Oldham Levelling Up Partnership Meeting

Today, I met with the Levelling Up minister to discuss the Levelling Up Partnership proposed for Oldham.

I’ve always approached working with government over the past 14 years with pragmatism and though I don’t shy away from highlighting where I feel we are being let down, I have a responsibility to secure the best possible deal for Oldham, Chadderton and Royton.

We discussed the schemes proposed by Oldham Council in and around the town centre, and the gathering of community voices and groups to develop plans across the constituency, including Chadderton and Royton.

Housing is a key driver for much of the development, ensuring brownfield first is realised by gap funding developments which may not otherwise be financially viable, and bringing forward infrastructure.

There are huge pressures on those wanting to get onto the housing ladder, or who may want to downsize, and there are 7,500 families on the housing waiting list. Of these 500 children are currently in temporary accommodation with whole families sharing single rooms.

In addition, I asked that partnership is used to support the urgent need to address crime and specifically organised criminal exploitation and the carrying of weapons.

I am keen to see a new police station with fully operational custody cells, ample parking, and ideally a centre for justice which includes a court room so that end to end justice can be delivered in the borough. The current building is well beyond its life, and the custody cells have been closed for too long with prisoners being transferred to Ashton or as far as Wigan for processing, and we know since the closure of the magistrates’ court and county court that there are no court cases held here.

Separately I raised the need for much better coordination across government, and that funding which is allocated is properly tested to ensure it is used to promote community integration across Oldham; through social, education, housing, work, and shared spaces. I believe that the focus on community cohesion needs to be sharper, especially as I witness division being stoked too regularly, and segregation at risk of becoming more deep-rooted.

I also raised transport connectivity and the need for better cross borough routes, in particular ones which join key employment sites together. I’ve raised before the orbital tram which would connect to the Bury line via Middleton, connecting through to Oldham Westwood, then from Oldham Mumps to Ashton.

These ideas take a long time to come to anything, but they need planning early to rule in or out what’s possible and could carry public support.

Finally, I used the opportunity to mention the funding application for AVRO FC and its community partners at Whitebank Road, and I sincerely hope this comes to fruition through the Community Ownership Fund.

I want to thank Oldham Council for the significant amount of work they have been doing to meet an extremely tight timetable to present schemes and a plan to government.

The three significant schemes in the headline bid include Northern Roots Learning centre for vocational education, Oldham Gateway, and Green Shoots enterprise centre.

Coppice Primary Academy visit to Parliament

It was a pleasure to join pupils from Coppice Primary School at the Education Centre in Parliament.

The programme for the day covered how laws are made, where power sits; and the role of government, parliament, the monarchy, and the judiciary.

During the Q&A we talked about a wide range of issues close to home such as green spaces and the environment (Coppice Primary created a lovely eco garden on disused land), to international issues and the conflict in Gaza which clearly had made an impact, where we talked about the impact on civilians.

The school do a great job of investing in pupils and they had an impressive programme in London planned, I hope everyone enjoyed it.

Conflict in Gaza – Statement

The conflict in Gaza has been an issue of significant concern to constituents in Oldham West and Royton.

News that the offensive into Rafah is underway will be a humanitarian disaster. With millions displaced the small area is now refuge to 1.5m civilians including 600,000 innocent children.

Labour’s ceasefire motion in February firmly stated its opposition to an offensive into Rafah, and I spoke at the time about the risk to children and other innocent lives. It was one of a number of contributions in the House of Commons I’ve made which focuses on the impact of innocent civilians, especially children who have done nothing to deserve the horror they are facing.

The government minister seemed to object to my observation about the different value given to a Palestinian child. It’s time to prove all innocent lives are equal.

I fail to see how any further loss of life will achieve the objective Israel set out especially the substantive call for the release of hostages.

