‘It’s time to ‘jump start’ electric vehicle charging points’, say Oldham Liberal Democrats

Oldham Liberal Democrats are concerned that Oldham is failing to keep up with the increasing demand for electric vehicle charging points as Britain makes the radical move to go green from 2030.

In January 2021, the Department of Transport reported 31 public charging points in Oldham, or 13 for every 100,000 people, less than half the UK average of 31; and this was four less than in October 2019. The energy company Centrica also identified Oldham as one of 126 local councils with no plans to install on-street electric vehicle chargers.

Oldham Liberal Democrat Leader, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, is dismayed that Oldham is falling behind, especially as it is a Council and Borough committed to be carbon-neutral within ten years.

Commenting, Councillor Sykes MBE said: “For example, at a time when politicians talk about the need to promote the use of green public transport where possible, and green private transport where it is not, there is a disincentive if you are a commuter to do so.  In my own Shaw Ward, we have no electric vehicle charging points at the Shaw and Crompton Metrolink ‘Park and Ride’ despite this being the busiest station on the Rochdale – Oldham line.  Nor are there any at the Derker ‘Park and Ride’.”

“If you want to commute by tram to Manchester, and have an electric vehicle, then you must travel all the way to Hollinwood to access a charging point before you can travel into work.  All Metrolink ‘Park and Ride’ stations should have EV charging points installed as a priority. Anything else is just plain daft!”

Councillor Sykes also feels we need some forward thinking. “At a time when the Greater Manchester Mayor and Labour Leaders are proposing building thousands of new homes across the conurbation, I have yet to hear any talk about the provision of charging points for the many electric vehicles that will occupy them nor about the provision of on-street charging points.”

“We need to ensure that there are planning requirements to make this provision a given for new developments and to look at how we can make more charging points available in our town centres, workplaces, hospitals and retail and leisure parks.”

Oldham Liberal Democrats call on public to support Clean Air Day

This Thursday 17 June is National Clean Air Day, and Oldham Liberal Democrats councillors are asking residents of the borough to support the event to help improve our health and our environment.

Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, Leader of the Oldham Liberal Democrats, said:  “Many people will have noticed the lack of traffic during Lockdown and many more people took up exercise, walking and cycling, since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.  Now as we see the removal of the remaining lockdown restrictions, it would be great if we could avoid going back to our old habit of turning to our car for every journey.“

“Many of the short journeys we take in our daily lives, whether popping to the shops or for the school run, can be made on foot or on a bike, so why not resolve to do this from Clean Air Day”, added councillor Sykes. “If we all did this, even for just one or two days a week, it would make a huge difference to air quality and in turn this would improve our health.”

Visit cleanairgm.com to get involved.  You can join in by cycling or walking on the day and sharing your journey on social media using #GMCleanAirDay.  Follow @CleanAirGM on Twitter and Facebook for tips to get you moving.

Oldham Liberal Democrats join call for real investment in post-Covid education catch up for our children

Oldham Liberal Democrat Councillors have all joined a call to Prime Minister Boris Johnson for real government investment to be made in education to provide further tuition to school children to catch up on learning lost because of Covid-19.

Local Liberal Democrat Councillors signed the open letter to Prime Minister Johnson, which is being coordinated by the teachers’ representative body, the National Education Union.

Oldham Liberal Democrat Leader, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, explained why they had done so:  “Although the government has talked a lot about ‘levelling up’, investing to tackle inequalities in Britain after Covid, it has singularly failed to do so when it comes to the education of our children. The government’s own Education Recovery Tzar resigned in protest because only £1.4 billion was made available for extra classes on the school day to enable children to catch up on their learning.  He wanted over ten times that – £15 billion.  Clearly then the government’s current proposals are inadequate.”

Councillor Sykes is also especially concerned about the welfare of pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds.  “Reductions in the Pupil Premium will have a real impact in  Oldham, which sadly remains one of the most economically deprived and educationally disadvantaged places in Britain,” he added. “Not only do we want to see no cutbacks, we want to see more money invested to give all of Oldham’s children an excellent education to equip them with the skills and knowledge they require for meaningful employment and a fulfilling life.”

Roadmap delay represents further blow to hospitality fears Sykes

Oldham Liberal Democrat Leader, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, fears the Prime Minister’s announcement that Covid-19 restrictions will last another month will mean yet more local pubs being lost, unless further financial support is soon forthcoming.

“Whilst I understand that the Prime Minister has made this decision based upon scientific advice, the delay will put further pressure on hospitality business which have been impacted disproportionately by lockdowns and trading restrictions since March of last year”, said Councillor Sykes.

Last week, the British Institute of Inn-keeping estimated that 1 in 10 pubs nationwide was expected to fail if there was a delay in the easing of restrictions, and the trade body UKHospitality has said that the delay will cost the sector around £3bn in sales.

