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.

Shaw and Crompton Green Belt under threat

imagesGreater Manchester Spatial Framework

Strategic Options consultation

Over the next 20 years there is a need to deliver continued sustainable economic growth, creating more jobs and new homes for the people of Greater Manchester.

The ten local authorities in Greater Manchester are working together on a joint plan called the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework (GMSF) this is being prepared to ensure that new homes and jobs are provided in the right places with the transport (roads, rail, Metrolink) and infrastructure to support the communities and manage growth sustainably.

The draft Greater Manchester Spatial Framework sets out:

  • How much housing and employment land is needed up to 2035
  • A number of strategic sites across Greater Manchester to assist in meeting these requirements
  • The importance of infrastructure such as, health, education, transport, green spaces and utilities to support neighbourhoods and employment
  • Ways to protect and improve the natural environment.

Public consultation on the draft version of the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework runs from 31 October to 23 December 2016.  During this time, we would welcome any comments you may have on this document and supporting background papers. Views submitted will be considered and a final draft will be published in 2017 when another period of consultation will be held.

For further information on the consultation, to view and download the following documents please visit www.greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk/GMSF:

Paper copies of the draft Greater Manchester Spatial Framework may be viewed at:

Local libraries in Oldham and at the Oldham Civic Centre Planning Reception,  West Street, Oldham, OL1 IUG (for Sat Navs use OL1 1NL).

A paper copy of the Integrated Assessment may be viewed at:

Civic Centre Planning Reception, West Street, Oldham, OL1 IUG (for Sat Navs use OL1 1NL).

Comments may only be made:

PO Box 532
Town Hall
Manchester
M60 2LA

All comments must be received by 5pm on 23 December 2016.

Please note all comments will be held by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and will be available to view publicly. Comments cannot be treated as confidential. Your personal information, such as your postal and email address will not be published, but your name and organisation (if relevant) will.

The Greater Manchester Combined Authority maintains a database of consultees who wish to be kept informed about the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework. In responding to this consultation your contact details will automatically be added to the consultation database. If you do not want to be contacted about future Greater Manchester Spatial Framework consultations please state this in your response.

A series of events are being hosted across Greater Manchester which the public are invited to attend and discuss the draft Greater Manchester Spatial Framework.

Drop-in sessions currently arranged are:-

  • 8 November – Performance Space, Oldham Library, Union Street, Oldham – 12noon till 8pm
  • 14 November – Shaw Lifelong Learning Centre, Shaw – 5pm till 6.30pm
  • 21 November – Uppermill Civic Hall, Uppermill – 4.30pm till 6.30pm
  • 24 November – Failsworth Town Hall, Failsworth – 5.00pm till 6.30pm
  • 28 November – Royton Library, Royton – 3pm till 7pm
  •  5 December –  Chadderton Wellbeing Centre, Chadderton – 4.00pm till 6.00pm

Please note: The drop-in sessions will provide an opportunity for members of the public to find out more about the GMSF and meet with Council officers on a one to one level or in small groups.

Additional events may be arranged and details will be published on the Council’s website.

http://www.oldham.gov.uk/info/200711/greater_manchester_plans/1399/greater_manchester_spatial_framework

Marks and Spencer withdrawal a disappointment, says Liberal Democrat Leader

imagesThe Leader of the Liberal Democrat Opposition Group on Oldham Council, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, has expressed his bitter disappointment on hearing today’s news that Marks and Spencer has pulled out of Oldham’s Princes Gate Development.

Commenting he said: “Following on from the euphoria generated by the recent opening of our new town hall cinema complex this news is of course disappointing but it is also unsurprising given the recent poor financial results and store closures announced by Marks and Spencer.”

“We must all hope that at some point in the future Marks and Spencer will be able to take up retail space in our town, but for now the Council’s focus must be on securing a new prime tenant for the Prince’s Gate site, and soon, if this is to remain a ‘game changing’ development for our Borough.”

“If this is not done quickly the Council will have just created an empty development site that will be an eyesore on one of the main gateways into Oldham’s Town Centre.”

Oldham Council 9 November 2016 – leaders questions from Councillor Howard Sykes

questions-to-ask-your-LASIK-doctorCouncil 9 November 2016 – Leader’s Question – 3000+ Home Threat to Shaw and Crompton Green Belt

Mr Mayor, My first question to the Leader this evening concerns the recently launched public consultation on the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework.

Not a very catchy title I am sure you will agree, but nonetheless a document that should command the attention of every member in this Chamber – and particularly any with an interest in the future of our Borough’s Green Belt.

The ten local authorities in Greater Manchester have drawn up plans to meet the projected future need for 227,000 new homes in the county, some 13,700 of them in this Borough.

This may seem an awful lot for Oldham, but Shaw & Crompton and Royton is really being targeted by the developers and may be even Oldham Council as we shall be expected to accommodate almost three thousand new homes plus vast tracks of land for industrial development.

