Mobike, please come to Oldham, says Liberal Democrat Leader

The Leader of the Opposition and of the Liberal Democrat Group on Oldham Council, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, has welcomed recent news that the innovative Mobike bicycle sharing scheme has been introduced to Manchester and Salford, and has written to the company’s owners asking them to bring the scheme to Oldham too.

Councillor Sykes said: “Mobike is a bike-share scheme but it is different from the so-called Boris Bike scheme in London.  With a Mobike users create an online account and download a simple smartphone app to find and access a bike near to their location.  They then ride the bike, and park and lock the bike at the end of their journey.  However, unlike Boris Bikes there is no need to find a bicycle dock in which to place the bike; it can be parked and left in any public place that is safe and convenient.”

Users of the service pay a one-off registration fee, and then a small fee every time they use a bike based on the duration of their journey.  They are incentivised to act responsibly and within the rules, and penalised if they do not.

Councillor Sykes believes that Mobikes are one part of a whole transport solution to make our towns and cities greener and to reduce the number of short car journeys taken for work or personal business reducing traffic congestion.  “Mobikes provide people with the option of taking a bike to a business meeting or to go to the Library or attend a doctor’s appointment, rather than taking out the car or waiting for a bus. And they mean that you do not need to own a bike to do so, thus avoiding the need to purchase, maintain or store your own bike.”

Councillor Sykes has written to Mobike asking them to roll out the scheme to Oldham.

He added: “Oldham may have more hills than central Manchester, but I think there will still be a great deal of interest in this scheme from local people.  I hope that Mobike will soon be up and running in our Borough as a low-cost and green solution for short journeys for some people who cannot afford bus or taxi fares or run their own car.”

Northern rail services like the Stone Age compared to London services

The Leader of the Opposition and of the Liberal Democrat Group on Oldham Council, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, has criticised Transport Secretary, Chris Grayling MP, for agreeing to find another £30 billion to back the Crossrail 2 scheme to improve commuter links from London to the Home Counties when only last week the Conservative Government shelved plans for rail projects in the north of England.

Councillor Sykes said: “The future electrification of the Trans-Pennine North rail line, which stops at Greenfield Station, is now in jeopardy.  Under the Coalition Government, the then Chancellor announced plans in 2011 to electrify the route which runs between Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds and York with a planned completion date of 2018.”

“Immediately after the 2015 General Election, then Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin announced that the plans were being suspended, but after campaigning by MPs, the media and local rail groups he announced that the project completion would be put back a year to 2019.”

“Then when the rail franchises came up for renewal, potential operators were told not to expect electrification during ‘the lifetime of the franchise’.  This meant no electrification until at least 2023.”

“This is par for the course with this Government as the Great Western and Midland Main Line electrification schemes are also behind schedule and way over budget.  It seems that when it comes to this Government anything rail that doesn’t start in London is being short-changed.  What else can you expect when the Prime Minister represents Maidenhead and the Transport Secretary Epsom, both in the Home Counties?”

“I have nothing against Crossrail 2 but we need to have Trans-Pennine 1 funded and built first,” stated Councillor Sykes.   “What we currently have in terms of rolling stock and journey times is a stone age railway.  We should have a fair share of cash and investment then we can drag this route into the 21st Century.”

Latest (Fri 28 July) on getting Dunwood Park Tennis Courts and MUGA operational again

Just a quick update with regards the tennis courts at Dunwood park.

The line markers turned up to mark out the tennis courts in temporary white markings on Thursday 27/08/2017, unfortunately there were unable to place any marking down due to the weather.  They are booked to come back on Sunday 30/08/2017 but again this will be weather dependent.  All other works at the tennis courts have been completed apart from the Green painting of the courts which will be completed after the school holidays.