Councillor Sykes added: “Hospitality is one of the UK’s biggest employment sectors, and often the sector in which our young people begin their working lives.  Since March 2020, pubs and restaurants have been unable to trade for many months. When they could do so they have faced onerous trading restrictions because of social distancing, table service and early closing. They have also invested heavily to make their premises ‘Covid-safe’ and now employ more staff to serve at tables.

“This is why I believe the government needs to announce more financial support for our hospitality sector during this torrid time, such as extending furlough and the business rates holiday.  Pubs and restaurants are an integral part of our local  communities; we must not let them fall at the last hurdle”.

Countryside Volunteer Rangers Crompton Moor – Sunday 20 June 2021

Hope you can join me for our event next Sunday the 20th, our task being fencing repairs; this has been moved forward with everyone’s agreement due to Sara & I having a week off !

The current BBC weather forecast for Sunday is light cloud and a gentle breeze, likely temperatures of 10º/17º and ~12 mph winds so please ensure you have your favourite hot & or cold liquids, appropriate  clothing & footwear and a packed lunch if you are up for the day – you all know that on the day, it may feel colder than it really is.

If you have any issues that you may wish to discuss prior to Sunday, please do not hesitate to email (on either address) or text / phone me on 07961107860.

For those of you that have not already done so, please could you let me know if you intend to join us on the day.  

I look forward to seeing you in the Crompton Moor Car Park at 10.30 on Sunday. Thank you.

Kindest Regards – Edward John Fulton (aka Ed / Eddie). Countryside Volunteer Ranger, (Mob) 07961 107860 [Calls may be recorded], (Text) 07961 107860, (Fax)  01706 61813 (E)  edward@edwardjohnfulton.uk , (E) edward.fulton@btinternet.uk

Warm Shaw welcome for new Waxxy Warehouse

Shaw councillor Howard Sykes MBE has offered the latest new business in Shaw a ‘warm welcome’ and his best wishes for its success.

Demilee Morgan, a Shaw resident, has taken possession of the former fancy dress shop at 2 Market Street and will soon be reopening the premises as a bespoke manufacturer and retailer of candles, Waxxy Warehouse Ltd.

“This new shop will be great for Shaw”, said councillor Sykes. “Shoppers want to see more than the usual suspects on their high street and this kind of business – artisan, independent and local – is exactly what I would like to see in our town centre.  If Shaw can offer something unique it will attract more visitors from further afield to shop and make our local economy more vibrant.  This is why I am also campaigning for a monthly farmers’ and artisan producers’ market for Shaw.”

The new business has received support from the Enterprising You team funded by  Oldham Council, with access to personalised advice, such as help with marketing and securing suitable premises at an affordable price.  Enterprising You also offers access to over 200 online courses and ongoing advice to aspiring local entrepreneurs on their business develops.  Their website is https://www.enterprising-you.co.uk/

Councillor Sykes added:  “I was very glad to hear that Demilee was able to access help from the Enterprising You team and hope that other Shaw residents will want to do the same.  This is the second exciting original new business we have seen launched in Shaw in the last few weeks, hot on the heels of Tapas bar Vida Viva.  I do hope we see many more.”

https://www.thewaxxywarehouse.co.uk/

Community approach can benefit survivors in Oldham

After the Independent Inquiry into Child Sex Abuse (IICSA) produced its latest report, local Liberal Democrat Councillor Sam Al-Hamdani has called on the Council to put its recommendations – and lessons from around the country – into practice in Oldham.

One example is the Quetzal Project in Leicester, which provides free counselling for women recovering from the trauma of childhood sexual abuse. They have been running an outreach project to allow women in isolated communities to access counselling, particularly from South Asian backgrounds.

Sam said: “What the Quetzal Project has done really well is reach out to people and communities, not wait for people to come to them. They found the right people in the community, that survivors would trust, and gave them the help they needed to ensure that people got counselling, got support. Those people are now speaking out so that other survivors know that they can get help.

The latest report from IICSA, into ethnic minority survivors of child sexual abuse, looked at many different communities, and made a series of recommendations including reaching out into the community to overcome the trust issues that many people have with formal support organisations.

Having got an agreement from the Council to implement IICSA’s recommendations into their approaches, Councillor Al-Hamdani has written to the Council’s chief executive, Carolyn Wilkins, to ask how the latest findings will be taken on board, and to recommend the Quetzal model as a way of helping isolated survivors.

Sam continued: “While the report was focused on ethnic minorities, many of the recommendations are valid for all communities and people. No matter what community you are from, you are an individual with the same fears and uncertainties as anyone else. What we need to do is break down the barriers that stop people from getting the help they need, whether that is economic, cultural or personal.”

Notes: Videos from the Quetzal Project, with individuals’ stories of how they were helped, are available at their YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPtMhlB2jeL2_NWsbO2Q-xw

The IICSA report Engagement with support services for ethnic minority communities is available at https://www.iicsa.org.uk/key-documents/26008/view/engagement-report-ethnic-minority-communities-29-april-2021.pdf