Network Rail will be closing the M62 in both directions, between Junctions 19 and 20, for two weekends in September 2024:
From 9pm, Friday 6 September – 6am, Monday 9 September
From 9pm, Friday 20 September – 6am, Monday 23 September
The closures are being implemented to facilitate the replacement of a rail bridge over the motorway. There will also be various night closures of the motorway throughout September as part of the same project.
Although the official diversion routes for motorway traffic won’t use Oldham’s highway network, the council are aware from previous motorway closures that, when 100,000+ vehicles a day are diverted off the motorway network, not all will follow the signed diversion routes.
With this in mind, road works on Oldham’s key route network and other strategic routes have been stopped for the whole of September. TfGM will also monitors traffic queues 24 hours a day during the closures to ensure that traffic signals are optimised to minimise queues and impact on the network.
A Government social media graphic promoting the use of redirected HS2 funding to repair roads in London (2023)
HS2 cash must be spent fixing roads in Greater Manchester say Oldham Liberal Democrats
Oldham Liberal Democrat Leader and party spokesperson for Greater Manchester transport councillor Howard Sykes MBE has urged the Labour government to protect cash from the scrapped HS2 rail project so that it can be spent fixing roads and infrastructure across Oldham and Greater Manchester.
Councillor Sykes said, “When the last Conservative government pulled the plug on HS2, they immediately took the cash that was meant to improve travel in the north of England and they started spending it in the south. The new Labour government must not allow this to continue.”
“Across Oldham and Greater Manchester our roads are worse than ever. The government must ring-fence some of the funding that was due to be spent on HS2 and make sure it is put to use making improvements in Greater Manchester.”
“If we are not getting a new high-speed railway, it’s only fair that the money is used on our wider transport infrastructure.”
The Northern leg of HS2, the long-awaited high-speed rail link, was scrapped last year as one of the final acts of the Conservative government. Then Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was heavily criticised for using his party conference to axe the scheme and direct the funding around the country including London and the south east.
Councillor Sykes urged the new Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to use his upcoming conference in Liverpool to ensure the north of England gets a fair deal.
Councillor Sykes said, “It was a complete travesty that money that was meant to improve transport in and around Greater Manchester was taken away and spent improving roads in London. The new government now has the opportunity to put this right. Will the new Prime Minister show that he will not take Oldham and Greater Manchester for granted?”
“National embarrassment”: £15.6 billion pothole backlog across England. Oldham Liberal Democrat Leader councillor Howard Sykes MBE has branded roads in Oldham as a “national embarrassment” as he called on the government to bring forward the funds needed to clear the national road repair backlog.
Councillor Sykes said, “Oldham’s roads are in the worst condition for years. We’re spending a fraction of the money needed on repairs and naturally, things are getting worse.”
According to the National Audit Office (NAO) the growing backlog of road repairs stands at £15.6 billion. The NAO also highlighted that there are “significant gaps” in the Department for Transport’s knowledge about the state of our roads.
Councillor Sykes said, “Unless the government urgently brings forward the funding we need to get to grips with our roads, the cost of clearing the backlog will continue to rise and the state of our roads will continue to be a national embarrassment.”
Airport profiling under scrutiny after violent arrest.
In the aftermath of the violent arrest of a teenager at Manchester Airport, local Lib Dem councillor Sam Al-Hamdani has called for a review of the use of profiling at Manchester Airport.
He wrote to GM Mayor Andy Burnham, the Police and Crime Commissioner, and Arooj Shah, the leader of Oldham Council – which is a stakeholder in the airport – raising the repeated profiling of ethnic minority passengers, and the potential for this to create a culture of suspicion which could contribute to incidents like the one that took place on Tuesday night.
He said: “I have been profiled myself repeatedly when flying to the United States from Manchester Airport. This is purely because of my Iraqi heritage, even though I was born in the UK, am a British citizen, and have never even travelled to the Middle East.
“On one occasion, I and every other Arab and Asian-heritage passenger on a flight were announced over the tannoy before boarding in Manchester, and marched in front of all the other passengers for ‘additional security checks’. That could not have failed to scare all the other passengers, make them suspicious of us, and to have reinforced any prejudices that they might have.”
While the circumstances of the incident on Tuesday night are still being investigated, he called on politicians and shareholders to change these attitudes and practices to de-escalate tensions between police and passengers.
He added: “There clearly needs to be a thorough investigation into the events of Tuesday night. The anger that people are feeling is understandable.
“We all have a part to play in building trust back in our communities. People need to feel heard, and be heard. This is not just an isolated incident – there have been too many occasions on which the actions of police have broken the agreement that we have in the UK … policing by consent.
“Listening to people and investigating properly is the only way to change this. We owe it to passengers, to the many good police officers that there are, and to people and communities that do not feel listened to, and do not feel safe.”
The long established lunch club run by Age UK as a not for profit service is set to close in September 2024 after the Labour administration cut their funding.
As a result of spending cuts imposed in 2023, the Age UK lunch club is no longer able to continue and is set to close in September 2024. This is as a direct result of the Labour Administration’s budget cuts and despite two contract extensions, Age UK were unsuccessful in their recent Lottery Community Fund application of the much needed £50,000 shortfall that is needed to continue this service.
Liberal Democrat Councillor Marland confirmed “the closure of this luncheon club will affect 8 centres which currently operate across the borough including the clubs which meet at Shaw, Uppermill, Springhead, Chadderton, Royton and Failsworth. Hundreds of elderly and isolated residents attend the weekly lunch club and they will be directly affected by this closure. I am truly heartbroken for these elderly folk as for many it is their only opportunity to socialise or leave their home each week and enjoy a meal with others”. Councillor Marland and her colleagues have close ties to several of the luncheon clubs and many of those who attend the luncheon club have voiced their disappointment and sheer frustration that they will no longer be continuing.
As well as providing a 3 course meal and a friendly familiar face, the Age UK service includes transport from home to the venue and the ability to provide advice or referrals to onward support services that these elderly guests may need.
She added: “I am passionate about providing care and facilities for the elderly so I want to directly appeal to the people and businesses of Oldham and Saddleworth to ask if they can offer any financial assistance to Age UK to ensure that this vital service continues for these residents. Please can you make contact with me if you able to support or offer any source of funding that may be keep this service going”.
We have been asking for measures to be taken to tackle speeding traffic in the Grains Bar area for some years now. Some works have been done to create the pedestrian traffic island and to also improve safety to the pavement around the Toll House.
Despite repeated requests the area does not qualify for a speed camera, however, I am pleased to report there will shortly be two VAS (vehicle activated signs) placed as described in the pictures above which hopefully will have an impact on speeding traffic.
Meeting of Oldham Council’s Audit Committee cancelled as Labour members send apologies
Leader of Oldham Council’s Liberal Democrat Group councillor Howard Sykes MBE has criticised the ruling Labour Party after a meeting of the council’s Audit Committee was cancelled recently. The meeting – due to take place on Thursday 25th July – was cancelled due to the majority of councillors on the committee failing to show.
Councillor Sykes said, “Labour don’t seem to like attending meetings lately. There wasn’t even a football match to rush home for this time so I’m not sure what the latest excuse is.”
The committee was due to discuss Oldham’s financial position and internal audit practices, but Liberal Democrat members councillor Sykes and councillor Sam Al-Hamdani were the only members not to send apologies. It is now unlikely that it will reconvene until September.