Duchess Street, Shaw – Pencil Brook Flood Alleviation works update:

Trent Road industrial park service road (off Duchess Street)

The progress of the drainage works on the access road off Duchess Street, we have uncovered cellars beneath the road construction. It is necessary that these cellars are filled to make the road safe for traffic. This will involve the removal of the existing carriageway construction above the cellars and filling/compaction with suitable material and the construction of a new carriageway at this location.

Whilst these works are undertaken it will be essential that the road is closed. An emergency traffic order will be implemented to facilitate this road closure.

During this closure period we will endeavour to provide access to properties on the lower part of the access road off Duchess Street but will not be able to provide vehicle access to the upper part of the street. As part of the traffic order no parking will be allowed on the access road off Duchess St.

Following completion of the filling works we will progress to resurface the access road and across Duchess Street under the same traffic order.

Due to the nature of these works, it is difficult to predict accurately how long these works will take but we anticipate the works as follows:

This work is programmed to commence on Wednesday 2nd August 2017 with a completion date of Friday 11th August.

Let’s Celebrate with Pride in Oldham

Let’s Celebrate with Pride in Oldham

The Leader of the Opposition and of the Liberal Democrat Group on Oldham Council, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, has called on people of all backgrounds to come together in the town centre on Saturday to celebrate with pride that we are a tolerant and inclusive Borough.

On Saturday, the LGBT community will be hosting the annual Oldham Pride event and all are welcome.

As Councillor Sykes explained: “The Liberal Democrats want to build a society that is open, tolerant and united. Liberal Democrat Councillors and party members are always proud to be part of the diverse and enthusiastic crowd at this annual celebration of freedom, love and acceptance – please look out for us in our new t-shirts.”

“The Oldham Pride event reminds us that we ought to celebrate love wherever we find it and defiantly oppose the forces of bigotry, hate and division.”

“This is an historic year and a historic date, as on 27 July 2017 we mark 50 years since the partial decriminalisation of homosexuality in the UK. I am pleased to say that Oldham Council, at my request, have agreed that to mark this auspicious and historic event the LGBT rainbow flag shall be flown proudly at the Civic Centre from tomorrow until Saturday.”

“Let us celebrate the progress made in the last half century – Liberal Democrats have much to celebrate as in Parliament our MPs have been pivotal in securing more LGBT rights, such as the introduction of same-sex marriage, which was championed by Liberal Democrat MP Lynne Featherstone. Let us also look forward to a future Britain where everyone is free to fall in love with whosoever they choose without being threatened with prejudice or prosecution.”

Latest on getting Dunwood Park Tennis Courts and MUGA operational again

Dunwood park Tennis courts

As many people will be aware these works have not been completed in the timescale planned.  I and other local councillors have been working behind the scenes to get this area usuable by our young people.

Undocumented services and drains under the area that had to be dealt with have led to the delay.

I am pleased to now report we have got a solution that gets them open for this weekend but will require a closure later in the year to correctly finish the works, details below.

The new Box culvert has now been installed and the old tennis courts surface removed and replaced with a new Binder /surface to specification for applications of multi – use Games areas (MUGAs)

The reinstatement to the boundary wall is continuing this week and will be completed by Friday 28/07/2017.

The painting and lining markings in accordance with ( LTA standard Courts) should not be completed until 6-8 weeks after the new surface has been laid, to allow the gases and fats from the bitumen to disperse and ensure good adhesion of the paint.

As an interim measure the courts will be marked out on Thursday 27th July 2017 (Weather permitting), these line will be sacrificial and re-painted after the school holidays and the 6-8 weeks have expired.

Liberal Democrat Leader disappointed Local Plan Consultation held over Summer Holidays

The Leader of the Opposition and of the Liberal Democrat Group on Oldham Council, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, has expressed his disappointment that Council officers have chosen to conduct a public consultation on the Oldham Local Plan during the school holidays.

The consultation started on 10 July and ends of 21 August.

