Potholes Chamber Road, Shaw

A number of people have been in touch about the above.

I have continued to pursue the matter with the Highways Department and have now received some further information from them which I would like to share with you.

From: Jane MacKenzie <Jane.MacKenzie@unitypartnership.com>

Sent: Thursday, 5 July 2018 12:02

To: Howard Sykes

Subject: FW: Pot holes on Chamber Road, Shaw – 3644

Dear Councillor Sykes

Thank you for your communication with the Highways Team with regards to Chamber Road, Shaw.

Following an inspection a number of defects were noted in the carriageway and works orders have been issued for the repairs.  Due to the location of some of the defects it may be necessary to close the road whilst repairs are carried out so in order to minimise disruption the Highways Operations Team will program the works to take place during the school summer holidays.

If you wish for further information with regards to these issues please contact the highways email address highways@oldham.gov.uk

Please rest assured,  I will continue to pursue this matter with the Highways Department.

‘Unfair Fares Increase’ faced by Shaw and Crompton Tram Passengers under Greater Manchester Mayor’s Zone Proposals

The Leader of the Opposition and of the Liberal Democrat Group, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, has written directly to the Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham opposing proposed fare increases for passengers taking the tram from Shaw and Crompton into Manchester.

Under the Mayor’s recent proposals to introduce zonal fares across Greater Manchester, commuters travelling into Manchester from Shaw and Crompton, and vice versa, will be hit with a 4.5% to 6% fare increase.

Councillor Sykes, who represents Oldham on the Transport for Greater Manchester Committee, supports the introduction of zonal fares, contactless payment and daily fare capping, as these are all proposals that Liberal Democrat Councillors in Greater Manchester have been seeking for several years, but he has real concerns about the impact of the new zonal fares for local passengers travelling into Manchester.

Councillor Sykes explained: “The Mayor is proposing to establish four fare zones in Greater Manchester.  Shaw and Crompton is in the outer Zone 4.  All other Oldham stations are in Zone 3, Derker is on the boundary.  This will mean that passengers wishing to travel from Shaw and Crompton into Manchester city centre for work or leisure – or vice versa – will have to pay significant more than any passengers joining elsewhere in the Borough.”

“Shaw and Crompton passengers will see increases in their fares by 4.5 – 6%.  My question to the Greater Manchester Mayor is ‘Why?’  In my view this defies common sense, and it is also unfair.  Oldham is one Metropolitan Borough so surely Shaw and Crompton should be in the same zone as the rest of the Borough?”

Councillor Sykes is concerned that this will discourage commuters from taking the tram to work or indeed taking the tram to look further afield for work.  He added:

“If we want to promote a free labour market across Greater Manchester, with employees choosing to travel to expanding places of business by tram, this does not provide any encouragement.  In addition because of the proposed reduction in off-peak fares to Rochdale, Shaw and Crompton will be more likely to spend their leisure time there to the detriment of Oldham’s night-time economy.”

Councillor Sykes is also concerned that these proposals appear to mask the near-20% fare increase over three years being implemented by the Mayor and Labour Greater Manchester Combined Authority.

Commenting Councillor Sykes said: “This will be a huge fare increase which will be a extra financial burden for many local passengers.  And in my view any fare increase is neither necessary, nor justified.  The tram network is in massive profit; little action is being taken to collect revenue from fare evaders; passengers on the Rochdale – Oldham line have suffered from an increase in on-board and trackside anti-social and criminal behaviour, including several vicious attacks at tram stops; there is poor operational performance on the Rochdale – Oldham line; and we have still not got promised direct link to Piccadilly, the principal mainline station for Greater Manchester.”

The letter is below:

Mr Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, GMCA, Churchgate House, 56 Oxford Street, Manchester M1 6EU.

Dear Mayor Burnham,

Consultation on Metrolink Zonal Fares

I have chosen to write to you directly on this matter as the online consultation provides little latitude for me to effectively express my views on this matter as a Shaw Councillor representing my constituents who use the busiest Metrolink stop on the Rochdale – Oldham line and as a representative for Oldham on the Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) Committee.

