A half-thought through list of stations that will be 10 minutes nearer to Manchester is no substitute for a high quality rail infrastructure, after Rishi Sunak has crumbled in the face of years of Conservative mismanagement and scrapped the Tories headline HS2 project.
The scrapping of the project will have massive implications for Saddleworth, with the East–West Northern Powerhouse line dependent on HS2 infrastructure being constructed. With Bradford apparently now listed as being one of the stations getting works, local Liberal Democrat councillor Sam Al-Hamdani has questioned what this means for the high speed line which was scheduled to run through Saddleworth.
He said: “Rishi Sunak seems to have just thrown a large shopping list of projects up in the air and named a few, with no thought or consideration as to how they actually fit together.
“We have been desperate for clarity on the Northern Powerhouse line, which is threatening to bulldoze through Saddleworth, and push all the local services out of the way. Does this mean that they have reverted to their original plans to build a line through Bradford? Who knows!
“The Government seem to be playing the hokey cokey with huge multi-billion projects. You put Euston in, you take Manchester out … all we know for certain is that it has completely shaken private investors’ confidence in the North West.”
End of the line for levelling-up promise as Prime Minister set to abandon HS2
Oldham Liberal Democrat Leader councillor Howard Sykes MBE has responded to the news that HS2’s Manchester leg is set to be scrapped by the Prime Minister later today.
The Shaw councillor, who is the Liberal Democrats spokesperson on Greater Manchester’s Transport, branded the move “a betrayal”.
Councillor Sykes said, “After all the empty talk we’ve heard from this government about levelling up, this latest betrayal over HS2 shows what they really think of Greater Manchester. As always, the Conservatives have no ambition for the north of England, their levelling-up promise has come to nothing. They continue to treat us as second class when it comes to investing in transport.”
“Yes or no, Prime Minister”: Liberal Democrats slam Sunak on HS2 “betrayal”
Oldham Liberal Democrat Leader and GM Transport spokesperson councillor Howard Sykes MBE has slammed Rishi Sunak after the Prime Minister refused to give a straight answer over the future of Manchester’s long awaited Hight-Speed Rail project (HS2).
The Conservative Prime Minister was quizzed on BBC Radio Manchester this week (Thurs 28/09) following weeks of speculation and rumours that he may scrap the Manchester leg of HS2 all together.
Councillor Sykes said, “Sunak is trying to quietly abandon HS2. Despite all his empty words on levelling up, the north is always treated as second-class when it comes to transport investment.”
“Earlier this year the government announced £72 million for rail projects in Greater Manchester. That’s less than half a percent of the total budget that was spent on London’s Cross Rail.”
“Now we’re being left in limbo by Rishi Sunak over the future of HS2 and potentially another betrayal of his levelling-up promise. It’s a very simple question. Is the Manchester leg of HS2 going ahead? Yes or no, Prime Minister?”
Liberal Democrats write to council chief over equal pay concerns
Following the concerning recent news about Birmingham City Council – which faces government intervention following financial difficulties relating to ‘Equal Pay’ policy – Liberal Democrat councillors have written to Oldham Council Chief Executive Harry Catherall seeking an update on Oldham’s financial position.
In a letter to Mr Catherall, Oldham Liberal Democrat Leader councillor Howard Sykes MBE said, “You will be aware of reports that at least 26 English councils are at serious financial risk. Most recently, Birmingham City Council have issued a section 114 notice (meaning a council cannot authorise any further spending), with ‘Equal Pay’ disputes cited amongst the reasons for failure.”
“I therefore write to ask for an update on Oldham’s current financial position, especially as relates to the issues that surround Equal Pay, its impact on council finances; and the pressures facing the care sector.”
Councils across the country face mounting financial pressure, with research conducted by the Special Interest Group for Municipal Authorities (Sigoma) indicating that at least 26 English councils are at serious risk of following Birmingham into financial special measures.
Inflationary pressures and related pay rises, as well as rising demands across the care sector are continually cited as prominent contributing factors by councils who are at high risk.