These plans represent a massive land grab in our area and the devastation of our local Green Belt as new properties will be built at Cowlishaw, in the Beal Valley, Rushcroft, the Whitefield Farm area over to Newhey and around Gravelhole and Low Crompton.

Oldham Liberal Democrats firmly believe that our precious Green Belt should be protected.

Our Green Belt and open spaces are one of the things that makes us unique in Greater Manchester.  Some of us are old enough to remember those posters ‘Oldham a town in the country’ – it was true 20 odd years ago and is even truer now.

New homes should first be built on former industrial Brownfield sites.

Existing planning permissions need to be actioned.

We should first look to build on derelict and unloved sites in our town centres and districts, convert every empty mill and factory into housing, force developers to build on sites already given planning permission, and bring Empty Homes back into use.

Only when all of these things have been done should we even consider developing vast tracks of our Green Belt.

We miles away from that stage yet.

And we also need to take account of the massive additional burden this will place on our local services and infrastructure.  These new houses will mean a lot more cars on our busy roads, many more children needing local school places, more demand for medical centres, shops, and leisure facilities.

I recognise that everyone has the right to live in their own home and be adequately housed but the local burden seems to have been placed disproportionately on Shaw and Crompton and to be fair Royton.

So can the Leader please tell me tonight what this Council will be doing to fight to protect our precious Green Belt from wanton development and what representations will be made to press the demand that there will be sufficient advanced investment to meet the increased demand placed onto our facilities and infrastructure in Shaw and Crompton and elsewhere in our Borough?

Council 9 November 2016 – Leader’s Question – Student Travel to Stockport College

Mr Mayor, my second question relates to an issue that I have raised with the Leader and her predecessor on many occasions – the education of this Borough’s young people.

This time I want to address the proposed merger between Oldham College and Stockport College.  The proposed marriage with Tameside College is seemingly now off, Oldham and Stockport Colleges are apparently now the only two dancers still on the floor.

The key question is how is this in the best interests of our young people and Oldham’s potential students?  Just one of my worries is the inconvenience that such a merger will cause to local students without access to private transport.

Here are two examples.

Joe travelling from Denshaw to Stockport College faces a two hour journey there and a similar journey back.  He starts college at 9am.  He catches the 407 Stotts bus from the Junction Inn at 6.36 and is just fortunate to connect with the 6.59 83 service operated by First Manchester from Mumps.

This gets him on time to Piccadilly by 7.45 and he is able to connect with the 192 Stagecoach service 10 minutes later.  This drops him off on Wellington Road near Stockport College for 8.40am.

As Joe needs to use three bus services – all run by different operators he needs to buy a System One Student Bus Saver ticket.  This costs £13.10 a week or £45.50 for a month.

If cost were not an issue, Joe could roughly halve his journey time if he caught the Metrolink tram from Mumps to Piccadilly Station, via Victoria (£3.40 return, half-hour approx.) and then caught the train to Stockport (£5.30 return, 10mins followed by a 10min walk).

If he were aged 16 to 19 he could get a Scholars Permit to enable him to travel for half the single fare each way.

Emma travelling from Oozewood, Royton to Stockport College, also starting at 9am.  Emma’s journey is about as long as Joes.  She walks to Rochdale Road (10mins) and catches the 6.48am 24 First Manchester Bus to Manchester.

This gets her there on time at 7.44, which is unusual as the bus is generally delayed by peak traffic approaching the city centre.  Emma joins Joe in catching the 192 bus and they sit together on the Stagecoach service, both alighting on Wellington Road.

Emma would also need to buy a System One Student Bus Saver ticket.  Emma would probably not save any time going into Oldham to catch a tram as she would have to catch a 409 bus and then wait at a tram stop.

However she could join Joe in getting the train from Piccadilly to Stockport and back (£5.30 return, 10mins followed by a 10mins walk).

This is surely a far from ideal arrangement in a Borough where we aspire to drive up educational attainment and make the best choices available to all of our students.

Can the Leader tell me tonight, what is being done to ensure that the vocational courses that remain on offer in Oldham will remain attractive to local students and relevant to the needs of our local employers?

And what help and support will this Council seek to put in place for those students who are forced to travel to Stockport because of the merger and struggle to do so?

Draft Greater Manchester Spatial Framework – Shaw and Crompton Public Drop-in Session: Monday 14th November 16

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Draft Greater Manchester Spatial Framework

Public Drop-in Session: 5pm – 6.30pm, Monday 14th November, Shaw Lifelong learning Centre, High Street, Shaw

Public consultation on the draft Greater Manchester Spatial Framework

Consultation open: 31 October to 23 December 2016

Over the next twenty years there is a need to deliver continued sustainable economic growth, creating more jobs and new homes for the people of Greater Manchester.