Whilst the concepts of zonal fares, contactless payment and daily fare capping are in principle to be welcomed – indeed these are proposals that Liberal Democrat Councillors in Greater Manchester have championed for several years to help bring our Metrolink service in line with practices on the London Underground and into the 21st Century – I have real concerns about the current zonal proposals because of their impact on my constituents and it is disappointing that the TfGM Committee was not consulted prior to the proposals being made public.

Under your current proposals, the Greater Manchester tram network will be split into four zones, with passengers charged one fare for travel within a single zone and a different fare for travelling across one or more zones.  It is proposed that Shaw and Crompton will be in Zone 4, whilst all of the remaining stations in the Borough will be in Zone 3. Derker is on the boundary.

In my view this defies common sense. Oldham is one Metropolitan Borough so surely Shaw and Crompton should be in the same zone as the rest of the Borough?

Passengers taking the service from Shaw and Crompton will pay significantly more than those in the rest of Oldham Borough to travel into Manchester for leisure or to work as fares will increase by an inflation busting 4.5 – 6%. This will include an increase in the price of an Annual Commuter Ticket to £1,100, a significant sum.

And let us not forget that these increases will also hurt the many hundreds of people who use Metrolink to travel to work in Shaw!

If we want to promote a free labour market across Greater Manchester, with employees choosing to travel to expanding places of business by tram, this does not provide any encouragement.

In addition because of the proposed reduction in off-peak fares to Rochdale, Shaw and Crompton will be more likely to spend their leisure time there to the detriment of Oldham’s night-time economy.

In addition, these proposals, whilst being presented as some temporary largesse to the cash-strapped travelling public, mask the massive 19% fare increase proposed by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority on Metrolink over the next years – a huge fare increase by a fifth which will be a tremendous extra financial burden for many local passengers.

I cannot see how any fare increases can be justified when:

  • the tram network is in massive profit
  • insufficient action is being taken to collect revenue from fare evaders
  • passengers on the Rochdale – Oldham line have suffered from an increase in on-board and trackside anti-social and criminal behaviour, including several vicious attacks at tram stops
  • there is poor operational performance on the Rochdale – Oldham line
  • we have still not got promised direct link to Piccadilly, the principal mainline station for Greater Manchester.

I do hope that my comments can be taken on board as part of the consultation and I should welcome your response to the comments made.

Yours sincerely.

Liberal Democrats vow to fight to save Oldham’s Greenbelt from house building threat

The Liberal Democrat Group on Oldham Council is gearing up for the next round in its fight to save Oldham’s Greenbelt from housing.

In just a few weeks’ time, Labour’s Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham will be publishing his latest proposals for the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework (the GMSF) which will identify where he wants housebuilding to take place across Greater Manchester over the next twenty years.

Last year, public opposition, backed by support from Liberal Democrat Councillors across Greater Manchester, forced the new Mayor to withdraw the original proposals to build homes on greenbelt across the county, including many thousands in Shaw, Crompton, Saddleworth, Chadderton and Royton.

The new proposals will be the subject of further public consultation.

Commenting Shaw Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, Leader of the Opposition and of the Liberal Democrat Group on Oldham Council, said: “Last time, the public and Liberal Democrat Councillors gave Labour a bloody nose for its cheek in attempting to concrete over our beautiful green fields and hillsides, creating an unwanted blot on the landscape.”

“The Liberal Democrats recognise that we shall need more homes, including affordable homes for first-time buyers and renters and homes for people living independently with disabilities, but our Greenbelt is irreplaceable so we will continue to oppose any plans to build there when there are unused brownfield sites that can be built on and empty mills which can be converted into residential accommodation.”

“And we also want to see big improvements to our roads, public transport and amenities to cope with the extra demands that more housing will bring.”

Councillor Sykes added: “In March of last year, the Oldham Liberal Democrats brought a motion to full Council demanding we withdraw from the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework and establish our own fifteen year Local Plan identifying our own housing needs and housing sites.  In a typical example of Labour hypocrisy, their Councillors shed crocodile tears over building on the Greenbelt but then opposed our proposals to withdraw from the GMSF plan and draw up our own priorities in consultation with local people by using their majority to amend the motion by removing reference to these demands.”

