“National embarrassment”: £15.6 billion pothole backlog across England. Oldham Liberal Democrat Leader councillor Howard Sykes MBE has branded roads in Oldham as a “national embarrassment” as he called on the government to bring forward the funds needed to clear the national road repair backlog.
Councillor Sykes said, “Oldham’s roads are in the worst condition for years. We’re spending a fraction of the money needed on repairs and naturally, things are getting worse.”
According to the National Audit Office (NAO) the growing backlog of road repairs stands at £15.6 billion. The NAO also highlighted that there are “significant gaps” in the Department for Transport’s knowledge about the state of our roads.
Councillor Sykes said, “Unless the government urgently brings forward the funding we need to get to grips with our roads, the cost of clearing the backlog will continue to rise and the state of our roads will continue to be a national embarrassment.”
Airport profiling under scrutiny after violent arrest.
In the aftermath of the violent arrest of a teenager at Manchester Airport, local Lib Dem councillor Sam Al-Hamdani has called for a review of the use of profiling at Manchester Airport.
He wrote to GM Mayor Andy Burnham, the Police and Crime Commissioner, and Arooj Shah, the leader of Oldham Council – which is a stakeholder in the airport – raising the repeated profiling of ethnic minority passengers, and the potential for this to create a culture of suspicion which could contribute to incidents like the one that took place on Tuesday night.
He said: “I have been profiled myself repeatedly when flying to the United States from Manchester Airport. This is purely because of my Iraqi heritage, even though I was born in the UK, am a British citizen, and have never even travelled to the Middle East.
“On one occasion, I and every other Arab and Asian-heritage passenger on a flight were announced over the tannoy before boarding in Manchester, and marched in front of all the other passengers for ‘additional security checks’. That could not have failed to scare all the other passengers, make them suspicious of us, and to have reinforced any prejudices that they might have.”
While the circumstances of the incident on Tuesday night are still being investigated, he called on politicians and shareholders to change these attitudes and practices to de-escalate tensions between police and passengers.
He added: “There clearly needs to be a thorough investigation into the events of Tuesday night. The anger that people are feeling is understandable.
“We all have a part to play in building trust back in our communities. People need to feel heard, and be heard. This is not just an isolated incident – there have been too many occasions on which the actions of police have broken the agreement that we have in the UK … policing by consent.
“Listening to people and investigating properly is the only way to change this. We owe it to passengers, to the many good police officers that there are, and to people and communities that do not feel listened to, and do not feel safe.”
The long established lunch club run by Age UK as a not for profit service is set to close in September 2024 after the Labour administration cut their funding.
As a result of spending cuts imposed in 2023, the Age UK lunch club is no longer able to continue and is set to close in September 2024. This is as a direct result of the Labour Administration’s budget cuts and despite two contract extensions, Age UK were unsuccessful in their recent Lottery Community Fund application of the much needed £50,000 shortfall that is needed to continue this service.
Liberal Democrat Councillor Marland confirmed “the closure of this luncheon club will affect 8 centres which currently operate across the borough including the clubs which meet at Shaw, Uppermill, Springhead, Chadderton, Royton and Failsworth. Hundreds of elderly and isolated residents attend the weekly lunch club and they will be directly affected by this closure. I am truly heartbroken for these elderly folk as for many it is their only opportunity to socialise or leave their home each week and enjoy a meal with others”. Councillor Marland and her colleagues have close ties to several of the luncheon clubs and many of those who attend the luncheon club have voiced their disappointment and sheer frustration that they will no longer be continuing.
As well as providing a 3 course meal and a friendly familiar face, the Age UK service includes transport from home to the venue and the ability to provide advice or referrals to onward support services that these elderly guests may need.
She added: “I am passionate about providing care and facilities for the elderly so I want to directly appeal to the people and businesses of Oldham and Saddleworth to ask if they can offer any financial assistance to Age UK to ensure that this vital service continues for these residents. Please can you make contact with me if you able to support or offer any source of funding that may be keep this service going”.