The draft Greater Manchester Spatial Framework sets out:

  • How much housing and employment land is needed up to 2035;
  • A number of strategic sites across Greater Manchester to assist in meeting these requirements;
  • The importance of infrastructure such as, health, education, transport, green spaces and utilities to support neighbourhoods and employment; and
  • Ways to protect and improve the natural environment.

For further information on the consultation please visit www.greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk/GMSF or call the Greater Manchester Planning Team on 0161 237 4636

Paper copies of the draft Greater Manchester Spatial Framework may also be viewed at local libraries in Oldham and at the Oldham Civic Centre Planning Reception.

A paper copy of the Integrated Assessment may be viewed at the Civic Centre Planning Reception, West Street, Oldham, OL1 IUG (for Sat Navs use OL1 1NL).

Other ways to have your say:

PO Box 532, Town Hall, Manchester M60 2LA.

All comments must be received by 17:00 on 23rd December 2016.

If you would like to discuss one of the Oldham allocations in detail then please contact a member of the Strategic Planning and Information team on 0161 770 1672, 4163 and 4061 or email spi@oldham.gov.uk.

Please note all comments will be held by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and will be available to view publicly. Comments cannot be treated as confidential. Your personal information, such as your postal and e-mail address will not be published, but your name and organisation (if relevant) will.

The Greater Manchester Combined Authority maintains a database of consultees who wish to be kept informed about the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework. In responding to this consultation your contact details will automatically be added to the consultation database. If you do not want to be contacted about future Greater Manchester Spatial Framework consultations please state this in your response.

Metrolink must link us directly to Piccadilly Station as promised back in 1989!

Piccadilly_Large_External

Letter sent below (28 Sept 16) is self-explanatory about this very important issue for Oldham Borough

Dr Jon Lamonte, Chief Executive, Transport for Greater Manchester, 2 Piccadilly Place, Manchester M1 3BG

Dear Dr Lamonte,

I am writing regarding the future routing of Oldham’s Metrolink service, which has been the subject of a number of discussions between Oldham officers and members in the past.

My concern is that now there have been service changes in Metrolink trams stopping at Shaw and Crompton only go to East Didsbury or to Exchange Square, there is no longer any direct Metrolink connection to the principal city-centre railway station, Manchester Piccadilly.

Whilst I welcome the increase in service frequency from Shaw and Crompton to Victoria to every six minutes, I note that there is a disconnect with the twelve minute service from Victoria to Piccadilly.

This appears to be completely contrary to the aims outlined in the original business case, namely a desire to enable passengers from Shaw and Crompton, one of the busiest Metrolink stops in the network, and other stops on the Rochdale-Oldham line, to directly access both the Manchester Victoria and Piccadilly railway stations.

Members expressed concerns to TfGM most recently back in January this year when Transport for Greater Manchester Committee considered a report on the Metrolink 2017 procurement process which included a plan showing both of Oldham’s Metrolink services (from Shaw and from Rochdale) being routed through Exchange Square, meaning no direct connection to Piccadilly Rail Station or to Shudehill and Market Street.  We were assured that the plan was for illustrative purposes only, that it was intended to provide TfGM with a common position from which to assess operator bids and that it did not reflect final services patterns.

Before January this year I personally have raised the issue of a direct link to Piccadilly on more than one occasion at TfGM meetings in both 2014 and 2015.

The procurement process will have moved on and I am now seeking reassurance in advance of your report to TfGMC on 11th November that the proposed service pattern will include a direct service from Oldham to Piccadilly Rail Station.

The phase 1 scheme to convert the Oldham Rochdale Loop Rail Line to Metrolink operation was based on the understanding that it would provide Oldham and Rochdale with a direct through link to Piccadilly Rail Station.  In my view, the GM agreement made in 1989 in respect of this direct connection remains in place, and the new Metrolink 2017 contract provides the opportunity for TfGM to meet this original commitment and ensure that Oldham has a direct Metrolink connection to Piccadilly Station.

If this opportunity is missed, Oldham will be the only Greater Manchester district not to have a direct link by rail or Metrolink to Piccadilly Rail Station and London train services once the Ordsall Chord rail link opens next year.  I have raised this matter at Oldham Council meetings and colleagues of all parties and all are in agreement and consider a direct link to Piccadilly as essential in order to maximise access to employment, transport and leisure opportunities for our residents.

Put simply, is it not possible to run a direct service to Piccadilly via Victoria and then to continue that service onto East Didsbury with the service on the return run being in reverse?  This will provide the direct service and also allow passengers using the tram from stops of the East Didsbury line better access to Piccadilly.

Furthermore will the Second City Crossing not soon make the connections still better with Oldham-Rochdale passengers able to access South Manchester line stops, and residents in South Manchester able to travel directly to Victoria?

I understand we have now made arrangements for Peter Cushing to brief senior officers and members on 7th October in advance of the report to TfGMC on 11th November, but I would like confirmation before then that a permanent direct link from Oldham to Piccadilly Rail Station will be included in the new Metrolink contract when it comes into effect next year.