The Oldham Liberal Democrats wanted to see a Local Plan for the Oldham Borough where new housing development takes place first:

  • on brownfield or derelict sites
  • on sites with existing planning permission for housing
  • by converting long-term empty mills, shops and offices into homes
  • by bringing existing long-term empty homes back into use

The Liberal Democrats also want to see firm commitments made to invest in those areas where new housing is to be built to provide better roads, improvements in public transport, more school places, and increased capacity in local doctors’ and dentists’ surgeries and health centres.

Councillor Sykes said: “In Shaw and Crompton, we already have primary schools which are bursting at the seams and an overburdened and run down health centre; without more investment in our transport infrastructure and better, new public facilities we simply cannot cope with any more people.”

“The Liberal Democrats will be making its position crystal clear in response to the consultation – No building on our Greenbelt – and I would urge those residents who share our concerns to also respond with their comments before the deadline to the consultation. More information about the GMSF can be found at the website https://www.greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk/GMSF and residents can also register to receive updates by email.  Let’s work together to save our precious Greenbelt.”

I urge Shaw and Crompton residents to respond to this by the 17 June – public asked to share their thoughts on Metrolink fare zones

I would urge people to ask that Shaw and Crompton is put in Zone 3 like the rest of Oldham Borough’s tram stops.

TfGM statement below:

Public asked to share their thoughts on Metrolink fare zones

A public engagement exercise has launched today, Friday 1 June, giving the public the chance to give their feedback on proposals to introduce a zonal fares system across the Metrolink network.

A special webpage has been developed that sets out the proposals in detail, including proposed zones and fares.

The proposal would replace the existing system with an easy to understand four-zone system, offering simpler, more flexible and better value fares.

Fares would be calculated based on the number of zones you travel in, with each zone only counted once.

Return fares (peak and off-peak) would be replaced by daily travel cards allowing unlimited travel within the selected zones.

Clearer, fairer and more flexible, the change would cut the current 8,500 stop-to-stop fare combinations to just ten.

Significantly, it would also help to pave the way for a fully-integrated ticketing system for Greater Manchester.

If approved by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority in July fare zones would be introduced in early 2019.

The public are being asked to share their feedback on the proposed changes via an online survey. The closing date for replies is midnight on Sunday 17 June.

More information about the changes can be found at www.tfgm.com/zonal

Electrical works Buckstones Road, Milnrow Road, Smallbrook Road, Cowie Street, Duchess Street, Oswald Street and Linney Lane

This is a brief update following a site meeting earlier today to discuss progress of the ongoing electrical supply in the Shaw area.

There are now a number of  joint holes excavations in Buckstones Rd, Milnrow Rd, Smallbrook Rd, Cowie St, Duchess St, Oswald St, and Linney Ln.

These excavation are for them to joint and commission the previous cables we laid earlier this year.

On Milnrow Rd they are waiting for BT to move one of their boxes they have installed on top of the cable.  Apart from Milnrow Rd all jointing and commissioning should be completed over the next 3 weeks.

Reinstatements will follow as they complete each section of jointing starting Monday 11th June.

ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND, SHAW

Shaw and Crompton Councillors have expressed their dismay at the announced closure of Barclays ‎Bank, Shaw.

The branch in Shaw Town centre is closing in September as part of a wide ranging restructure of the banking group across the country.

Councillor Chris Gloster, Liberal Democrat Councillor for the Shaw Ward said: “with the closure of Barclays this effectively leaves Shaw with only one bank in Shaw and Crompton.  Barclays is the only bank in Shaw now open on market day and as such, with the exception of The Post Office, people will be unable to perform any banking functions when Barclays closes’.

Councillor Gloster added:  “I suppose we have to count our blessings that the Royal Bank of Scotland branch in Shaw avoided the recently announced wave of closures announced by themselves however the branch has only been opening on Monday, Tuesday and Friday for the last twelve months.

Clearly there is an opportunity for RBS to take on more customers from Shaw and Crompton as they now have the monopoly and I have written to the Chief Executive of RBS suggesting that they return to five day banking for this very reason. I await their response.”

