Springwood/Lodge Lane Delph- state of the road
Posted May 18, 2012 * Comments(0)

There has been an issue for quite some time about Springwood estate. I have been liaising with the highways department on this one and I am sure that you agree that some work really does need to take place.
I raised concerns over possible subsidence on Lodge Lane and Springwood as well as a huge array of defects on the road.
I am told by highways that they found no subsidence but acknowledge high kerbs-this is apparently to allow for future resurfacing. The drains should now have been cleared and am told a team will carry out some work on the highways next week
I am sure that this will not fix all the issues on the estate. There clearly needs to be some further work done. This is now due to be referred to the Asset team for consideration for refurbishment to be included in future substantive maintenance schemes.
The road is in a sorry state people have had damaged cars and even fallen. I don’t think much has been done on this road for decades I will be doing all I can to keep this problem on the agenda and push for improvements on the highway.

Lib Dem Pupil Premium – A Message from Nick Clegg
Wednesday, May 16th, 2012 by aldcadmin
For me, nothing better illustrates the Liberal Democrat mission to make Britain a fairer place than our Pupil Premium: extra money for the most disadvantaged children in our schools.

We are letting schools decide the best way to spend this money.  I want to strike a deal with our schools and teachers: we’ll give you the cash, the freedom, and we’ll reward and celebrate your success.  But in return, we want you to redouble your efforts to close the gap between your poorer pupils and everyone else.  We won’t be telling you what to do; but we will be watching what you achieve.

(Click picture to play video)

It is shameful that, despite all the promise on a four or five year old’s first day at school, or the passion of their teachers, you can all too often plot that child’s path just by asking how much their parents earn.

The £2.5billion Pupil Premium was one of the four pledges on the front page of our manifesto.  And now, with Liberal Democrats in government, schools are using the money for things like breakfast clubs; homework clubs; or to provide one-to-one-tuition. These are the sort of experiences many middle class children take for granted but a poorer child might rarely enjoy.

Yesterday I visited a fantastic primary school to see how they are spending their Pupil Premium, highlight our new Summer Schools to ease the transition from primary to secondary, and to set out our plans to reward teachers and hold schools to account.

The Pupil Premium shows that, in tough times, we are implementing Liberal Democrat values and prioritising help for those pupils who need it most.

Best wishes,

Nick Clegg MP

Leader of the Liberal Democrats and Deputy Prime Minister

PS Click here to find out how much money your local school will receive from the Liberal Democrats’ Pupil Premium.

Police Report
Posted May 13, 2012 * Comments(0)

MAY 2012 update

CRIME

JAN

FEB

March

April

 

 

BURGLARY

(Of homes)

6

1

2

3

 

 

BURGLARY OTHER

(Shed, Garage, Business)

2

1

3

4

 

 

THEFT FROM A VEHICLE

1

1

0

1

 

 

THEFT OF A MOTOR VEHICLE

1

2

1

1

 

 

CRIMINAL DAMAGE

4

1

6

3

 

 

ROBBERY

1

0

0

0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Burglaries x 3

Ammons Way, Delph – front door was kicked in, offenders x 2 made of in a green Nissan micra .

Hudderfield Road , Denshaw – mole grips used to snap lock on front door .

Ainley Wood Delph – entry gained through rear door

Burglary Other x 4

Wharf Mill , Diggle – Offenders attempted to gain entry through a concertina garage door

Denshaw – Padlock broken from a roller shutter door on a farm and a stihl saw stolen

Bailey Mill , Delph – quantity of stone stolen from mill . 2 x males arrested.

Boat Lane , Diggle – quad bike stolen from stables

Vehicle crime x 1

Huddersfield Rd, Scouthead – smashed window , nothing stolen

Huddersfield Road, Scouthead – theft of motor vehicle

 Criminal Damage x 3

 Oldham Road,Denshaw – vehicle damaged

Holcombe Close, Springhead – downstairs window damaged by unknowm implement.

Hillside Avenue, Diggle – domestic incident

Anti Social Behaviour

Diggle still continues to be a hotspot for ASB, we are also receiving reports of youth causing annoyance to local residents on Denshaw Rd ,Delph and on and around Church Street in Delph

Other  News

There has been an increase in damage to and thefts from vehicles in the Springhead, Lees, Grotton area. Please do not leave any valuables on display and ensure that your vehicles are locked as some of the thefts were due to insecurities.

My election comment
Posted May 13, 2012 * Comments(0)

I am delighted to be elected to represent Saddleworth North on Oldham Council and wish to thank all those who voted in the recent elections. My aim at Oldham will be to fight to get a fair deal for our area and get decisions about Saddleworth made in Saddleworth. I hope to work closely with all parts of the community, to listen to people’s concerns and do all in my power to get things changed for the better. I am already addressing a number of issues brought to me by residents and I looking forward to doing much more in the coming years. If you have any problems or issues then please get in contact and I will try to help. For those of you who are unsure on my contact details

Home Address: 14 Woods Lane, Dobcross, OL3 5AN
Tel: 01457 875 267
Email: garth.harkness@gmail.com

Please do not hesitate to get in contact with any issues. I look forward to serving you both on the parish and on the borough councils
 Garth

Be Clear on Cancer – National Lung Cancer Awareness Campaign
Wednesday, May 9th, 2012 by aldcadmin

This week, Paul Burstow (Liberal Democrat minister at the Department of Health) has launched a national £4 million lung cancer awareness campaign. The campaign, the first of its kind, will use TV, radio and press adverts, and advertising on pharmacist bags and inside GP surgeries, to raise awareness of the disease.