The full text of that motion is below, and you can view the video of my Oral Question in February here:

https://pempclip.blob.core.windows.net/clip/ukparliament/parliamentlive/20240508124046/House_of_Commons_21_02_24_14_48_22.mp4?sv=2021-10-04&se=2024-05-09T12%3A40%3A46Z&sr=b&sp=r&sig=PsjmszeevYMaLOOMIX%2BX6%2ByV4kBbNxVK3y7Y2ttW%2FVE%3D

  • That this House believes that an Israeli ground offensive in Rafah risks catastrophic humanitarian consequences and therefore must not take place;
  • notes the intolerable loss of Palestinian life, the majority being women and children;
  • condemns the terrorism of Hamas who continue to hold hostages;
  • supports Australia, Canada and New Zealand’s calls for Hamas to release and return all hostages and for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, which means an immediate stop to the fighting and a ceasefire that lasts and is observed by all sides, noting that Israel cannot be expected to cease fighting if Hamas continues with violence and that Israelis have the right to the assurance that the horror of 7th October cannot happen again;
  • therefore supports diplomatic mediation efforts to achieve a lasting ceasefire;
  • demands that rapid and unimpeded humanitarian relief is provided in Gaza;
  • demands an end to settlement expansion and violence;
  • urges Israel to comply with the International Court of Justice’s provisional measures;
  • calls for the UN Security Council to be meet urgently;
  • and urges all international partners to work together to establish a diplomatic process to deliver the peace of a two-state solution, with a safe and secure Israel alongside a viable Palestinian state, including working with international partners to recognise a Palestinian state as a contribution to rather than outcome of that process, because statehood is the inalienable right of the Palestinian people and not in the gift of any neighbour.

Oldham Council Election 2024

The count has finished and I wanted to thank all voters who came out to support Labour candidates across Chadderton, Oldham and Royton.

I’m incredibly proud of the positive campaign run across the constituency, and the decency and solid hard-work shown by our members and supporters.

For the successful candidates my heartfelt congratulations to

🌹Eddie Moores (Chadderton North)

🌹Elaine Taylor (Chadderton Central)

🌹Holly Harrison (Chadderton South)

🌹Naseem Aslam (Hollinwood)

🌹Umar Nasheen (Medlock Vale)

To those who weren’t elected my appreciation for all you’ve done

🌹Steve Bashforth (Royton South)

🌹Clint Phythian (Royton North)

🌹Ruji Surjan (Coldhurst)

The council has shifted from a slim majority to Labour remaining the largest party by some margin with 27 seats as the council moves to no overall control, with some gains from previously held Tory and Independent seats.

The campaign, as it has been a feature of local politics for half a decade, was too often continuing the unacceptable pattern of extreme, misleading and divisive politics which has come from the dark shadows into the mainstream.

This is certainly the case with Oldham Conservatives who have become now routinely mired in controversy, including in the national press as its candidate was found to have been a member of the far-right party the BNP. But they were certainly not alone and more will be said at an appropriate time on this.

But as much as it’s important to call out poor behaviour, it’s also important to say that many candidates from opposing parties conducted themselves with dignity and respect for the democratic process, and that deserves recognition too.

I know it takes a lot to put yourself forward in the current political climate.

Finally thank you to all the polling staff, police and security who worked hard to ensure our democracy can function well.

You can view the full election results here: https://www.oldham.gov.uk/localelectionresults24

Chadderton Town Board Meeting

Today, the first Chadderton Town Board met to discuss the proposal to develop a ten year investment plan for the area, with some funding provided to bring together the submission to government.

On announcement of the funding, I wrote to government to ask that Royton was also included but I’m afraid it didn’t transpire in the final list of towns which followed.

There may be scepticism about the fund and whether it translates into any meaningful investment, but I am keen to ensure as the town’s MP with a standing place on the board, that I do all I can to make it a success.

I believe we have huge potential and many great heritage and cultural assets which with investment could really stand out; Foxdenton Hall is an obvious one. But it also gives us the opportunity to ensure that every part is considered from Busk to Butler Green. Healds Green to Hollinwood Avenue.

