![](https://howardsykes.mycouncillor.org.uk/files/2023/05/May_2023_Dunwood_Park-1-1024x576.jpg)
Funded by your Shaw & Crompton Liberal Democrat councillors.
Oldham Liberal Democrat Leader and member of Greater Manchester Transport Committee councillor Howard Sykes MBE said, “With rail services and infrastructure in the North of England in the worst state in decades, any investment from the Government is welcome news. But forgive me for not breaking out the bunting.”
“This £72 million is just a drop in the ocean compared to the £20 billion being spent on London’s Crossrail project. The government is dropping London’s spare change in the Greater Manchester’s bucket whilst quietly cutting plans for two new platforms at Piccadilly, which are desperately needed.”
“What Greater Manchester and the rest of the North really needs, is ambitious and sustained investment in its rail systems and not just a Government which delays and cuts major projects and only offers scraps in return.”
Fresh from local election results which saw the largest group of Liberal Democrat councillors elected to Oldham Council since 2015, Liberal Democrat Group Leader, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, has today announced his Real Opposition team for 2023/24.
Councillor Howard Sykes said: “I am proud to be leading the Liberal Democrat Group and to be at the head of a team that is growing year by year and is holding the Council and Labour to account. This year we celebrate two new members of our team, councillor Helen Bishop for Saddleworth South, who will be covering Education and councillor Garth Harkness of Saddleworth North who will lead on Housing and Licensing.”
“Trust in politics is at an all-time low. The London soap-opera politics from Conservative politicians playing ‘pass the leadership’ is a distraction that does absolutely nothing for the people we represent here in Oldham. What matters is quality local services, local schools, and hospitals, safeguarding our places of natural beauty, as well as roads, footpaths, and green spaces.”
“At the local elections, people saw fit to deal the Labour administration a hammer blow. Labour have consistently failed to get the basics right. But under my leadership, the Liberal Democrats have consistently been proven right on the big local issues that matter.”
“On failed town centre regeneration schemes like Prince’s Gate. On Labour’s wasteful spending on defunct Clean Air Zone signs. On new health facilities for Shaw and Crompton. On Cost-of-Living support for our most vulnerable. The Liberal Democrats are always first with the ideas that will move Oldham Borough forward.”
“We now have 10 seats on the Council, our largest group since 2015. Each Liberal Democrat councillor is a strong local champion who will never take the support from their community for granted. We are ready to serve our communities and stand up to an increasingly tired Labour administration which is running out of road.”
Details of the appointments follow:
Group Leader: Councillor Howard Sykes MBE
Deputy Group Leader: Councillor Sam Al-Hamdani
Group Chair: Councillor Louie Hamblett
Group Secretary: Councillor Diane Williamson
Group Treasurer: Councillor Hazel Gloster
Group Political Secretary: Councillor Mark Kenyon
Liberal Democrat Spokespeople 2023/24:
Reform and Regeneration: Councillor Howard Sykes
Finance & Corporate Resources: Councillor Sam Al-Hamdani
Children and Young People: Councillor Hazel Gloster
Health and Social Care: Councillor Louie Hamblett
Education and Skills: Councillor Helen Bishop
Neighbourhoods: Councillor Dave Murphy
Housing and Licensing: Councillor Garth Harkness
Communities and Culture: Councillor Alicia Marland
Business, Employment and Enterprise: Councillor Mark Kenyon
Liberal Democrat Lead Members on Boards and Committees
Spokespersons in bold
Name of Councillor(s) | Board / Committee |
Helen Bishop, Louie Hamblett & Mark Kenyon | Licensing Committee |
Sam Al-Hamdani & Howard Sykes | Audit Committee |
Hazel Gloster & Garth Harkness | Planning Committee |
Diane Williamson | Standards Committee |
Sam Al-Hamdani | Employment Committee |
Sam Al-Hamdani | Governance, Strategy and Resources Scrutiny Board |
Helen Bishop | Children, Young People and Families Scrutiny Board |
Louie Hamblett | Adults Social Care and Health Scrutiny Board |
Diane Williamson | Place, Economic Growth and Environmental Scrutiny Board |
Dave Murphy | Traffic Regulation Panel (TRO) |
Helen Bishop | Commons Registration Committee |
Alicia Marland | Charitable Trust Committee |
Liberal Democrat District Leads:
Name of Councillor | District |
Diane Williamson | North Deputy District Lead and Lib Dem Spokesperson |
Sam Al-Hamdani | East Deputy District Lead and Lib Dem Spokesperson |
New bin for Crompton Moor
Or perhaps I should say, following some considerable effort, we now have a bin near the viewing and notice board area just like there used to be previously.
With this and the other bins now aready in the area, including the one empted by the Friends of Crompton Moor, there really is no excuse to litter or not clean up after dogs (which most people do already).
Very pleased to have helped get this ‘new bin’.
An important communication from your Ward Councillors Hazel Gloster and Howard Sykes regarding a planning application affecting the Clough area of Shaw.
Dear Resident,
We have been informed that the Lilac View Close, Clough, Shaw, Planning Application will be heard at the Shaw and Crompton Parish Council Planning Committee on the 13th June 2023 at 6.00pm.
It is important to note that the Parish Council are only a statutory consultee in the overall planning process however, the committee’s recommendations will form part of the final report to be presented to Oldham Council’s Planning Committee at a date in the future.
The planning application number is FUL/350791/23 and can be viewed online at www.oldham.gov.uk and navigate to the Planning Portal where the full application can be viewed. Online comments with regards to this application have now closed, but residents are still able to comment by emailing or writing to the planning department quoting the above reference number.
Members of the public attending the meeting can comment, speak in support or objection of an application during the ‘Open Forum’ segment of the meeting, but not during the councils’ deliberations later. However, they may be asked to provide clarity on details of the application during the Parish Council deliberations, at the invitation of the person Chairing the meeting.
The meeting will commence at 6pm on Tuesday 13 June at:
The Parish Council Offices, 1 Kershaw Street East, Shaw, Oldham OL2 8AB.
If you require any clarification of details or specific access requirements, please contact the Clerk to the Council on 01706 847590
With Kindest Regards
Cllr Hazel Gloster Cllr Howard Sykes
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Oldham’s Liberal Democrat Leader councillor Howard Sykes MBE has slammed UK water companies including United Utilities – who are the North West’s provider – after “years of sewage scandal”. United Utilities contributed to an apology statement issued by Water UK on May 18.
Councillor Sykes said, “Apologies won’t do anything to improve the quality of our waterways. This statement is meaningless without proper reform of water companies, who have spent years destroying our waterways and putting public health at risk.”
Liberal Democrats have called for an overhaul of UK water companies and an end to bonus for bosses presiding over sewage dumping practices.
Councillor Sykes said, “It’s a disgrace that the government has continually allowed water company bosses to profit from polluting our waterways. Now that United Utilities have taken some responsibility for this environmental catastrophe, will the Conservative government step up? Or will they continue to vote to block reform of water companies, as they have consistently done over recent years?”
NOTES
Full Water UK statement here: Water and sewage companies in England apologise for sewage spills and launch massive transformation programme | Water UK
Oldham Liberal Democrats “Save Our Rivers” campaign: Save Our Rivers: Liberal Democrats call for Sewage Tax on river polluters – Howard Sykes (mycouncillor.org.uk)