Details of the local plan can be found at https://www.oldham.gov.uk/info/200585/local_plan

Responses can be submitted online at http://oldham-consult.limehouse.co.uk/portal/oc/planning/spi or emailed to spi@oldham.gov.uk or returned by post to

Strategic Planning and Information, Economy, Skills and Neighbourhoods, Room 310, Level 3, Civic Centre, West Street, Oldham OL1 1UH.

Councillor Sykes said: “The Oldham Local Plan may sound a dry document, but it is in fact the document that will underpin the delivery of new homes and new businesses in our Borough for years to come, and more importantly it will be the key document that will determine what happens locally under the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework.”

“Many residents of this Borough, particularly in Shaw, Crompton, Royton and Chadderton, are up in arms about the implications of the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework and they have held rallies at Tandle Hill Country Park and outside Manchester Town Hall in Albert Square to let it be known that they are opposed to development on our precious Green Belt.”

“Given the strength of local feeling, it is unacceptable to conduct a public consultation on an issue of such importance in the school holidays.  Many residents will be taking families away with them on holiday.  Responding to this consultation by the 21 August may be far from their minds, but if they feel strongly that they want to save their green belt I would urge them to take time to do so.”

Councillor Sykes and his Liberal Democrat colleagues in Shaw and Crompton remain vehemently opposed to plans to build almost 3,000 new homes in the two wards on surrounding Green Belt and other green land:

“Local residents are rightly up in arms, fearing that not only will the current plan mean that their precious Green Belt will be lost forever under a carpet of concrete, but also that the existing medical, school and leisure infrastructure, which is already severely stretched, will be completely swamped with the extra demand.”

The Liberal Democrats have a clear aspiration for future housing development in Greater Manchester.  Councillor Sykes explained: “Development should be on brownfield sites first, particularly sites with outstanding planning permission, coupled with mill and factory conversions to housing and a drive to bring existing empty homes back into occupancy, whenever this is practicable.  This view will form the basis of our response to the consultation.”

Old Boys Brigade Weekend – 30 Sept/1 Oct

In March this year we appealed  for memories from any Old Boys from the Oldham Boys Brigade companies and gave brief details regarding an event later in the year – Old boys contacted me from as far away as Kent, Malaga and Australia with their memories and I received some great stories.

The Boys’ Brigade  is the largest Christian uniformed youth organisation in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland. The Boys’ Brigade was founded in Glasgow, Scotland on 4th October 1883 by Sir William Alexander Smith, and celebrated its 125th anniversary in 2008. The original badge was an anchor and rope with the words Sure on the top bar and Stedfast on the bottom. Some years later The Boys’ Brigade amalgamated with the Boys’ Life Brigade and the red cross was added behind the anchor.

Maggie Hurley from Age UK Oldham is working alongside Barry Cooke Captain of the current South Chadderton Boys & Girls Brigade (one of only two companies left in Oldham now) organising a full weekend of Boys Brigade at George Street Chapel.

The event which will attract ‘old boys’ back to Oldham and those who never left , to catch up, reminisce and bring back some great memories along the way. The weekend event takes place on 30th Sept and 1st October at George Street Chapel. This great weekend will feature an exhibition of Oldham Boys Brigade Memorabilia, old film clips from company camps at Lyme Regis and Dawlish, and parades from 1950’s, Drill and drums and a celebration lunch on the Sunday with hopefully a parade with the current Oldham Boys & Girls Brigade.

Being a boys brigade member united local Oldham lads and now as men they still hold happy memories of the time they spent with their companies. I have received some fabulous memory’s and funny stories since my original appeal in March this year. Old Boys have contacted me from as far as Spain and Australia eager to share their wonderful reflections of their time with their Oldham Companies, it will be a great event and I am sure we will hear lots of other stories throughout the two days at George Street too.

Tickets are available from Maggie Hurley at Age UK Oldham 0161 633 0213 maggie.hurley@ageukoldham.org.uk

Saturday only ticket £5

Sat & Sunday weekend Ticket £7

Weekend Ticket to include Sunday meal £20