We have been asking for measures to be taken to tackle speeding traffic in the Grains Bar area for some years now. Some works have been done to create the pedestrian traffic island and to also improve safety to the pavement around the Toll House.
Despite repeated requests the area does not qualify for a speed camera, however, I am pleased to report there will shortly be two VAS (vehicle activated signs) placed as described in the pictures above which hopefully will have an impact on speeding traffic.
Meeting of Oldham Council’s Audit Committee cancelled as Labour members send apologies
Leader of Oldham Council’s Liberal Democrat Group councillor Howard Sykes MBE has criticised the ruling Labour Party after a meeting of the council’s Audit Committee was cancelled recently. The meeting – due to take place on Thursday 25th July – was cancelled due to the majority of councillors on the committee failing to show.
Councillor Sykes said, “Labour don’t seem to like attending meetings lately. There wasn’t even a football match to rush home for this time so I’m not sure what the latest excuse is.”
The committee was due to discuss Oldham’s financial position and internal audit practices, but Liberal Democrat members councillor Sykes and councillor Sam Al-Hamdani were the only members not to send apologies. It is now unlikely that it will reconvene until September.
Volunteer Drivers Service for the 50+ and any vulnerable adult.
This service is being expanded to Shaw and Crompton so get joined up now, also any volunteer drivers would also be welcome.
Residents will need to become a member in order to access these services.
Membership of the Volunteer Drivers Service costs just £20 for a calendar year.
To be a member, you must be:
• Aged 50+ / or vulnerable adult • Live in the borough of Rochdale, Shaw & Crompton • Be unable to use / find it difficult to use public transport
To register for the Volunteer Drivers Service, please call us on 0800 032 0868. We will discuss membership with you and if eligible to join the service, we will ask you for basic information such as your address, telephone number and emergency contact information. We are able to take payments for membership via credit or debit card over the phone.
Alternative payment options can be discussed when you call us to register.
Transport Service
The HMR Circle Volunteer Drivers Service (VDS) is an affordable transport service operating across Rochdale, Heywood, Middleton, Pennine Villages and Crompton/Shaw. It is a service for adults (aged 50+ / or vulnerable adults) who are unable, or find it difficult, to use public transport.
Volunteer Drivers use their own vehicles to provide a door-to-door, flexible, transport service. The passenger is picked up from their home and taken to their destination. Return journeys are also available. If requested, and where possible, a driver can wait with the passenger until they are ready to return home.
For each journey, a contribution is calculated at just 45p per mile – payable to the driver on the day, to reimburse the cost of petrol and to support the costs of insuring and maintaining their vehicles.
All Volunteer Drivers are DBS checked, and have all the necessary vehicle safety requirements and insurance in place – so you can rest assured that you’re in safe hands!
How to book
Journeys should be booked with as much notice as possible (at least 4 clear working days in advance). To book a journey as a Member, please call 0800 032 0868.
Our staff will take your journey details – please ensure you have the full address of the destination including postcode to hand.
If you’re travelling to a hospital or medical appointment, it is also handy for us to know which department / clinic you are visiting so that we can get you as close as possible to your destination – and so that we can get hold of you should we need to.
We will then look to find a local volunteer driver to cover your journey, and if successful, we will provide an estimated journey cost (calculated at 45p per mile, payable to the driver on the day). This may take our team a couple of days to coordinate, but rest assured, we will get back to you.
Land movement affecting the Metrolink network near Derker has slowed, enabling detailed ground investigations and temporary repair works to get underway.
To get trams running again, a small section of track must be moved back into its original position and overhead line poles need to be repaired.
Due to the complexity of the work, it is expected to take up to five weeks to complete but Transport for Greater Manchester is looking to accelerate repairs. Until this work has taken place, no trams will operate between Rochdale Town Centre and Oldham Mumps.
