Questions asked at Oldham Council meeting 11th July by Shaw Lib Dem Councillor Howard Sykes

Metrolink 3A

Would the Leader of the Council like to provide details to the public of this Borough on when the Metrolink 3A line to Shaw and Rochdale will be complete?

Could he outline what he and the Council are doing to get a firm date and will he try and ensure people get more than a couple of weeks’ notice.

Following the series of delays prior to the completion of the tram line to Mumps earlier this year, which was some 12 months behind schedule, could he also help scotch the rumours that further delays are in the pipeline and by doing so could he therefore confirm that the line to Shaw and Rochdale will be complete and opened on schedule?

If he cannot give us a firm date now can he suggest when he might be in a position to offer such a firm date?

Short answer was no he could not – I will continue to pursue this at every opportunity – Cllr Howard Sykes

Gulley cleaning

Could the Leader confirm that the level of programmed gulley cleaning has been significantly reduced in this Borough since his administration took over the Council in May 2011?

Could he also confirm the cleaning service is now almost exclusively a reactionary service and that funding allocated by the last Lib Dem administration for regular inspection, cleaning and prevention routines has been cut?

In the last few days the Borough has experienced considerable flooding problems throughout the Borough; evidence suggests that flooding events can only be exacerbated and, in some cases actually caused by cuts in the gulley maintenance regimes.

Would the Leader therefore agree that increasing severe weather events being experienced in this country, due to climate change, make it more essential than ever to ensure our gulley systems are cleaned regularly and are operating at peak capacity?

And will he re visit the current provision of gully empting as it is a false economy in the long term, is causes even more damage to the highway network and increases the potential for accidents.

Vague and evasive answer not worth printing – Cllr Howard Sykes

Dirty streets

Could the Leader of the Council confirm that his administration have overseen Oldham Borough losing its hard fought status as the having the cleanest streets in Greater Manchester?

Would the Leader of the Council agree with me that despite the sterling efforts of our frontline staff, the Borough’s streets are becoming dirtier?

Would he also not agree that the withdrawal of street cleaning services; promotion of self help and, community participation under the banner of the ‘Co-operative Council’ is failing to keep our streets and open spaces to a standard the public expect?

Vague and evasive answer not worth printing – Cllr Howard Sykes

Shaw Public continue fight for Shaw Baths

Shaw Lib-Dem Councillor Howard Sykes, Joanne Lewis-Ryan, from Shaw and District Disabled Association and swimmers John Irlam, Rhona Lewis and Crompton Lib-Dem Councillor Diane Williamson.

Local Shaw and Crompton Liberal Democrat Councillors Howard Sykes and Diane Williamson, supported by local baths campaigners, have presented a petition to the Council signed by more than 2,000 people demanding that Oldham Council think again and do not close Shaw Baths.

Councillor Sykes said: “This petition shows the depth of anger felt by huge swathes of Shaw and Crompton people about the Labour run council’s blatant political decision to uproot their swimming and leisure facilities and move them to Royton.”

“We showed beyond all doubt in our fully costed Lib Dem Alternative Budget presented to the Council meeting on 22nd February 2012 that it was possible for the Council to provide new swimming/leisure facilities in both in Shaw and Royton”.

Councillor Williamson commented: “By showing that providing facilities in Shaw and Royton was affordable, we exposed the decision to leave the people of Shaw and Crompton out in the cold as cynical Labour politics and nothing else.”

“The public of Shaw and Crompton soundly rejected closure of Shaw Baths at the ballot box in May and for the second time in just over a month, have made it very clear they are going to battle against the closure plan.”

Councillor Williamson concluded: “Let the current administration be in no doubt, the people of Shaw are ready to fight tooth and nail on this and they have no intention of going away until the Council thinks again.”

NOTE: It was planned to have present the petition in June however in light of the tragic gas blast in Shaw councillors and campaigners decided to defer the ‘handing in’ by a couple of weeks. Hopefully the council will not be a jobs worth about this and will still formally note the petition prior to it considering it at next week’s full council meeting on 11th July.

DISTRESS FUND APPLICATIONS BEING ACCEPTED

Oldham Council have been overwhelmed by public donations to support the people affected by this week’s explosion in Shaw.

From today (Saturday, June 30) we are accepting applications from affected residents for support from the Oldham distress fund.

Staff are on hand at the Advice Centre on Farrow Street and will help affected residents to complete the application forms for monetary support.

They hope to arrange payments of monetary support granted by early next week. Staff will also arrange for immediate financial support where required.

We will be also be coordinating items – for example, beds, sofas, cookers and white goods – that residents might need and arranging for donated items to be delivered or collected.

