Oldham Liberal Democrats urge “maximum penalty” for littering and fly-tipping

Oldham Council’s Liberal Democrat Opposition Group have urged the ruling Labour Party to enforce “the maximum penalty” for littering and fly-tipping offences across the Borough.  Liberal Democrat Leader, councillor Howard Sykes MBE said that council bosses “must prove to people that they are serious about handling the basics.” 

Sykes’s comments come after the government announced new maximum fines of £1,000 for fly-tipping (up from £400 previously), as well as new, steeper fines for graffiti and other environmental crimes. 

Councillor Sykes said, “By the Council’s own estimate, it costs £2,500 per day to tackle fly-tipping.  People who blight our streets and our green spaces with dumped rubbish should pay the maximum penalty.  The Council must make full use of these new powers and crack down on offenders.”

Despite so-called high-profile marketing campaigns like ‘Don’t Trash Oldham’, Oldham Council has drawn criticism under successive Council Leaders in recent years for spiralling rates of fly-tipping and environmental crime. 

Councillor Sykes said, “Fly-tipping offences have spiralled out of control in Oldham.  We are seeing far sharper increases when compared with our neighbours.  Yet despite this, Oldham’s Labour leadership is issuing fewer fines than they managed during the covid years.  This is clearly not good enough.  The Council must prove to people that they are serious about handling the basics.”    

Fly-tipping rates soar in Oldham, but number of fines drop (April 2023)

“Failure to grasp the basics”: Oldham Council bosses slammed as fly-tipping rates soar, but number of fines drop – Howard Sykes (mycouncillor.org.uk)

Don’t Trash Oldham (£2,500 per day to tackle fly-tipping)

www.oldham.gov.uk

Please see photo of our leaky dam at the top of Whitesides.  This dam is turning into the best area of wetland on Crompton Moor.   Wildlife is beginning to gather there already.   We’re putting a fence around the top side to help deter dogs from going in and disturbing the wildlife, and doing a bit more clearing of vegetation to laying down some choir matting which has already been planted with seed.

We’re going up there again on Tuesday the 8^th of August to do some more work to prepare for future planting of both marginal and aquatic plants. 

Meet in Brushes Clough car park for a 10:30 am start, on Tuesday the 8^th of August 2023, and join us working in one of the most scenic parts of the moor.   Watch the dragonflies darting about.   An event not to be missed and take part in the creation of a beautiful wildlife wetland.

Please dress appropriate for the weather, and Wellingtons are advised if you want to work in the wettest areas.

Liberal Democrat Leader pays tribute to former Lees and Saddleworth West councillor Val Sedgwick

Oldham Liberal Democrat Leader councillor Howard Sykes MBE has paid tribute following the death on 1st August of former councillor and Mayor of Oldham, Val Sedgwick.  Between 1992 and the year 2000, she represented her hometown of Lees where she was born and raised.  From 2000-2016, after boundary changes, she represented the Saddleworth West and Lees ward.  

Councillor Sykes said, “Val was Mrs Lees.  By far one of the most popular councillors that I have ever worked with and a very valuable member of the Liberal Democrat Group.  She was popular because she was dedicated to serving and championing the whole community of Lees and later Saddleworth West & Lees.”

“She served as the Mayor of Oldham from 2003 to 2004 and became a passionate and caring ambassador for all our Borough.  She worked hard every day.  You could not wish for a better colleague.  Even after she stepped down from Oldham Council in 2016, Val continued her work in the community.  She was a first-class consort to councillor Barbara Beeley when she was Vice Chair of Saddleworth Parish Council. She will be sorely missed by us all.”

“The Liberal Democrat Group send our deepest condolences to Ken, Val’s partner, her family and loved ones.  Rest in Peace Val.”  

Liberal Democrats warn of “lost generation” as school absences in Oldham rise by more than 80% since 2019

Liberal Democrat Opposition Leader councillor Howard Sykes has warned that time is running out for Oldham’s leaders to help a “lost generation” of school children in the Borough. 

Data uncovered by Oldham Liberal Democrats has revealed that the number of children who are persistently absent from school has shot up from 5840 to 10,547 since 2019.  A rise of just over 80%.   

Councillor Sykes said, “The last four years has been extremely difficult for children in our communities.  They have had their education disrupted by the pandemic and now by the cost-of-living crisis.  More sad is the fact that more and more children are going hungry across Oldham.  These are the things that are driving up these alarming rates of persistent absence.” 

In England, a pupil is recorded as being ‘persistently absent’ when they miss at least 10% of classroom time.  Pupils are recorded as ‘severely absent when they miss at least 50% of lessons.  Severe absences across the Borough are also up, from 330 in 2019 to 552 in this school year.   

Councillor Sykes said, “It is deeply concerning that children are missing so much school time.  When a child becomes persistently absent, all the information we have shows that their attendance is likely to get worse not better.  When children miss so much classroom time, it impacts on their future chances.  If the council and schools don’t come together and act now, we run the risk of seeing a lost generation.”

Once again I have asked for these to be cleared, which I have now been informed they have. Hopefully they will keep clear for a while now.

Oldham Liberal Democrats back RSPCA ‘Local Voice for Animals’ campaign   

Liberal Democrat councillors in Oldham have thrown their support behind an RSPCA campaign which calls on local councils to step up action to protect animal welfare. 

Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group councillor Howard Sykes MBE said, “We’re proud to support the RSPCA’s campaign, which is aimed keeping animals safe and promoting the rights of all animals so that we can end the avoidable suffering and harm that sadly affects so many.”

The ‘Local Voice for Animals’ RSPCA campaign has eight key aims which include stopping illegal puppy and kitten trading, ending the severe suffering of animals used in science and driving up welfare standards for animals that are farmed in the UK.  The RSPCA is calling on local councils to play a more active role in promoting animal welfare.

Councillor Sykes said, “Councils can actually do a lot to make life better for animals, it’s not all about pointing the finger at the government.  Local authorities like Oldham are responsible for enforcing the animal welfare laws we already have.  We need to make sure that our leaders here in Oldham are prioritising this important work.”

“Whether it is by promoting animal adoption, cracking down on the use of animals for entertainment; or by working with the RSPCA to improve enforcement standards.  There is a lot of work that local leaders can do in Oldham to give animals a great life and the Liberal Democrats want Oldham to lead on that work.” 

RSPCA Local Voice for Animals manifesto:
A Local Voice for Animals_ an animal welfare manifesto for local government.pdf

Photo: Google Maps

Crompton Way fence

Glad to see the much-needed replacement of this fencing is well underway.  It has need replacing for some time as it has been patched and mended on numerous occasions in recent years.  Let us hope it stays intact now for many month/years to come.