Rochdale report shows need for GMP investigation

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) must be formally investigated over the horrific failings that have taken place in multiple boroughs around child sex abuse, following the publication of the third report by Malcolm Newsam and Gary Ridgway into failings across the area, say Oldham Liberal Democrats.

The disturbing details in the report show that the consistent failures that GMP were guilty of, recurred in different boroughs and with different teams.

Deputy leader of the Oldham Liberal Democrats, councillor Sam Al-Hamdani said: “My heart goes out to the people identified in this report who were failed time and again.

“While this report, and the two previous ones, have identified the failings, the authors do not have the power to take action against the police and other authorities, and this must be corrected.

“There should be a formal, independent investigation of GMP which has the power to take action against the organisation, or any guilty individuals. The Government owes this to the people of Greater Manchester.”

This was emphasised by the question asked at the last meeting of Oldham Council, where in response to a question from the Liberal Democrats Howard Sykes MBE, Council leader Arooj Shah revealed that she was unaware of whether action had been taken against any members of staff involved in the cases investigated in Oldham.

Councillor Al-Hamdani continued: “It is vital that we have clear, simple and effective ways for people to report cases and know that they will be acted upon.

“However, many people don’t want to have to relive these cases, or are not ready to report them, and for them it is vital that we have counselling support available – which is why the services in Oldham provided by Keeping Our Girls Safe [KOGS] are so important, as well as other services across Greater Manchester.

“Action must be taken against GMP, and other local authorities, in a way which minimises the impact and stress on those women who have had to relive such traumatic experiences already.”

Overnight closures – Oldham Way

Oldham Way will be closed in both directions from 8pm to 5am on Tuesday 16 and Wednesday 17 January so Waterloo Bridge can be dejacked and lowered back into position.

The closure will be in place from King Street roundabout to Prince Street.

Please use alternative routes.

Urgent review of ‘Places for Everyone’ green belt use needed following government U-turn say Oldham Liberal Democrats 

Oldham Liberal Democrats have called for an urgent review of all green belt sites which have been earmarked for development under Greater Manchester’s controversial ‘Places for Everyone’ housing strategy. 

Leader of Oldham Council’s Liberal Democrat Opposition Group councillor Howard Sykes MBE said, “Time after time, Oldham’s Labour leadership have told people that they had no choice but to build on our local green spaces.  That it was the government that was forcing councils like Oldham to do so.  Following the government’s U-turn, it is clear that an urgent review of the land used for ‘Places for Everyone’ is needed.” 

The government has stated that there will be a “relaxation of housing targets” for local councils in England.  Shortly, Housing ministers are expected to announce that the government will allow authorities to allocate less land to future development if local officials can argue that more development would damage the character of an area or require building on green belt land.

A public consultation on ‘Places for Everyone’ concluded on December 6^th and final recommendations are expected to be put before Oldham Council later this year. 

Councillor Sykes said, “Developing our green spaces will do nothing to solve the housing crisis except hand a blank cheque to developers.  With no new investment in our roads, no new school places for our children and no new health facilities to support our communities, these proposals are not good enough for Oldham.”

“So far, the only Greater Manchester council to free itself from ‘Places for Everyone’ and protect its’ local green belt has been Liberal Democrat controlled Stockport Council.”

“We want to see Oldham follow that example and withdraw from this unwanted scheme.”

More from Oldham Liberal Democrats on Places for Everyone

Search Results for “Places for Everyone” – Howard Sykes (mycouncillor.org.uk)

Saturday 27 January 24 – 9:30am – 10:00am.

You are invited and welcome to attend.

Crompton War Memorial, High Street, Shaw.

What to do with your tree after Christmas and New Year

Once you have taken your tree down you can recycle it by putting it in your green bin. Just chop it into small pieces, remove the wooden block from the base of the tree as this is too big to be composted, and take off any lights and decorations.

Alternatively, you can take it to Arkwright Street Household Waste and Recycling Centre, which is open 7 days a week from 8am until 6pm. or leave it at one of our collection points in the following parks until January 31:

• Higher Memorial Park (car park), Joseph Street, Failsworth (open 7.30am until dusk)

• Royton Park (car park) off Bleasdale Street, Royton. (Open 7.30am until dusk)

• Werneth Park (car park) off Frederick Street, Werneth (open 7.30am until dusk)

• Churchill Playing Fields (car park), Wellington Road, Greenfield. Anytime access.

• George Street Playing Fields (car park), off Milnrow Road, Shaw. Anytime access.

For all your waste and recycling information – including what goes in which bin and collection dates visit www.oldham.gov.uk/waste

Pop along for advice, help or to discuss any issue or matter with your local Liberal Democrat councillors.

Shaw and Crompton Advice Surgeries (no appointment necessary) held on the following Thursdays at Shaw Lifelong Learning Centre – 7:30pm to 8:30pm.

January: 4, 11, 18, 25.

Diane Williamson is a Tough Cookie

A local Councillor is learning to walk again after being bed-ridden for over two months in The Royal Oldham Hospital. Cllr Diane Williamson who has represented Crompton ward since 2012, on Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council said:

“In 2018 I spent two weeks in hospital battling Sepsis at which time the NHS was celebrating its 70th birthday, five years later I find myself in hospital when it is the 75^th anniversary year. My illness was again Sepsis, an infection in my heart, eyes and hearing. In addition to that I hit my head in a fall and broke my right elbow.

I am on the mend and with the help of my family and Liberal Democrat colleagues, it will soon be 100% business as usual. I would like to thank the staff of The Royal Oldham Hospital for looking after me.”

Shaw ward colleague and friend Councillor Hazel Gloster said “Diane wasn’t happy about not being able to respond to residents’ queries – but she did get updates from me and her colleagues. Her poor health did not stop her talking about Shaw and Crompton related issues” – Hazel concluded “Diane is a tough cookie; she has really been through it. I am so glad she is out of hospital”

“My fight is now not with my health but with getting the best deal for the residents in High Crompton, Shaw and Royton,” said Diane.