Local people named in King’s New Years Honours

Congratulations to all those recognised in the Kings New Years Honours.

To Chadderton’s Peter Fitzpatrick, Station Manager, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service who has been recognised with an MBE for services to Burn Victims.

And a BEM goes to The Reverend David Ireland, minister at the Union Street Methodist Church, and formerly Chief Executive, Francis House Children’s Hospice.

An MBE also goes to John Pickford, previously the News Editor In Chief, Bauer Media whose stations include Oldham’s Revolution Radio, for services to Broadcasting and Local News.

I’d also extend congratulations to Julia Heap, formally of Oldham Council and now Principal and Chief Executive Officer, Hopwood Hall College, who has been awarded an OBE for services to Further Education. I had the pleasure of catching up with Julia at a recent meeting of Greater Manchester college principals and her commitment to her students was clear, as was her affection for Oldham.

And to Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council who has done an outstanding job in our neighbouring council and in her role as Leader of the Local Government Association Labour Group.

And a belated congratulation’s to First Choice Homes Mark Gifford who received his OBE from The King last week at an investiture in Windsor Castle. Mark has given the housing association the boost it needed and we are seeing the benefits with more new homes being built and social focus back at the heart of its business.

A wonderful way to go into 2026!

Backing action to improve parking at Royal Oldham Hospital

You might have seen the recent campaign to secure additional car parking at the Royal Oldham Hospital. It is something I was keen to support alongside work we have been doing on car parking charges and enforcement.

Across Greater Manchester there is a postcode lottery on charges for staff, patients and visitors, with some paying significantly more to work, receive care, or to visit a loved one.

Securing additional car parking spaces is important and it must not fall to patients, visitors or staff to pay more for such a basic service.

Over the past few months I have tabled a number of Parliamentary Questions on parking income, costs and investment. The findings are interesting.

Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust, which operates four acute hospitals, reported total parking income last year of £5,918,971. This included £2,208,479 from patients and visitors and £1,245,693 from its staff. The Trust recorded £5,281,122 in operating costs for car parking, indicating a surplus of £637,849.

Within these figures, the Royal Oldham Hospital site provides 1,727 parking spaces, including 53 disabled bays.

Data submitted to the Government shows that the average fee charged at Royal Oldham is £1.00 per hour for patients and visitors. This compares to £0.66 per hour at Salford Royal, which is a larger acute hospital within the same Trust.

So even within the same Trust there are variations from one hospital site to another.

But so too is the experience of those using car parks. It is clear more spaces are needed on site, even with additional car parking secured nearby anyone who has used the site knows the walk up the incline at Sheepfoot Lane can be challenging with any mobility issues, but it is also unnecessary for the payment machines at the hospital only to accept coins (without change given) with only App payments and no contactless option.

If you’ve used the hospital you’ll know lighting isn’t very good at some car parks and so many users will understandably not want to take out their phone to register, pay and wait for confirmation in the evening or at night. That’s aside from the obvious rush and anxiety many will feel if a loved one has just been admitted to hospital. Investment in machines which allow contactless payment is overdue.

So it’s clear to me that a fundamental review is needed which starts at the experience of staff, patients and visitors using the car parks.

We are in discussions with the Trust, Major Eddy Hardaker (chair of the campaign) and Cllr Dr Zahid Chauhan OBE who initiated the call for action.

We are recruiting!

We are looking for a Constituency Caseworker to join my busy team based at Chadderton Town Hall. The post is fixed term for a four month period to cover the career sabbatical of an existing member of staff.

Because this is a fixed term position for a short period previous experience in a similar or transferable role will be essential.

We support around 8,000 personal casework and campaign lobbies from constituents each year, helping many people to get a fair deal from government departments and local public bodies, including housing, welfare, education, and health services to name just a few. Many cases are personal and often sensitive and so a high level of humility and compassion, as well as an attention to detail, good organisation and a professional manner is required.

We support all constituents regardless of how they voted, whether they voted or not, and without fear or favour to ensure everyone who needs it has access to appropriate support and guidance.

𝗥𝗼𝗹𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀:

– Assist surgeries and other meetings and follow up as appropriate.

