We all wish to see a thriving town centre retail economy, but will the Leader:
– inform Council how much revenue will be lost to the authority at a time of cuts to Council services as a result of the free car parking initiative?
– Also will he outline the evidence that supports this Administration’s view that this represents a value-for-money measure that will bring more shoppers into our town?
– And is the most cost effective way of supporting the Oldham Town Centre?
Howard Sykes
6th Feb 2013
Due to the adverse weather conditions last weekend the proposed work at this junction was not able to be completed.
As a result, the junction of High Street were it meets Crompton Way will be closed for one day on Sunday 3 February.
The left turn from High Street to Crompton Way will be closed – all other turning manoeuvres at this junction will remain unaffected.
To replace 60 Metres of aging 3” Cast Iron Gas Main.
Duration of work from 30/01/2013 for 2 weeks.
Works Supervisor and contact number: Michael Taylor 07773 820627.
Emergency Contact & Telephone Number in the Event of Traffic Signal Failure: Chris Dempsey 07931 575160 24 Hr Call Centre 0800 521 660.
Modification of existing railing over pipe bridge to tie in with the steeple copings.
Duration of work: 01-02-13, 10:00–15.30.
Emergency Contact & Telephone Number in the Event of Traffic Signal Failure: Brian Birmingham 07899 906814.
These are in order to allow BDS Yorkshire to carry out tarmacking and reinstatement works.
Start Date and Duration of work:
09:30 – 15:00 Thursday 17th January
09:30 – 15:00 Friday 18th January
Works Supervisor and contact number: Lauren Smallwood 01924 372957
Emergency Contact & Telephone Number in the Event of Traffic Signal Failure: Chris Speight 01924 372957 (24hrs)
This length of work is part of a much larger scheme to lay a high voltage cable from the electricity sub station on Edge Lane Street, Royton, to the sub station on Linney Lane, Shaw.
Due to restrictions on working in certain highways the route will be Shaw Road, Royton / Blackshaw Lane / Heyside / Oldham Road, Shaw / Crompton Way / Linney Lane.
Work will proceed under temporary traffic signals and at major junctions along the route the work will be at weekends only, with lane closures in force along Crompton Way.
Signals will be manually operated throughout the working day in an effort to minimise undue queue lengths.
Unfortunately due to the nature of the work and the route it will take, some disruption is inevitable.
MPT will be carrying out jet wash cleaning operations on two bridges situated on Milnrow Road, Shaw, next week.
On Monday / Tuesday work will be undertaken on the bridge located at Jubilee bends.
On Wednesday / Thursday work will be undertaken on the bridge located south of Bridge Street.
In each case, traffic signals will be in place between 9.30am – 3.30pm only, or until work is complete on that day.
The works supervisor is Danny Walker who can be contacted on 07963 039 067
Politics and Adopters / Foster Carers
I hope the Leader will agree with me that the most important single thing a child who is adopted or fostered needs is to be placed with caring and loving parents?
What assurance can the Leader provide that a situation would not arise in our Borough like that which occurred recently in Rotherham where foster parents who were members of the UK Independence Party, a legal political party, had the children in their care removed from them by overzealous council officials, who judged them to be unfit parents because of their political views?
Police Parade
Will the Leader join me in condemning the proposed change in local Police procedure that will require Police Community Support Officers (PCSO’s) to parade before duty at Oldham Police Station prior to deployment to their assigned beat?
This change will mean that officers will have less time on the beat to actually detect crime, apprehend criminals and help the public as they will have to travel between central Oldham and our outlying districts and communities, rather than simply reporting for duty on their beat at the start of a shift.
Does the Leader agree that this unnecessary reduction in service to the public will be particularly acute where officers are travelling (via bike or foot) to more distant locations of the borough, such as East Crompton, Lees and the villages of Saddleworth?
Free Parking and Metrolink
Can the Leader explain to the people of Oldham Borough how it benefits the town’s retail economy to offer three hours free parking on Saturdays on car parks located near to Mumps so shoppers can leap on a tram and use Metrolink to do their shopping in Manchester?
And isn’t this situation all the more farcical when a two-for-one Metrolink ticket offer enables twice the number of shoppers to take twice the money away from Oldham’s shopkeepers?
When will we see a two-for-one Metrolink ticket offer to bring Manchester shoppers to our borough to experience our warm Oldham welcome and everything else we have to offer visitors?
Local Lib Dem Shaw Councillor Howard Sykes has welcomed the news that at long last trams will run to Shaw from Sunday December 16th.
“We have waited a number of years for this day and this has to be a welcome Christmas present for local residents and potential users,” stated Cllr Sykes. “Along with my colleagues we have been pushing for the line to open before the New Year for some time now.”
“The scheme is best part of a year behind schedule and I had hoped some of the potential parking issues (park and ride sites) could be resolved in this time, however I and my colleagues will continue to work on these.”
“Former users of the rail line have been very patient and have had to put alternative travel arrangements in place for more than three years, he added. “Hopefully it will not be too long until we also get connected via the tram to Rochdale.”
“Hopefully some the decisions we made and lobbied for years ago about the Shaw stop will now come to fruition – like making sure the tram stop was on the opposite side of Beal Lane from where the old station platform was – as this should help with traffic issues on Beal Lane. People will recall when the rail line was in use this was a nightmare at peak times and log jammed the whole of Shaw up at times.”
“Some of us did wonder if this day would ever arrive! It is enough to restore your faith in Santa!” He claimed. “And we can all go and put our reindeer and sled away now!”
Temporary traffic signals have been approved for Monday 17 December in the vicinity of Jubilee Bridge, Milnrow Road, Shaw. The signals will be in place between 10.00am and 15.30pm.
MPT are carrying out jet washing of the parapet bridge walls. The contact for the work is Danny Walker who can be contacted on 07963 039 067.