Liberal Democrat Group Leader, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, has today announced his Real Opposition team for 2021/22.  The Liberal Democrat Group has also elected its officers.

Councillor Howard Sykes said: “I am looking forward to once more leading the Liberal Democrat Group on Oldham Council.  I am especially pleased that the Group is being joined by Mark Kenyon who joins Councillor Sam Al-Hamdani representing Saddleworth West and Lees. I  know that Mark will really help make a difference.”

“The Liberal Democrats remain the only group holding Labour to account on Oldham Council, and we shall continue to take that responsibility seriously,” added councillor Sykes.  “Voters can rest assured that the Oldham Liberal Democrats will continue to oppose Labour’s waste at the Civic Centre and their indulgent spending on vanity projects, such as £68 million on ‘Spendles’, to direct more of our residents’ hard-earned Council Tax money into the front-line services that most matter to people, such as street cleaning, parks maintenance, road repairs, social care and alike.”

“The Liberal Democrats will also be fighting for better facilities and an improved retail and leisure offer in our district centres, and new health centres for Shaw and Crompton, Saddleworth and Chadderton.  We shall continue to be opposed to Green Belt development, Labour’s ‘Places for Everyone’ plan and the Royton incinerator.”

“These are our priorities because they are the people’s priorities,” he added.

Details of the appointments follow:

Group Officers:

Councillor Howard Sykes MBE – Group Leader

Councillor Chris Gloster – Deputy Group Leader

Councillor Dave Murphy – Group Chair

Councillor Diane Williamson – Group Secretary

Councillor Hazel Gloster – Group Treasurer

Councillor Louie Hamblett – Group Political Secretary

Shadow Cabinet Members:

Economic and Social Reform – HOWARD SYKES MBE

Corporate Services – HOWARD SYKES MBE

Finance and Low Carbon – CHRIS GLOSTER

Housing – SAM AL-HAMDANI

Health and Social Care – LOUIE HAMBLETT

Education and Skills – HAZEL GLOSTER

Children and Young People – DIANE WILLIAMSON

Employment and Enterprise – MARK KENYON

Neighbourhoods – DAVE MURPHY

Official Spokespersons / Lead Members on Boards and Committees:

Chris Gloster – Audit Committee, Licensing Committee, Traffic Regulation Order Panel.

Hazel Gloster – Planning Committee.

Louie Hamblett – Health Scrutiny.

Mark Kenyon – Performance Overview and Scrutiny.

Diane Williamson – Policy Overview and Scrutiny, Standards Board.

District Leads:

Diane Williamson – Chair, Shaw and Crompton.

Sam Al-Hamdani – Official Spokesperson, Saddleworth and Lees.

These works have now been re programmed to the 9th of June from the original date of 20 May.

Shaw Liberal Democrat Councillors were delighted to hear that their campaign for a bus shelter on Eastway has finally paid off after many years.

Transport for Greater Manchester has announced that they will be installing the new shelter outside 2/2A Eastway on Wednesday 21 May, just in time for this Thursday’s Market Day.

Councillor Howard Sykes MBE said:  “Ever since buses have been diverted along Eastway, local Liberal Democrat Councillors have been asking for a covered bus shelter on both sides of the road.  Now we will have one and we shall be renewing our calls for the creation of a second one on the ASDA side of Eastway.  This has been delayed because ASDA has yet to agree to release some land as the pavement is too narrow to accommodate it.”

“It is very off-putting waiting with your shopping for a bus in the rain, but at least with a shelter you do not have to get wet,” added Councillor Sykes. “I hope ASDA agree soon because their own customers will benefit from it as well as others using the town centre.”

In response to repeated representations by Shaw Liberal Democrat Councillors, a makeover of the Crompton Baths site has been promised by Council officers before the end of this month.

Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, newly re-elected to represent Shaw Ward, said:  “The baths site is just a disgrace and there has also been fly-tipping on adjoining land behind the new Pound Bargains shop.”

“Having an eyesore in the heart of our town centre does nothing to attract shoppers or businesses to our high street, and it is clearly an irritant as my Liberal Democrat colleagues and I have relayed plenty of complaints from our constituents to council officers, and repeated called for some urgent action.”

Councillor Sykes has now received the promise that the area will be strimmed, and litter picked and that a fresh overseed of wildflower mix will be sown by the end of May.  Potential enforcement action has also been scheduled to tackle fly-tipping on the adjoining private land.

“I am glad that some action will now finally be taken as it just needs sorting,” added Councillor Sykes, “But the long-term solution would be to use this land as part of the location of a new modern health centre for the people of Shaw and Crompton, something which local Liberal Democrat Councillors have been campaigning for over many years and a campaign that we shall continue until we succeed.”

Hope you can join me for our event next Sunday the 23rd, our task being the removal of the overgrowth to drainage facilities on the access, as well as some car park maintenance; this has been moved forward with everyone’s agreement to avoid the Bank Holiday weekend.