– Deal with large numbers of standard queries, as well as assisting on more complex cases from members of the public by phone, email, social media, or face-to-face. Ongoing communication may be required.

– Gather relevant information to assist with resolving cases.

– Log all cases; monitor progress and ensure all identified actions are taken.

– Ensure records are kept and information managed confidentially in line with the data protection legislation.

– Draft responses to constituents.

– Critically analyse patterns of enquiries and articulate the findings in reports and communication with the MP and other staff members.

– Establish, monitor, and update a social media and online presence in the constituency. Produce online graphics and video content, as well as publicising surgeries and news alerts etc.

– Establish, monitor, and update a social media and online presence in the constituency. Produce online graphics and video content, as well as publicising surgeries and news alerts etc.

– Manage and monitor social media enquiries, dealing with cases that do not need to be transferred to a higher level. Ensure all enquiries are dealt with in a timely manner.

– Ensure that each case is dealt with promptly, sensitively, confidentially, and accurately in accordance with the MP.

– A working knowledge of IT including basic Microsoft packages including Word, Outlook, Excel and PowerPoint is essential, and training can be provided if needed on our specialist casework tracking and reporting system.

– A driving license would be an advantage as you will also support constituency-based events as required. Evenings and weekend working will be required in support of advice surgeries and public meetings on casework related issues.

𝗣𝗮𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗺𝘀:

The salary range is set by IPSA (Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority), and this position is in line with them.

All staff are auto enrolled into the Parliamentary Pension Scheme.

Upon appointment you will be required to apply for security clearance, undertaken by the Parliamentary Security Vetting and Pass Office.

To apply please send a brief covering letter outlining your experience and reasons for applying, together with your CV to jim.mcmahon.mp@parliament.uk no later than 5pm 30/01/26.

More information including role responsibilities can be found by visiting https://www.w4mpjobs.org/JobDetails.aspx?jobid=98157

You can view IPSA job groups by visiting https://www.ipsaonline.org.uk/guidance/pay-and-benefits….

Oldham Coliseum Theatre

It was great to visit the Oldham Coliseum Theatre at Fairbottom Street to see how works are progressing.

I joined Friends of Oldham Coliseum Julie Hesmondhalgh and Zoe Hodges alongside Cllr Arooj Shah and contractor Tilbury Douglas.

The sheer scale of works is significant and the repairs needed go deep into almost every aspect of the structure. It was odd to see parts of the building visitors would be familiar with bare and stripped back to the original structure.

There were a few interesting finds, one was what is believed to an original timber from the old 1885 wooden circus originally on Henshaw Street and relocated to Fairbottom Street two years later.

It was also the first time with the whole stage and fully tower exposed and seating removed to see just how vital the flytower is to the operation of the theatre.

And still very striking are the personal messages left on the walls of what was the corridor near dressing rooms, not all of which can be repeated (!) which show the strength of feeling and love for the Coli. Thankfully efforts to secure its future are coming together nicely.

Keep up the good work everyone.

Congratulations Cllr Dr Zahid Chauhan OBE

It was a pleasure to attend the Freeman of the Borough presentation for Cllr Dr Zahid Chauhan OBE today, and wonderful to see his children attend to experience the moment.

It’s a rare honour offered to few, and the first ceremony of its kind to be held in the new council chamber.

It was a bittersweet event without Zahid’s wife and former Mayoress Afsheen who sadly passed away in March 2024. She was very much in our thoughts today.

Royton Town Centre Proposals

It was encouraging to meet with Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) and Oldham Council to discuss the proposed changes to Royton Town Centre, in particular with regard to the guard railings.

The works are due to begin in January, but I have been clear since communication started on this issue in 2023 that the proposal to remove the railings were not right for Royton. Local residents have raised serious concerns throughout the consultation stages and although some changes have been made to include a shorter run of railings, they unfortunately don’t go far enough.

That is why we asked for this meeting. TfGM have agreed to take away the feedback and review the plans properly.

I am grateful to Oldham Council and to Council Leader Arooj Shah for supporting the meeting as we work towards a better proposal for Royton.

As a separate issue, I have asked that the ‘Owl’ bollards moulded especially for the Oldham Borough are retained within the scheme even if they are moved within the area. They’ve agreed to do this.

I will keep people updated as this work progresses.