Hope you can
join me this Bank Holiday Sunday, with plenty to do.
The current
weather forecast for Sunday is sunny intervals and a gentle breeze,
likely temperatures of 19º/16º and 6 mph winds; cold liquids, appropriate
clothing & footwear and a packed lunch if you are up for the day
appear to be order of the day, as it is intended that we will be on the lower
part of the moor
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, so that I can organise the appropriate material /
transport for the day with the Council.
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
Councillor Howard Sykes MBE challenges local tram operator to create fully functioning tram turn-back facilities. These would be at Westwood and Oldham Mumps. The Liberal Democrat Leader on Oldham Borough Council told Transport for Greater Manchester (TFGM) that by motorising the existing points and modifying the signalling system they would create a safer travel network for residents. The overall aim is to utilise the resources the network currently has, in full.
There have been several incidents
recently where Oldham Town Centre Metrolink tracks have been blocked. Passengers have had to leave the trams at
Freehold Tram Stop for trams coming from Manchester, and Derker Tram Stop for
trams coming from Rochdale.
There have also been cases when
trams have been damaged by vandals and the travelling public have been ‘thrown
off’ in places they are unfamiliar with and the alternative transport options
are less than clear.
Councillor Sykes MBE highlights the
problem of not using these unused tramlines:
“When a tram is blocked or damage
it has to drop everyone off at the next stop. This is inconvenient, uncertain and unsafe for
continuing the rest of the journey. Abandoning the travelling public, including
single women and other vulnerable people, in an area they do not know is awful
and we can and must do better.”
“There are evident safety and safeguarding issues already. The infrastructure is already in place and this would be a cost-effective way of making tram travel on the Oldham line safer. I am surprised Metrolink and TfGM have not already thought of this and actioned it!”
Copy of letter:
15 August 2019
Bob Morris, Chief Operating Officer,
Dear Bob Morris,
Re: Unused tramlines could make the network safer
I am sure you are very aware there have been several
incidents recently where Oldham Town Centre Metrolink tracks have been blocked.
Transport for Greater Manchester
Passengers have had to
leave the trams at Freehold Tram Stop for trams coming from Manchester, and
Derker Tram Stop for trams coming from Rochdale.
These stops are
inconvenient, uncertain and unsafe for continuing the rest of the journey by
bus. There is infrastructure to turn the trams at Westwood and Oldham Mumps but
the crossovers are not authorised for passenger use.
If the crossovers were
modified for passenger use, passengers could leave the trams at Westwood and
Oldham Mumps which are more convenient for Oldham Town Centre and local buses
in the event of blockages of Oldham Town Centre Metrolink tracks.
This council therefore
calls on Transport for Greater Manchester to create fully functioning trams
turnback facilities at Westwood and Oldham Mumps by motorising the points and
modifying the signalling system. This would make for a safer travel network for
residents and utilise the resources we currently have in full. This would
require minimum investment since the lines are already there.
If there is an issue
on the Tram and passengers, especially very young or old passengers, must be
dropped off at the next stop late at night without knowing how to finish their
journey, there are evident safeguarding issues.
I look forward to receiving your
response as soon as possible.
Liberal Democrat Councillor
Howard Sykes MBE has backed the need for a safer tram network. The focus is on creating safer journeys for
residents. The presence of a conductor would
mean that passengers will be ensured safer travel and that fare dodgers will be
caught and deterred. This common-sense
solution and has been applied successfully elsewhere, in Sheffield and
Birmingham.
Councillor Sykes MBE
has asked what progress has been made to introduce conductors to the Oldham
Borough local tram network. This follows
a Liberal Democrat suggestion at the July 2019 Council meeting, where the
council agreed this was a good idea and the way forward.
Councillor Sykes
states: “There has been a long history
of anti-social behavior on the trams and people fare dodging, especially on our
tram line. It’s double standards for
some, and residents are getting fed up.”
At the July 2019
council meeting, the Liberal Democrats asked for an update on what discussions
have taken place since the Council resolved to support this course of action.
Now Councillor Sykes
MBE, the leader of the Opposition on Oldham Council wants more clarity on the
issue and a definitive time scale of the action being taken. E
Copy of letter:
22 July 2019
Carolyn Wilkins OBE, Chief Executive, Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council
Dear Dr Wilkinson,
Re: Safety on trams
I am sure you are very aware of the Liberal Democrat focus on creating safer journeys for residents using our much loved and highly used TFGM trams especially those using the network from the Shaw & Crompton stop.
I am
writing to you to ask what progress has been made to introduce conductors to
our local tram network since Oldham Council, following a Liberal Democrat
suggestion, agreed this was a good idea and the way forward.
A
conductors’ presence means that passengers will be able to travel more safely
and that fare dodgers will be caught and deterred increasing revenue. I am sure you will agree that this is a
common-sense solution and has been applied successfully elsewhere – in
Sheffield and Birmingham, for example.
There
has been a long history of anti-social behavior on the trams and people fare
dodging, especially on our tram line.
At
the July 2019 council meeting, Councillor Hazel Gloster asked for an update on
what discussions have taken place since the Council resolved to support this course
of action.
We
asked the relevant cabinet member to inform the Council of progress on this
matter.
Now
I ask you what is being done and if you or other officers have had a meeting
with Transport for Greater Manchester on this issue. The offer of a meeting was reported to
Council some time ago as being offered.
Has this been taken up, and if so what was the outcome? If not, why not?
I
look forward to receiving your response as soon as possible.