The current BBC weather forecast for Sunday is light rain showers and a gentle breeze, likely temperatures of 10º/12º (Could Be Warmer!) and ~9/10 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 – 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

Oldham Liberal Democrats are backing an international call to the world’s policy makers to make 20 mph / 30 kph the default speed limit on the UK’s residential streets.  The campaign is being called to mark UN Road Safety Week (17-23 May).

Signing the open letter of support calling on Britain’s Transport Secretary Grant Shapps MP to acknowledge that 20 mph is plenty on Britain’s residential streets, Leader of the Real Opposition and Liberal Democrat Group, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE said:

“The Liberal Democrats have twice now brought proposals before Oldham Council asking for action to create 20mph zones to save lives in our borough.  I sincerely hope the Labour Administration will now finally take action to make it so.”

“But I am today writing to the Transport Secretary at the start of UN Road Safety Week asking him to follow the lead shown by other countries in also making 20mph the default speed limit across the United Kingdom.”

Councillor Sykes added:  “For the evidence is overwhelming that speed kills and that many lives would be saved and injuries spared, particularly amongst our children and the elderly, if we just slowed down and reduced our speed limits from 30mph to 20mph on our minor roads.”

Come and try your hand at another day of dry-stone walling.  This is the perfect opportunity to have a go, and learn how to take down and re-build a dry-stone wall within the beautiful setting of Crompton Moor.  

No experience is necessary, and all tools, protective eyewear, and materials will be provided. 

Please dress, according to the weather, and you will require stout outdoor footwear and work gloves.  Please bring a packed lunch and something to drink.

We will meet in Brushes Clough car park, on Crompton Moor, for a 10:00 am start.

If you have any questions, please let us know by

email –cromptonmoor@gmail.com, or you can call us on 07792 156295. 

Shaw and a Crompton Liberal Democrat councillors have requested an urgent meeting with the regional representatives of the Royal British Legion after it was revealed that the Shaw and Crompton Branch based on Newtown Street in Shaw has been closed down and the locks changed  without any explanation to members.

Councillor Chris Gloster said in a letter to the regional chair of the Royal British Legion 

“Can I ask that you facilitate a meeting with either yourself or the appropriate people with regards to current issues at Shaw and Crompton RBL Branch HQ.

We are aware that the premises have effectively been closed and that the locks have been changed without notice and we are getting a lot of enquiries from very disgruntled residents in relation to these actions.

Shaw and Crompton RBL HQ is an important community hub, and over the past two years, ourselves as borough councillors along with Shaw and Crompton Parish Councillors, numerous businesses and residents have invested a lot of time and money into rejuvenating these premises and doubling the membership (including myself) to ensure this branch remains viable.

I cannot emphasis enough the distress this has caused some individuals as well as the negative comments made with regards to the national RBL and this situation need to be resolved as quickly as possible 

The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the way forward.” 

Councillor Howard Sykes added: “the closure of the branch, particularly just before the 100th Anniversary weekend of the founding of the Royal British Legion will mean that external events that were planned to celebrate the Centenary have had to be cancelled. As local councillors we recognise the community value this branch brings to Shaw and Crompton  and we will do all we can to get it open again.”

For real time information: https://oldham.roadworks.org/

In addition to the staggering 80,000 unrecorded crimes, Greater Manchester Police have failed to report figures on unsolved crimes to the Home Office since July 2019.

Nearly a million crimes have gone unsolved across the country in the last five years – that 80,000 unrecorded crimes alone would take the figure well past a million.

Local Liberal Democrat Councillor Sam Al-Hamdani said: “We have just seen Andy Burnham returned as Greater Manchester Mayor, taking on the role of Police and Crime Commissioner, despite the police being placed into special measures on his watch.

“If we do not see a complete change in what is happening in Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham should not see out his term. It is residents across our Borough who are suffering as a consequence of these failures.

“Local police are not getting the support they need. That has happened for two reasons – unnecessary Tory cuts which have savaged the number of detectives, and failings in the senior management of Greater Manchester Police, which has resulted in the resignation of the Chief Constable; even though Mayor Andy Burnham has remained in place.

Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey said: “Having suffered the distress and trauma of being burgled, hundreds of thousands of victims are left without the closure they need and the justice they deserve.

“This Conservative Government is letting down victims and allowing far too many criminals to get away with it. Liberal Democrats will do what works to build communities where people are safe and feel safe too.”

Councillor Al-Hamdani added: “Oldham Police need the officers, resources and time to focus on preventing and solving crimes. A return to proper community policing, where officers are visible, trusted and known personally to local people, would go a long way. That needs the Government to change course, and get new detectives in place, and it needs the Labour administration in Greater Manchester to deliver what it has failed to do in Andy Burnham’s first term.”