You never know we might even get a proposal for the tram extension through Westwood to Middleton, or maybe settle for sorting out the traffic at Costco! Whatever the outcome it is essential local people have their say.

Congratulations – and thank you – to Laura Windsor-Welsh who has taken on the role as Chair, and to all the officers and partners who gave time to it.

As things develop community consultation and real engagement will follow, and its membership expanded to ensure it fully represents the township.

(We held the meeting in the ballroom at Chadderton Town Hall, which is a wonderful community asset and a credit to the town).

Oldham Coliseum pop-up venue visit

This evening the Oldham Coliseum Theatre opened the Roundabout, a pop up venue outside the QE Hall for the arts with a strong community focus, including a week-long festival for anyone wanting to get into theatre called Cultivate.

Thanks to the organisers for the invitation, and to the performers who put on a great show.

You can find out more here https://www.coliseum.org.uk/…/announcing-our-spring…/

Save Oldham Coliseum Event

It was a pleasure to attend the screening of a film produced by the Save Oldham Coliseum group in support of the much loved theatre.

The group have worked hard to ensure the town doesn’t lose the theatre, and explicitly that it should stay at its historic home on Fairbottom Street.

Over a number of months meetings have been taking place with the council, members of the group, and the current theatre board to bring together all interested parties to find a common ground.

It was a significant moment to take part in a walk around at Fairbottom Street in February where the sense of history was very deeply felt. It was sad to see it stripped bare with seating removed and almost everything else taken out, but it was obvious too that the building had more to give.

The gathering heard from Cllr Arooj Shah who spoke passionately about her commitment to reflect in the council the wishes of the people of Oldham, and that she doesn’t want to rule out a return to its historic home, but that it must go hand in hand with a secure and stable future. That was extremely well received by the group and it shows the council are listening and are willing to work in cooperation with the community.

There are many things to consider in comparing a redevelopment of Fairbottom Street against a new build on Union Street in a renewed ‘Old Post Office’ building, and the operating model, financing and governance which then supports it.

The work of Save Oldham Coliseum should be welcomed, as should the openness of the council, and the willingness of the other funding partners to consider all options.

I have been a long-standing supporter of a new theatre and centre for the arts in Oldham, and the funding provided during my tenure as leader of the council to resolve the building issues at Fairbottom Street a decade ago was to allow a new project to develop without losing the producing theatre in the process.

For various reasons of cost and the loss of significant Arts Council funding the new project had been adapted to its current proposal, but in doing so it has been scaled back and resulted in a reduction in seats, meaning the annual pantomime would need to be held elsewhere, which is the main connection many have with it. It also meant the loss of the ‘fly tower’ meaning narrower production options.

It is right therefore that a pause is taken to consider this against a redeveloped Fairbottom Street site which would retain 500 seats, the flytower and of course allow the historic home to be secured for the future too.

Coupled with a plan for Yorkshire Street and support for businesses it could grow the benefit further.

When put alongside the investment already seen in the Old Town Hall and new focus on the stunning Egyptian Room, new market hall and wider heritage buildings there is a lot to be positive about whatever the outcome of this.

Labour’s plan to fix our railways

The railways have been allowed to be run into the ground with passengers paying the price. Its high time they were brought back into public ownership and run the national interest.

Anyone who uses trains in England will know they are expensive, unreliable and not up to standard after a decade of underinvestment. It’s not that the Tories are against national government owning our railways; providing it is the German, Spanish or Japanese who have long owned our important national infrastructure. It’s time to put British taxpayers first.

The plans would see routes brought back into public ownership once contracts expire over the next five years, resulting in an annual saving of £1.5bn which can be reinvested to bring the system up to scratch.

Devolution will be central to the plans with Mayors and combined authorities given extra power to improve services, stations and create single ticketing across buses, trams and trains.