Oldham Liberal Democrat Leader surprised at deficiencies in the collection of pothole data

The Leader of the Opposition and of the Liberal Democrat Group, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, has been surprised to discover that Oldham Council officers do not record the number of potholes that are reported, nor the number of potholes that are repaired.

Councillor Sykes has written to Helen Lockwood, Deputy Chief Executive – People at Place at Oldham to ask why?

Commenting, Councillor Sykes said: “This information was disclosed in answer to a Freedom of Information request.  I am very surprised that we do not collect this data as surely we need it to determine how effective our road repair work is?”

“Last November (2018), the Oldham Liberal Democrat Group brought a motion to the Council meeting seeking a commitment to the Council to repair potholes posing a hazard to drivers, cyclists and pedestrians, including those of less than 40mm depth.  Although Labour watered this down to a more generic commitment, with no guarantee that these ‘surface erosion’ potholes would also be repaired, there was cross-party support that a pothole or eroded surface posing a public danger would be repaired as quickly as possible.”

“So how can we be sure that all hazardous potholes are promptly repaired when we record neither the number of potholes that are reported by the public, nor the number of potholes that are subsequently repaired? I am looking forward to receiving Ms. Lockwood’s reply.”

Liberal Democrats support Dogs Trust Clean-up Campaign on Valentine’s Day

The Liberal Democrat Group on Oldham Council is supporting a Dogs Trust campaign called ‘A Tail of True Love’.  The leading animal welfare charity launches this campaign every year on Valentine’s Day (14 February) to encourage dog owners who love their pets to clean up after them.

Since being elected in 2015, Liberal Democrat Councillor Chris Gloster has, like his Liberal Democrat colleagues in Shaw and Crompton, found dog fouling to be the bane of his life in elected office.

Commenting Councillor Gloster said: “Ward Councillors receive regular complaints about dog fouling.  It is both an eye-sore and a health hazard, and it has a real impact on the quality of life of many of my constituents.  Most dog owners are very responsible, and clean up after their pets, but unfortunately a few do not.”

With his Liberal Democrat ward colleagues, Councillor Gloster has been active in working to place more signs about dog fouling around Shaw to help enforcement.  He is therefore delighted to be to endorse this campaign:

“The aims of this campaign are quite simple, to encourage the many responsible dog owners to continue what they are doing and to make the irresponsible minority think again about their behaviour.  Not only is it anti-social but it is also criminal attracting a fine of up to £1,000.”

“All dog owners should take out bags to collect poop and they should dispose of it safely in a public litter bin or take it home. Otherwise the consequences could include a child being blinded by Toxocariasis after coming into contact with uncollected dog poo.”

Councillor Gloster was speaking at Dunwood Park, where local ward councillors and the Council’s District team have been working with parks department staff, the Friends of Dunwood Park and the local community to raise public awareness of the importance of owners cleaning up after their dog.  This has included children at local schools designing innovative posters to bring the message home.

At the forthcoming Council meeting in March to discuss the 2019/20 budget, the Liberal Democrats are proposing an amendment which includes a commitment to create a new Environment Task Force charged with tackling, amongst other things dog waste.

Councillor Gloster added: “I really hope that Councillors from all parties will back this proposal.  Such an Environment Task Force will have an extra £500,000 with which to tackle fly-tipping and dog fouling through enforcement, new innovative public education campaigns to change the behaviour of irresponsible individuals and the use of new technology, such as Poovers, which literally hoover up dog mess, and a real-time online tracking application to enable the public to report instances of fly tipping, dog fouling and offenders.  Similar applications exist elsewhere, for example the Poo Watch scheme operated in Worcester which my colleague, Councillor Howard Sykes, suggested Oldham Council look at many months ago.”

First Bus sale a chance to create a First-Class Bus Service, says Oldham Liberal Democrat Leader

The Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, has responded to recent reports in the national and transport press that First Bus Group has put its Manchester operation up for sale.  Councillor Sykes also represents Oldham Council on the Transport for Greater Manchester committee.

According to Passenger Transport, in 2012/13 the division had a £101 million turnover and made £3.5 million profit.  However, by 2017/18 revenues had fallen to £86m, and the Manchester operation made a loss of £5.8m.  National media reports suggest the business could be sold for as little as £20 million with vehicles sold to one or more competing operators, along with depots at Bolton, Bury and Oldham.

Commenting, Councillor Sykes said:  “The consistent feedback received from my constituents, who are reliant on First Bus services, is often poor.  First Bus fares are high compared to some other transport operators, such as Manchester Community Transport and Metrolink.  First Bus services are also often unreliable compared to these same operators, particularly after 6pm.  The 59-bus ‘service’ which runs from Manchester to Rushcroft through my ward is a case in point.  It is a service in name only as the bus often fails to show or is significantly behind schedule.”

Councillor Sykes added:  “First Bus have not yet confirmed if they are putting the Manchester business up for sale, but, if they are, it is real pity that local authorities were denied the chance to establish new bus companies under the recent Bus Services Act as this would have provided an ideal opportunity to bring back an Oldham Corporation bus company.”

“However, the Greater Manchester Mayor and Transport for Greater Manchester should work to ensure that the purchaser, or purchasers, who take on these services are committed to providing a first-class service for bus passengers, which is customer-focused, reliable, safe and affordable, and provides continuity of employment for First Manchester drivers and staff.”