Labour uses the net to reconnect

LABOUR councillors have swapped doorsteps for the internet as they return to grassroots campaigning to protect youth centres.

The Labour Group, which lost control of Oldham Council in May, has launched a page on the Facebook website. Its latest petition, to save youth centres from closure, is also accessible on-line, and it has launched its own website www.oldhamlabour.org.uk 

The group is also campaigning against the closure of High Barn resource centre in Royton, and against the closure of Broadway and Stoneleigh libraries.

Group leader Councillor Jim McMahon agreed that under Labour there were proposals for changes to day centres, but added: “What we did was to create a more intensive day care centre and community cafe at the Ena Hughes Centre. We were not talking about closing it.

“The library review is officer-led and some suggestions will never see the light of day.

“But we were never going to close Broadway Library. We only wanted to move it into a near-by health facility.

“Our Facebook page has only been up since Friday and already 90 people have joined. And a lot of them are youngsters who use the youth centres.

“We are re-establishing Oldham’s Labour Party as the group which champions residents. When you are in control of the council for a long time you get further away from the people you represent and we are getting back to where we want to be.”