Affected residents will need to have registered at the Rest Centre at the Lifelong Learning Centre prior to applications being received.

UPDATED OPENING TIMES FOR ADVICE CENTRE

On Saturday, June 30 and Sunday, July the Advice Centre at the Library on Farrow Street will be open between 10am and 4pm.

From Monday, July 2 it will open from Noon to 4pm and 6-8pm daily.

The Rest Centre at Shaw Lifelong Learning Centre on the High Street is open every day 9am to 7pm.

The Donation Centre on Farrow Street will be open between 10am and 3pm daily.

CONCERNS ABOUT PETS

Oldham Council’s animal wardens will be at the Advice Centre on Farrow Street tomorrow – Sunday, July 1- between 10am and 2pm to discuss any concerns about pets in the houses still affected.

DISTRESS FUND: How to donate

DISTRESS FUND: How to donate

Online
You can donate using our payment gateway. You will need to select ‘Miscellaneous Payments’ and then ‘Oldham Distress Fund’.
• Payment gateway

Phone
You can also call during the opening hours of 8am to 6pm (Monday to Friday) and 9am to 1pm (Saturday only).
• Donation line 0161 770 6611

Internet Banking
For anyone wishing to make donations using internet banking, the details of the Distress Fund account are as follows:

Bank: Cooperative Bank
Account Name: OMBC Oldham Distress Fund 225145
Sort Code: 08-92-33
Account No: 61715512

For people making payments from overseas the IBAN number is as follows:
GB37 CPBK 0892 3361 7155 12

Cheques
Cheques should be made payable to Oldham Distress Fund

You can send cheques in the post to:
A Cooper
Finance Services Team
Oldham Council
Level 14
Civic Centre
West Street
Oldham, OL1 1UG

You can hand cheques in at either of the following addresses:
Shaw & Crompton Parish Council
23 High Street
Shaw
Oldham
OL2 8RF

Co-operative Bank
12 Market Place
Spindles Centre
Oldham
OL1 1JG

RELOCATION OF REST CENTRE FACILITY

As affected residents begin to move back into their properties the rest centre for families is being relocated to a more central location in Shaw.

This will offer better accommodation with dedicated play provision for children and more confidential areas for advice and support.

From 9.00am on Friday June 29, the Lifelong Learning centre on High Street, Shaw, OL2 8TB, will act as Rest Centre.

The centre will continue to offer support, a place to meet and refreshments to affected families. It will be open every day between 9am to 7pm.

An advice centre is being opened in nearby Shaw Library on Farrow Street which will offer a quiet, confidential space for residents to obtain advice about benefits, welfare and financial support.

The advice centre will be open from 10am to 2pm every day including over the weekend. There will also be a later advice session on Monday, July 2 between 6pm and 8pm.

From Friday June 29, the donation centre, where residents can drop off any donations and affected families can access supplies, will be relocated to the Salvation Army on Farrow Street East in Shaw.

The donation centre will be open from 10am to 3pm every day and can receive non-cash donations of:

• Clothing
• Bedding
• Toiletries
• Cleaning products
• Toys and Games
• Small furniture items
• Non-perishable foods

Immediately following the explosion, Crompton House School offered their sports hall as a temporary Rest Centre for those affected by the incident.

For the past three days this facility has been vital in supporting the local community.

Councillor Howard Sykes said: “The Council, our partners and all the residents affected are enormously grateful to Crompton House School.”

“The staff and pupils have been tremendously generous and wonderfully flexible. Without their fantastic contribution this tragic situation would have been even more distressing and difficult to manage.

“The facility they provided has been invaluable in ensuring that we had a place where residents could be safe and were able to access advice and services and receive much needed donations.

“But we always knew we would need a longer term solution, as many of the residents will find their properties inaccessible for some time. Residents also needed a centre closer to the affected area and one with more tailored facilities.

“We believe these new arrangements will provide the services that the community needs in a way that is accessible yet still ensures space to provide confidentiality and individual support.”

Manchester Road the Temporary Traffic Order one way working Saturday and Sunday 7th and 8th July

BT have to undertake ducting and cabling work in the footway of Manchester Road between the pedestrian crossing and the junction of Princess Road.

As the work will effectively block the entire width of the footway, an alternative pedestrian route would be required that can only be situated within the carriageway of Manchester Road.

Unfortunately, the width of Manchester Road at this location is insufficient to safely accommodate a pedestrian walkway as well as two lanes of traffic.
 
The developer originally requested the use of 3 way temporary signals at the junction of Manchester Road / Princess Road during the week.

Given the proximity of the junction to the roundabout and the volume of traffic using Manchester Road, this was considered to be too disruptive and would have led to widespread traffic congestion in the area.
 
