Lees Street Car Park – after and before.
Following months of unsuccessful requests for the Parish Council (who when the Liberal Democrats ran it created this space and maintained it); or Oldham Council to take some responsibility for the much needed repairs, we have now made some progress.
After much lobbying (and no thanks or support from the so-called Independent ran Town Council) I am pleased to report the large pot holes have now been filled.
FOR HELP AND ADVICE – Shaw and Crompton Lib Dem Councillor Surgeries (no appointment necessary) in June 2024.
Pop along for advice, help or to discuss any issue or matter with your local Liberal Democrat councillors.
Shaw and Crompton Advice Surgeries (no appointment necessary) held on the following Thursdays at Shaw Lifelong Learning Centre – 7:30pm to 8:30pm.
June 6, 13, 20 and 27.
No scrutiny, no oversight, no say.
DÉJÀ VU AS THE FIRST SHAW & CROMPTON TOWN COUNCIL MEETING GOT UNDERWAY ON TUESDAY 21 MAY 2024
In a move that would make the leaders in North Korea and Russia proud, the so-called Independents, did exactly what they did last year, which was to NOT ALLOW any members of the opposition (Liberal Democrats) on to ANY of the Committees voting against them – thus stifling debate, joint working or scrutiny of the decisions they are making with the taxpayers money.
Councillor Diane Williamson said: “Well, no surprise there then. The public not allowed to ask questions of this debacle unless it is on the minutes and then absolutely NO consultation with residents or opposition members about the change to a Town Council. The meeting continued with some very disrespectful barraging and comments from the new Leader of the Town Council.”
“The Liberal Democrats might be gagged for now, but the tactics of the so-called Independents will not go unnoticed by the residents of our two lovely wards of Shaw and Crompton. Keep watching and listening and we are here for every single one of you – no matter whether you voted for us or not, or you have just started to see the real truth” added Councillor Diane Williamson.
Liberal Democrats ready to go for snap general election
Parliamentary candidates Sam Al-Hamdani (pictured above), Hannah Kitching and Chris Northwood are ready and raring to go for the snap general election called by Rishi Sunak for July 4.
Sam Al-Hamdani is the deputy leader of the Liberal Democrat group on Oldham Council, and won re-election to the Council in 2023 after nearly doubling his vote from his first win in 2019. He is standing in the Oldham East and Saddleworth constituency.
Hannah Kitching is the leader of the Liberal Democrat opposition on Barnsley Council, having taken their first seat against the Labour controlled council in 2019, and winning 11 seats in four years. She is standing in Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton.
Parliamentary candidate Sam Al-Hamdani said: “This year, in the local elections across the Oldham East and Saddleworth constituency, the Liberal Democrats were only 200 votes behind the Labour party. Meanwhile the Conservatives trailed down in fifth place behind the Oldham Group and other independents.
“The Conservative party nationally are in free fall. We can provide a real alternative – it is clear that with them having failed to even choose a candidate, they are not taking this election seriously.”
Chris Northwood, who is fighting the Manchester Central seat which now includes the two Failsworth wards, is a strong campaigner who is currently deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats Manchester City Council.
Sam Al-Hamdani continued: “The Liberal Democrats present a clear, fair option at the general election. I’ve knocked on over 4,000 people’s doors in the last year, because I believe in listening to people, and fighting for what they need. We are looking forward to doing that on a wider stage.”
Dunwood Park missing/removed bins.
Just to let people know we become aware of this situation last week and are pursing the Council to get some answers, why this has happened and hopefully to get our bins back.
Will do our best to keep people informed.
Can you ever trust them again?
Dunwood Park Wednesday 29 May.
Night closures on A62 Oldham Way – 28 and 29 May
The A62 Oldham Way Bypass will close at night for routine checks and maintenance of the King Street Roundabout Bridges on Tuesday 28 May and Wednesday 29 May, from 8pm to 6am the following morning.
Please plan your journeys ahead and use other routes if possible.
General Election 4 July – at long last
Responding to the news that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has called a General Election for July 4th, Leader of Oldham Liberal Democrats councillor Howard Sykes MBE said, “It’s about time! This Conservative government is on its last legs and for the good of the country, they need to go.”
“The Liberal Democrats are fighting this election to get a fair deal for Britain. We need to tackle the crisis in the NHS and bring waiting times down. We need to clean up our environment and stop water companies pumping sewage into our rivers.
We need MPs in Parliament who are going to stand up for places like Oldham Borough and demand the jobs and investment we need instead of just serving London and the South East. Every vote for the Liberal Democrats will be a vote for a strong local champion.”
Labour cling to power in Oldham by a single vote with the support of the two so-called Shaw and Crompton Independent councillors.
In a tense council meeting, Oldham Liberal Democrats put forward proposals for an alliance of opposition councillors including Liberal Democrats, Conservatives, Oldham Group and Independents, which could have taken control of Oldham if the vote to remove Labour had been won.
However, the Labour Leader of the Council clung on to power supported by the two Shaw and Crompton so-called Independents, said Councillor Howard Sykes, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group on Oldham.
He added: “It is disappointing that despite the fact that the Labour Party have lost overall control of the council, so-called Independent councillors joined forces with them to keep Labour in power.”
Our plan brought together the opposition groups who supported agreed policies including calling for a public inquiry into historic child sex exploitation, saving Oldham Coliseum Theatre, protecting Oldham’s greenbelt, and cleaning up Oldham’s parks and public spaces.
“All of that is now at risk because Labour has clung on to power with the backing of the two so-called Independents from Shaw and Crompton.
Here is how the vote to remove the Labour leadership played out:
FOR: 28
AGAINST: 29
ABSTAIN: 3
Labour’s 27 councillors were supported by councillors Mark Hince and Lisa Navesey, which was enough on the day to keep Labour in power.
Councillor Sykes said, “An alternative to Labour was possible. The Liberal Democrats did absolutely everything within our power to make that alternative a reality. But Labour’s offer of grace and favour positions within the Council was clearly too much for some so-called Independent councillors to resist.”
“As Opposition councillors, the Liberal Democrats will continue to hold the Labour Party to account, as well as the so-called Independent councillors who now support them. We look forward to championing the issues that our residents care about and working hard for change.”
Notes
People of Oldham crying out for change
Oldham Liberal Democrats hit back – Howard Sykes (mycouncillor.org.uk)
Talks progress between opposition councillors ahead of tense annual council meeting