Andy Burnham must keep his manifesto promise to clean up air pollution in Greater Manchester without “the loss of a single job or business”.

His plans to implement a Clean Air Zone – following the instructions of the Conservative Government – were clear in his manifesto but have come under withering public attack as the implementation date nears.

“The Liberal Democrats have a simple message for Mayor Burnham,” said Oldham’s Opposition Leader and Transport Spokesperson for Greater Manchester, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE.  “Keep your promises, or admit you were elected on a platform you couldn’t stick to.  You need to pause and re-think the whole scheme, and you need to do it now!”

The Clean Air Zone is being  introduced because there are an estimated 1,200 deaths a year in Greater Manchester because of air pollution, and that must be dealt with.  Mayor Burnham claimed that his Clean Air Zone would do that, and that it would be managed to ensure no business would be damaged. 

“Those lost lives need to be addressed but not at the expense of lost jobs,” stated Councillor Sykes.  “This is a Conservative Government instruction being implemented without thought and in a rush by a Labour Mayor and the 10 local authority Leaders.”

 “Even if people wanted to comply, they cannot as the supply chain is not robust enough to deliver the conversions or new complainant vehicles in time and that assumes people can afford them!”  He added.

Councillor Sykes continued: “We know that people’s jobs are under threat, with this coming on the back of the Conservative’s record-breaking taxes, with businesses still restricted by the coronavirus pandemic, and the botched trading arrangements with the EU that the Government is now abdicating responsibility for.”

“Air quality monitoring across Greater Manchester is patently inadequate. Government funding to help businesses upgrade is insufficient.  The Mayor promised to speed up the introduction of electric charging points, and has completely failed,” he stated.

“Think again, the scheme needs a radical re-think.  Failing to tackle air pollution is failing the thousands of people who are dying because of it every year.  We need a clean air strategy that works, not a Mayor driving blind, and risking thousands of jobs in Oldham and across the region.”

Manhole works Friday 14^th January 2022 between 9.30am & 3.30pm.

Apols for any confusion these works were originally planned for Tuesday 4th January.

Road closure and diversion details.

Oak Street, Shaw from a point 29 metres south east of its junction with Gordon Street for a distance of 22 metres in a south westerly direction.

Duckworth Street, Shaw from its junction with Oak Street for a distance of 10 metres in a westerly direction The One-Way traffic restriction on Duckworth Street from Greaves Street to Oak Street will be revoked for the period of this notice.

The restrictions are required to facilitate manhole works and will be in force between 9.30am and 3pm on Friday 14^th January 2022 or until the works are completed whichever is the lesser period. 

The alternative route for those affected by the restriction is Beal Lane, Milnrow Road, Linney Lane in both directions.

The next Oldham Prince’s Trust 12 week personal development programme, will start on Monday 24th January 2022.

The team will be based and run from Shaw and Crompton Parish Council, 1 Kershaw Street East, Shaw, OL2 8AB.

The programme is Full Time and runs Monday to Friday 9.30 am – 4 pm.

The 12 week programme is open to any unemployed young person aged 19 – 25 yrs old, over the 12 weeks the young people work on different key skills whilst working together to carry out a variety of challenges.

Included in the programme are 4 days of team building activities around the Peak District, activities include abseiling, rock climbing, caving, mountain walking, problem solving and bush craft.

The young people will be returning home after each daily activity. Transport will be provided for each team member to participate in the daily activities, all food, drinks and equipment will be provided for each young person. (Please note that there are NO overnight stays).

The team also plan and carry out different fundraisers to pay for materials for their Community Project, the community project takes place over weeks 4,5 and 6, this is when the team will improve an area in the local community of Oldham. The young people also get the opportunity to carry out a work placement, plan and carry out a team challenge, which involves working with a disadvantaged group in the community, the team then plan and carry out a formal presentation, where the young people invite their parents, friends, support workers and other people / organisations that have directly worked with the team over the programme.

There is a very informal Registration Day, this allows any young person to come along and to find out more about the programme, they are able to bring family, a friend, family friend or support worker for morale support if they wish.

The Registration Day will take place on Wednesday 19^th January 2022 from 11 am until 3pm at Shaw and Crompton Parish Council, 1 Kershaw Street East, Shaw, OL2 8AB. 

The whole programme is FREE, we provide a weekly travel voucher and in most cases the benefits will not be affected.

We also provide support with Literacy and Numeracy over the programme.

Please note that any young person does have to be in receipt of a benefit to access our TEAM programme.

If you work with or know of any young people who would benefit from this unique 12 week programme, please give Jo Shaw a ring on 07739 978 791 or email me on joanne.shaw@groundwork.org.uk  alternatively please contact Shiny Rahman Prince’s Trust assistant team leader on 07715 619 519 or email him on shiny.rahman@groundwork.org.uk and we will arrange to meet the young person.

We are available to complete a home visit or if they prefer they can come to the team room.

Manhole works Tuesday 14^th January 2022 between 9.30am & 3.30pm

Road closure and diversion details.

Oak Street, Shaw from a point 29 metres south east of its junction with Gordon Street for a distance of 22 metres in a south westerly direction

Duckworth Street, Shaw from its junction with Oak Street for a distance of 10 metres in a westerly direction. The One-Way traffic restriction on Duckworth Street from Greaves Street to Oak Street will be revoked for the period of this notice

The restrictions are required to facilitate manhole works and will be in force between 9.30am and 3pm on Tuesday 14^th January 2022 or until the works are completed whichever is the lesser period  

The alternative route for those affected by the restriction is Beal Lane, Milnrow Road, Linney Lane in both directions

The Oldham depot will be taking industrial action on Monday 10 and Tuesday 11 January 2022.

No services will operate on either day including school services and the Yellow School Bus service.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION USE THE LINK BELOW:

https://www.firstbus.co.uk/greater-manchester/news-and-service-updates/news/industrial-action-oldham-depot-monday-10-and

Please be aware that due to the weather conditions, as well as ongoing staff absences due to covid, some waste collections in Shaw and Crompton have not taken place today.

Therefore there are outstanding collections for:

Grey bin (refuse) waste

Green bin (food and garden) waste

Refuse is due to be collected tomorrow morning, Saturday 8^th January

Food and garden waste is due to be collected Monday 10^th January in the morning

Residents are advised that they should leave their bins out for collection and the council have said they will endeavour to return for them.

I have been informed by the Council that due to low staffing levels, as a result of positive Covid cases and other sickness related absences they have had to reduce the opening hours temporarily for Royton, Lees, Failsworth, Crompton and Uppermill libraries.

They will now close at 5pm on Mondays to Thursdays, instead of 7pm. The footfall in the evenings is extremely low and hope that this short term measure will not prove to be too much of an inconvenience for customers.  They will review again in a few weeks and aim to have the hours fully reinstated by February.

All other libraries’ opening hours are unaffected and ensures we still have an evening offer across the network, especially Oldham where we are busiest .

Find a library | Oldham Council

Due to an increased number of Covid -19 cases within the workforce this morning the council have unfortunately had to drop one of the organic (food and garden) collection rounds which covers Shaw and Crompton.

The council will unfortunately not be returning for any missed green bins which are out for collection and that they will now endeavour to collect on their next scheduled collection day (Friday 31^st December).

They apologise in advance for any inconvenience caused.

Happy Christmas and all the very best for a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year.

Picture: Crompton Moor by Bob Kenworthy