The best solution was considered to be something along the lines of the recent one way traffic order that was in place. Between Moor Street and the Big Lamp roundabout traffic would be permitted to travel towards Shaw only.

Traffic towards Broadway would be prevented from driving down Manchester Road by the use of barriers at the roundabout exit and would be directed along a signed diversion route.

The diversion route would be Oldham Road, Heyside, Salmon Fields. It was also decided that this should be on the weekend to minimise disruption.
 
Accordingly, the temporary traffic order is programmed for the weekend of Saturday 7th / Sunday 8th July.

 
 
 

SHAW RESIDENTS URGED TO CONTACT OLDHAM COUNCIL

Oldham Council is making arrangements to enable some residents affected by the Shaw explosion to access their properties.
 
Today the Council are urging residents from Gordon Street, Oak Street, Edmund Street and Chancery Lane to contact them as soon as possible.
 
If you have not already done so, you should get in touch with Oldham Council either by going to the Rest Centre at Crompton House school or calling us direct on 0161 770 7770.
 
If you live in any of these streets the Council urgently need your contact details so that we can speak to you directly about access to your property.
 
These visits will enable residents to retrieve any items that they need to take away as phased access gets underway.

SHAW EXPLOSION: OLDHAM COUNCIL LAUNCHES DISTRESS FUND

Oldham Council is launching an official Distress Fund for all residents affected by yesterday’s gas explosion in Shaw.
 
The blast in Buckley Street yesterday morning killed two-year-old Jamie Heaton and residents at up to 100 properties in the area were also evacuated to a Rest Centre at Crompton House school.
 
Work to assess the extent of damage to the properties which were not destroyed is still ongoing.
 
The Council is setting up the Oldham Distress Fund which enables people and organisations to make donations from tomorrow to those residents directly affected by the incident.
 
Councillor Howard Sykes said: “The generosity of local people in these tragic circumstances has been inspirational to everyone concerned.”
 
“We’ve been inundated with offers of assistance from residents, businesses and partner groups all wanting to help the people affected in Shaw in whatever way they can. We have now established this official Distress Fund to give people an opportunity to donate.
 
“Funds will be used to contribute towards relieving the distress and suffering they are experiencing and pay for items and costs incurred through the explosion. It will also provide short-term financial support to those awaiting payment of insurance claims and support those without insurance cover.
 
“The hardship being suffered by these people is shocking – and is not just financial, it is also emotional.
 
“Many of the items that people will have lost will potentially have comparatively little monetary value, but enormous sentimental value to them as families.
 
“In addition to the official Distress Fund – and the significant donations of clothing, food and other items we’re getting – Council officers are also now based at the Rest Centre offering interest free cash loans to those residents directly facing immediate hardship.

“Officers are also available to give information and help to people on, for example, benefits and insurance claims.
 
“Oldham Council and its partners are totally committed to doing whatever is necessary to help these people – and we’re certain that many will want to contribute to the Distress Fund.”
 
From tomorrow (Thursday, June 28) residents will be able to donate directly to the Oldham Distress Fund via internet and phone.
 
You will be able to donate online via Oldham Council’s website at www.oldham.gov.uk

You can also call 0161 770 6611 during the opening hours of 8am to 6pm (Monday to Friday) and 9am to 1pm (Saturday only).

Blast latest

I am sure that most of you are already aware of the tragic incident that took place in Shaw yesterday morning.
 
At around 11.30 am Oldham Council was alerted to a possible gas explosion on Buckley Street.
 
Tragically, two-year-old Jamie Heaton was killed in the blast, which destroyed at least three houses and caused a huge amount of damage.
 
The Council immediately activated the emergency plan, with officers attending the scene and manning the control room.
 
We acted with urgency to provide support for residents affected by the explosion, setting up a rest centre at Crompton House School, which provided help and information to over 100 people who visited throughout the day.
 
I’d like to thank the community and local businesses who have also provided vital support to residents.  
 
Members of the public donated essentials, supermarkets provided vital supplies and a local taxi firm took residents to temporary accommodation for the night.
 
Council officers are now focusing on how best to support residents in their time of need, both in the short and long term.
 
We must meet the immediate requirements of the people who are affected by this, then look to support them in rebuilding their lives – no matter how long it takes.
 
The council’s building control team are inspecting the site today to asses the damage in detail and establish which properties are safe to return to.
 
They are also working closely with the Police and other agencies to ensure that residents are kept informed with developments as they happen.
 
Later today we will also announce the establishment of a Disaster Fund and I’m sure that many of you will want to contribute to this. Details will be available on the Oldham Council’s website when they are confirmed.
 
It goes without saying that all our thoughts and sympathies are with the families affected by this terrible instance.