Councillor Sykes said, “After a decade and a half of cutbacks, councils have been forced to outsource many vital services to contractors. We need to be sure that Oldham is not left vulnerable to any financial liabilities our partner organisations might have incurred, whether it is in relation to equal pay disputes, as was the case in Birmingham, or anything else that represents a risk.”
NOTES
21 Sept 23 Harry Catherall Chief Executive of Oldham Council
Dear Mr Catherall,
RE: Oldham’s financial position relating to Equal Pay
No doubt you will share my alarm when reading the of the financial difficulties faced by so many local authorities over recent months. It is no exaggeration to say that local government faces an unprecedented period of financial uncertainty and instability born of more than a decade of cuts to local authority budgets.
You will be aware of reports that at least 26 English councils are at serious financial risk. Most recently, Birmingham City Council have issued a section 114 notice, with ‘Equal Pay’ disputes cited amongst the reasons for failure.
Research conducted by the Special Interest Group for Municipal Authorities (Sigoma) has indicated a growing risk posed financial pressures across local government. Inflationary pressures and related pay rises, as well as rising demands across the care sector are continually cited as prominent contributing factors by councils who are at high risk.
I therefore write to ask for an update on Oldham’s current financial position, especially as relates to the issues that surround Equal Pay, its impact on council finances; and the pressures facing the care sector.
It would be helpful if you could address the following points in your reply:
What is Oldham’s current position relating to Equal Pay Policy?
Are there any historic ‘Equal Pay’ settlements outstanding that may present an issue to the council’s financial standing?
Is there any risk of ‘Equal Pay claims’ specifically regarding Miocare?
Are there any financial risks posed to Oldham through dealings with any of our social care and other service providers (OCL and alike) in relation to ‘Equal Pay’ policy.
I thank you in advance for your considered response.
NHS Dentistry in crisis: Half of adults and one third of children in Greater Manchester go two years without an appointment.
Shocking figures uncovered by Oldham Liberal Democrats show that 50% of adults across Greater Manchester go two years without a dentist appointment on the NHS. For children, the figures for those going without care stands at over one third.
The news follows concerns raised by Oldham Liberal Democrat Leader councillor Howard Sykes MBE over the number of dentists who are walking away from the NHS.
Councillor Sykes said, “Under the Conservative government, local healthcare has all but collapsed. People cannot get a dentist appointment for love nor money. It’s hardly surprising given hundreds of dentists are leaving the NHS.”
According to NHS advice, children should receive a dental check-up every 6 months due to the fact that tooth decay can be more rapid during early years. But more than one third of Children across Oldham and Greater Manchester are waiting more than a year to be seen.
Councillor Sykes said, “This is extremely worrying for parents. Faced with the prospect of a seemingly endless wait for treatment on the NHS, more and more families are at risk of having to pay out privately.”
“NHS dentistry needs a rescue package from the government. Budgets have gone unspent in recent years when that money could have gone into boosting the number of available appointments.”
“The government could take steps right away by cutting VAT on children’s toothbrushes and toothpaste. Instead, we just have silence and inaction.”
At ANDYSMANCLUB, we want to eliminate the stigma surrounding mental health and create a judgment-free, confidential space where men can be open about the storms in their lives. We aim to achieve this through weekly, free-to-attend peer-to-peer support groups for men aged over 18.
Friends of Crompton Moor have worked on the restoration of the Brushes Clough spoil heaps for the past 2 Saturday mornings, and would like to thank all the volunteers involved for their extremely good work.
They must have taken out around a hundred or so of the birch, and these trees have been used to build small mammal shelters ready for the coming winter.
They would very much like to take out more trees from the Spoil Heaps..
They have made some great progress in opening a dense area of birch which was shading out the Heather, Bilberry, mosses, and lichens. If we can expand this area a little more, the sunlight will get through, and come spring next year we should be able to see new shoots of the vegetation that’s so important in this area.
If you have an hour or two to spare, come and join us,We’ll be in Brushes Clough car park for a 10:30am start.
