Residents and community groups can now apply for funding to throw their own street parties as part of the wider celebrations for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in June.
With a host of events already lined up over the extended Bank Holiday, residents can also now apply for a community street party grant to support celebrations in their own neighbourhoods.
A total of 70 grants are available with each grant, worth £250, to be spent on food and drink, decorations and entertainment in support of their event.
Residents and community groups have until Monday 11 April to apply for funding, and they can do so by visiting www.oldham.gov.uk/streetparties.
Can I encourage people in Shaw and Crompton to apply.
Commonwealth Day 2022 will be celebrated on Monday 14 March 2022, with a service held at Westminster Abbey and a schedule of virtual events.
The theme for Commonwealth Day 2022 will centre around the theme for the forthcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting – ‘Delivering a Common Future‘ – which highlights how the 54 member countries in the Commonwealth family are ‘innovating, connecting and transforming’ to help achieve goals like fighting climate change, promoting good governance and boosting trade.
Given that 2022 is Her Majesty’s Jubilee Year, there will also be a special focus this year on the role service plays in the lives of people and communities across the Commonwealth.
Oldham Liberal Democrats are calling for rules on speed cameras to be changed to save lives. Current rules require at least three separate collisions involving deaths or serious injuries to have occurred before they are even considered.
“These rules are out of date and a straight jacket that prevents the installation of speed cameras in many areas and as a result accidents are not prevented and lives can be lost,” stated Crompton Liberal Democrat councillor Dave Murphy. “These regulations do not include non-injury incidents which it is estimated there are a 100 of for every injury or fatality meaning there could be 300 accidents before any action is considered. We think this is just not good enough.”
“Road fatality rates are on the increase,” said councillor Murphy. “This is why the rules need to be changed and we in the Liberal Democrats are proposing at the next Oldham Council meeting on the 16 March action to just do that.”
“It is also a scandal that only 40% of our existing speed cameras are actually working,” stated Liberal Democrat Leader councillor Howard Sykes who is seconding the proposal. “It will be at least 18 months and I bet longer before the cameras we have are up and working. I have raised this matter at Transport for Greater Manchester more than once. In the meantime speedsters get away with it and lives are put at risk.”
“Our proposal include writing to the Greater Manchester safety Partnership and the National Government to changes their rules and guidance. That any existing cameras are made operation as soon as possible. And in the interests of safety all residential streets are made 20mph,” stated councillor Murphy.
As you may be aware, the Government has now removed the legal direction requiring the 10 Greater Manchester Local Authorities to implement a Category C Clean Air Zone, and has issued a new direction which requires compliance in the shortest possible time and by no later than 2026.
This follows representations made to the government and that the previous plan was now unworkable on the basis of supply chain issues for compliant vehicles, particularly vans, and a shift in economic circumstances, including an increase in the cost of living and inflation.
The lifting of the direction now means that the planned launch of the charging GM-wide Clean Air Zone will no longer go ahead on May 30.
Officers from TfGM and councils will now review the implications of the new direction and the scope of the work to be undertaken between now and July.
The dramatic increase in fly tipping in specific hotspots across the Borough has resulted in a call for action by the Liberal Democrats on the Council, with a motion to the March meeting calling on the Council to show whether current measures are actually effective.
Shaw Councillor Hazel Gloster said: “This has got beyond a nuisance; there are criminal gangs who are taking advantage, in particular of the ‘grey market’ around house clearance, and it is local residents who are suffering.
“People from every part of the town suffer, and as these gangs look for isolated spots in which to tip the waste, it is often the most picturesque parts of the town that suffer.
“While the Council teams are very good at clearing fly-tipping once it is happened, we need to know that this is being stopped at source, both by successful prosecutions, and by information and education to make sure residents and businesses know what their rights and responsibilities are.”
As well as calling for an annual report that details the spending on all aspects of fly tipping, its causes and the effectiveness of the campaigns, it also calls on the Council to back changes to the legislation, making it easier to prosecute illegal tipping, and for money raised through prosecutions to go into cleaning up.
Saddleworth West and Lees Councillor Sam Al-Hamdani added: “At the moment, the fly tippers are taking advantage, and it is council tax payers who are picking up the bill. That needs to change, and the Council needs to demand that in response to the current national consultation on this.
“I want more powers to prosecute these gangs, and I want to make sure that they pick up as much of the bill for this as possible. Everyone in Oldham has seen the shameful mess that this causes, and they shouldn’t be forced to pick up the bill. Let’s make sure that the people who are causing it do.”
Following requests from residents it is proposed to prohibit waiting at all times on the east side of Smallbrook Road 55 metres north of Wrens Nest Avenue for 59 metres in a northerly direction.
Full details of the proposal are in the draft Order, which, together with a map and a statement of the Council’s reasons for proposing to make the Order may be examined between the hours of 8.40am and 5.00pm on Monday to Friday Civic Reception, telephone 0161 770 4836, Ref: LJM/20576
Any objection or representations regarding the proposal should be sent to the Environment Group Solicitor to the Council, Civic Centre, West Street, Oldham, OL1 1UL in writing, stating the title of the Order to which they relate and the grounds for making them by 21st March 2022. Any objections or representations will be made available for public inspection.
RE: Flood alleviation works -Dunwood Park and Smallbrook Road Debris screens
I am pleased to inform you of the appointment of Cheetham Hill Construction Ltd by the Environment Agency to undertake improvement works to the existing debris screen structures located off Smallbrook Road (Pencil Brook).
The works commenced on the 21st February 2022 and expected to last approx. 8 weeks.
In order to gain safe access during the construction phase, a road closure will be in place from the 7th March on Duchess Street. There will be no left turn access off Smallbrook Rd for all vehicles and pedestrians.
All vehicles including HGV’s will reroute via Cowie Street and turn right up Duchess Street to access the industrial estate and for residential access only. One way traffic will be suspended along Duchess Street.
Please be assured, suitable diversions will be put in place and clearly signed in agreement with OMBC.
Please refer to plan (see link below) for further details.
