Christmas tree recycling arrangements

Did you know that Christmas trees can be recycled in green bins? 

They just need to be chopped it into small pieces; and the wooden block has to be removed from the base of the tree as this is too big to be composted. Any lights and decorations need to be removed.

Alternatively, trees can be taken to Arkwright Street Household Waste and Recycling Centre or left at a collection point in the following parks (from 28 December to 31 January):

  • Higher Memorial Park (car park), Joseph Street, Failsworth (open 7.30am until dusk)
  • Royton Park (car park) off Bleasdale Street, Royton. (open 7.30am until dusk)
  • Werneth Park (car park) off Frederick Street, Werneth (open 7.30am until dusk)
  • Churchill Playing Fields (car park), Wellington Road, Greenfield. Anytime access.
  • George Street Playing Fields (car park), off Milnrow Road, Shaw. Anytime access.

Knowls Lane loss highlighted by woodlands research

Work has now started on the link road between Knowls Lane and Oldham Road, including the destruction of an ancient woodland site which was fiercely contested by residents and local councillors at the planning stage.

New research has shown that it is likely that that was the only ancient woodland site in the area. Local archaeologist Jane Barker researched maps of all the local wooded areas of note, but none of them fulfilled the likely criteria for being ancient woodland.

Jane said: “This just shows the importance of the ancient woodland at Knowls Lane, and how unjustified this decision was.”

“Ancient woodland is so important to our country because it provides a local ecology that has been undisturbed for hundreds of years. It is rare, and often has not been identified, but for us to find it on our doorstep and see it destroyed is heartbreaking.”

The Woodland Trust defines ancient woodland as an area of land where there has been a continuous cover of trees since 1600 and currently it makes up only 2% of British woodland. Until 2014, these trees could not be designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest but the organisms living on them or in them could be. Also unlike buildings, there is no formal recognition for old trees – no listing status, no plaques and no guarantee of their protection.

Local councillor Sam Al-Hamdani, who worked with Jane on the research, said: “Jane did some remarkable work in challenging the previous decision. Having seen the importance of ancient woodland from that, I first of all put forward a motion to Council to embed future protection of ancient woodland in the forthcoming local plan.

“Having someone with the knowledge, commitment and access to identify potential sites was a real opportunity, and it is really sad to find that none of the other sites in the area would qualify.

“It just goes to show how unique and important the original site was. As we have not found any, we will instead be looking to ensure that any sites which have other ecological importance can be identified and protected.”

One such protected designation is “Sites of Biological Interest” – a new one has just been identified in Grasscroft, and the Greater Manchester Ecological Unit is looking at another potential one in Uppermill.

Outrage as outgoing Deputy Mayor gets specially created job

It has been revealed that recently resigned Deputy Mayor Beverley Hughes is to get six months extra part-time work in a new “assistant deputy mayor” position, which carries exactly the same pay (pro-rata) as the deputy mayor.  

Liberal Democrat Councillor Sam Al-Hamdani said: “It’s one thing to have a good handover; it’s quite another to hand someone an ‘assistant’ role – on exactly the same wages as the full role – for six months.

“This will simply be reviewed in six months’ time. Really?

“If we need an assistant, there should already be one. Why has it just been created at this time? Is it poor organisation? Or is it an opportunity to give the outgoing Deputy Mayor a well-paid send-off?”

The Deputy Mayor recently stood down after GMP finally reached the minimum standard required to come out of special measures.

Councillor Al-Hamdani continued: “While Bev Hughes – under Andy Burnham – has been in charge of GMP, it has lost tens of thousands of crimes; wasted millions on a failed IT system; it was in special measures for nearly two years; it has been warned repeatedly about failing victims of domestic abuse and violence; and it has repeatedly failed to meet its own targets for neighbourhood policing, never mind produce figures on crime in each area.

“I’m not sure what support the outgoing Deputy Mayor is going to offer, but I sincerely hope that it doesn’t reflect the multiple failings of GMP on her watch.”

Calls for council to open more care homes

Question on Cabinet Minutes (17/10/22) P45: Item 8 – Future contracting tender arrangements for residential and dual registered homes  

Thank you, Madam Mayor. 

My question and comments relate to item 8 on page 45, future contracting tender arrangements for residential and dual registered care homes. 

The news that this Council is going out to market with the ambition of opening a new children’s residential care facility in Oldham is very welcome and long overdue.

Year on year we see significant overspends/demands on social care budgets and by providing more ‘in Borough’ care options and Council operated, we can address that issue. 

Providing the care that we need for our residents and, where there is surplus capacity, other Boroughs can access it at the market rate.

It’s not only children’s services that can benefit from this approach. 

We have an ageing population and as we grow older, people are living with increasingly complex care needs.

Increasing Council direct provision for social care protects us from changes in the private sector and gives choice to our residents and their families.

With hundreds of new people across the country needing adult social care each day, can I ask if the same approach for increasing ‘in Borough provision’ run by the Council is being considered for adult’s social care as well?

I do hope so and look forward to us building and operating directly more care homes and other specialist care settings required for our aging population.