One of its aims is to persuade anyone who has had a cough for more than three weeks to see their doctor.

You can find more information about coughing and lung cancer at the Department of Health website, here: http://www.dh.gov.uk/health/2012/05/coughing-could-be-a-sign-of-lung-cancer-2/

With 33,000 new cases diagnosed each year, lung cancer is a blight on the lives of far too many of our families and an early diagnosis can make all the difference. Please take the opportunity of the Be Clear on Cancer campaign to find out more about prevention and diagnosis, and to visit your local doctor if you’ve had a persistent cough – it is always better to be safe than sorry!

http://www.dh.gov.uk/health/tag/be-clear-on-cancer/

Election 2012
Posted May 4, 2012 * Comments(0)

Garth Harkness (Lib) 898

Nicola Kirkham ( Ind ) 842

Phil Sewell (Con) 535

Imran Yousaf (Lab) 445

(Turnout 35.87 per cent)

Val Sedgwick has won for the Liberal Democrats in Saddleworth West and Lees  by 220 votes

Sharon McGladdery is elected to Saddleworth Parish Council to represent Delph and Denshaw Ward A Lib Dem gain

John Hudson has taken Saddleworth South for the Conservatives

Thank you to everyone for the support and being so nice when I have been round talking to people

Meet me and Sharon Tuesday 1st May Delph Methodist at 8pm
Posted May 1, 2012 * Comments(0)

I am trying to meet as many people as I can before Thursday’s election. I have already spoken to lots of people and it is great that people have been so nice. Come down and meet me along with Sharon and the Lib Dem councillors. If you have any questions, casework or just want a chat then it will be great to meet you. There should be some coffee too!

Kind Regards

Garth

Vote for fairness for Saddleworth on Thursday 3rd May
Posted April 28, 2012 * Comments(0)

Saddleworth is a special place and each village has it’s own distinct identity. Our rural communities have different priorities to Oldham. An example of this is Saddleworth swimming pool and leisure centre. The profits from the centre are currently funding other grandiose schemes. 

 We need a strong Liberal Democrat presence to fight for fairness and push for more decisions to be made locally. I will stand up for Saddleworth and ensure we are fighting Labour to get fairness for our communities.

 The parish council is evolving and equipping itself to take on more powers from Oldham. People like myself,who understand the problems faced by our villages can make more of the decisions that effect us.

 We know that when Labour run the council we lose out here in Saddleworth as we see projects priorities changed, resources reallocated or whatever they want to call it the fact is that we lose out. When the Lib Dems ran the council they got the finances sorted and began to tackle our highways problem.  When I found out that the Labour administration were abandoning major repair projects in Saddleworth to fund pet  projects elsewhere I felt let down. It is outrageous that twice as much is being invested in Chadderton and nearly five times more is being invested in Oldham West for local projects than Saddleworth. 

It is a battle between Labour and the Liberal Democrats. Voting Conservatives just helps Labour. Please vote Liberal Democrat-the only alternative to Labour.

 A strong Lib Dems team are the only ones capable of fighting Labour and get fairness for Saddleworth. There is every chance that there could be no Conservatives left on the borough council. The Lib Dems have a good team who work together and put pressure on as a group in the right places and this can make a difference. I believe in fairness and am asking for your vote on 3rd May so that we can take the fight to Labour and get a fair deal for Saddleworth.

I want Saddleworth to be treated properly by Oldham and not be brushed aside. We are starved of funds in Saddleworh. I know that Saddleworth is very different than Oldham and needs to be managed differently. We need a strong Liberal Democrat presence to push for more from the borough and for more decisions to be made locally. Lib Dems believe in fairness and that is why I am standing as a Liberal Democrat

The Labour representatives have done nothing to fight for improvements in Saddleworth

I want better roads, better health provisions such as getting the diabetic service back and I want to see a new facility in Delph. I want to see better Ambulance provision

Remember a vote for anyone else is endorsing Labour.  Please help me achieve my ambition to represent you on the borough

 

No Lib Dem Council Has Raised Council Tax – Tim Farron
Tuesday, April 17th, 2012 by aldcadmin

Official reports have confirmed that no Liberal Democrat-run council in England has increased council tax for their residents. This is unlike both other major parties, many of which are increasing council tax by up to 3.5% this year.

Commenting on Labour and Conservative councils’ record on Council Tax, Liberal Democrat Party President, Tim Farron said:

“While Labour and the Tories fight over how many of their councils raised Council Tax, it’s clear that with the Liberal Democrats your money is safest: no Liberal Democrat-run council in England has raised Council Tax.

“Ordinary working families are struggling already with paying bills, without their councils increasing the burden.

“The choice in next month’s elections is clear: vote Liberal Democrat for financially responsible councils that create jobs. Vote Labour and the Tories for waste, mismanagement and tax rises.”

As well as freezing council tax across the country, Liberal Democrat councils are protecting front-line services, fighting to keep libraries and Sure Start centres open. This is in addition to the achievements of the Liberal Democrats in government, which after the Budget include a £130 income tax cut for all working families, the largest-ever rise in the basic state pension, an increase in child tax credits for the poorest families, and an increase in the Lib Dem Pupil Premium to £600 for every pupil receiving Free School Meals.

At every level of government, the Liberal Democrats are cutting taxes for low- and middle-earners and better targeting help to those that need it the most. It is a record of financial responsibility of which we can be proud.


My election video can be viewed on You tube now
Posted April 15, 2012 * Comments(0)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0vHYBiT26I&feature=plcp&context=C49d959bVDvjVQa1PpcFOCov_hXXzt2hFuWTobs4ZGof2PFKAUy6E%3D

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