent discussions and demands by local Liberal Democrat Councillors an additional meeting about the Greater Manchester Spacial Framework has now been organised.

A drop-in meeting between 3.00pm – 7.00pm on 15th December 2016 at the Shaw Lifelong Learning Centre, High Street, Shaw OL2 8TB.

We have been assured this will be better organised and staffed than the last drop in session and the planners were very clear this was their preferred format rather than a traditional public meeting.  We had asked for both it this was refused.

Hopefully this should provide residents with:

  • One-to-one meetings on the day with Officers able to answer their varied questions.
  • The offer of a follow-up one-to-one meetings of a longer variety if requested / necessary for residents.

I would urge all that can to attend to find out what is proposed for vast tracks of our Green Belt.