COPY LETTER TO RBS: 017 – 24 May – Ross McEwan RBS

Barclays Shaw branch is closing on 14 September 2018

COPY LETTER BELOW:

We want to let you know that Shaw branch will be closing on Friday 14 September 2018. We are sorry as we know you have found this branch convenient to use.

The decision to close a branch is never an easy one; however, we are finding that fewer customers are using the branch to do their everyday banking. Taking into consideration the alternative ways to bank that are available in the area, we have made the decision to close the branch.

In line with the Access to Banking Standards, we are committed to supporting customers and the community as much as we can during and after the closure. Over the coming weeks we will be speaking with our customers and contacting members of the local community, to understand the concerns they may have when the branch closes.

Keeping you informed about the closure

  • A booklet giving more information on why we have decided to close the branch and how the decision was made is available in Shaw branch and online at barclays/ukbranchclosures. This also provides more information on the alternative ways to bank, once the branch has closed
  • Two weeks before Shaw branch closes, a second booklet will be available giving details of the feedback we have received from customers and the local community around their concerns and the additional actions we have taken to help customers. This will also be available in the closing branch and online at barclays/ukbranchclosures

How to continue with your everyday banking after the branch has closed

When the branch closes; your account number, standing orders and Direct Debits will not change. You will be able to complete all your banking transactions in exactly the same way as you do now, using your cards, PIN, chequebooks, Online Banking and Barclays Mobile Banking as normal.

There are many other ways you will be able to continue to bank with us following the branch closure:

  • You can use any of our branches; the nearest alternative Barclays branch will be Oldham
  • Barclays Mobile Banking* app and Barclays Online Banking are available 24 hours a day, so you can check your balance, view statements, transfer money, pay bills securely, and manage any Standing Orders and Direct Debits
  • You can speak directly to a member of staff by calling Telephone Banking on the number at the top of this letter, and get access to a range of everyday banking services
  • You can also withdraw cash and check your balance at any Barclays or LINK Cash Machine and Post Office. In addition, you can also pay cash and cheques into your Barclays accounts at any Post Office+.

There is more information on ways to bank, and the options open to you, at the end of this letter.

We have lots of help available for you

Staff in Shaw branch and all our nearby branches are available to support you and help find alternative ways to carry out your everyday banking after the branch has closed.

If you are not already using mobile or online banking and would like some help to get started, our Barclays Digital Eagles run free and friendly ‘Tea & Teach’ sessions in branches across the UK. They are members of Barclays staff who are here to assist you using the internet – even if you have never been online before. They will take you through how to do anything from managing your finances to using social media – it doesn’t just have to be about banking. Come into any branch to find out more, or find a session near you and details of how to book at barclays.co.uk/digitaleagles or by calling the number at the top of this letter.

If there is anything we can help you with or if you have any questions, please come in and see us, or give us a call on the number at the top of this letter. After the branch has closed, staff at any of our nearby branches will be happy to help.

Yours sincerely
Steve Mitchell, Community Banking Director, Manchester and Cheshire Area

Liberal Democrats welcome Extra Cash for Community Safety

The Liberal Democrat Group on Oldham Council has welcomed recent news that an extra £100,000 will be awarded to Oldham Council for community safety from the Deputy Mayor of Greater Manchester.

Commenting, the Leader of the Opposition and of the Liberal Democrat Group, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, said:

“We welcome this extra cash from the Deputy Mayor, but £100,000 will not go very far, so it is a real shame that this Council’s Labour Administration chose to reject our budget amendment in March this year that would have made six times as much money available over two years, £650,000, to tackle environmental crime and pay for Closed Circuit TV and alley gating schemes.  This commitment reflected the importance that we as Liberal Democrats place on making our communities safer.”

“Perhaps Labour will use the £100,000 to restore the cuts they have made in youth service funding so that districts like Shaw and Crompton can have their local services restored to provide young people with positive activities to help prevent the boredom that leads a minority to resort to anti-social behaviour and crime in our communities?” He added.  “This was a cut that the Liberal Democrats also wanted to overturn in our March 2018 alternate budget.”