Oldham’s swipe at ID card plan

Oldham Council reports

THE Government’s controversial ID card scheme was given a slating across the political spectrum.

Only four Labour councillors voted against a Lib-Dem motion for the council to reject the scheme with everyone else in support.

It states the cards will do nothing to prevent terrorism, crime or fraud with disadvantages far outweighing any benefits to Oldhamers.

Liberal Democrat Councillor Mark Alcock, who proposed the motion, said the Government’s record of losing data meant it couldn’t be trusted to keep personal details safe.

He said: “These expensive and intrusive plans should be ditched now. The vast amount of money would be far better spent on something that will actually fight crime and terrorism.”

Only 3,500 out of 2.5 million Greater Manchester residents had registered an interest in having an ID card.

The council would have to spend thousands on scanners to read the cards. Councillor Keith Pendlebury said the cost could reach £18 billion, adding: “This system, if implemented, will lead to a surveillance state par excellence.”

Tory Councillor Paul Martin said ID cards will cost billions but won’t do anything to make us safer. Labour Councillor Joy Wrigglesworth said she opposed the cards on the grounds of civil liberties and costs.

Labour leader Councillor Jim McMahon agreed and said the case for tackling terrorism and crime had not been convincingly made. He allowed Labour councillors a free vote.


Three-year delay is road safety ‘disgrace’

Parents and children who were promised a school safety zone and 20mph speed limit in Delph in 2007, should get one — albeit three years late.

Saddleworth Parish Councillor Ken Hulme raised the issue at public question time. He said Delph Primary School was on a busy road and the safety zone had been promised in 2007 and 2008.

But Cabinet member for the environment and infrastructure, Councillor Mark Alcock, explained that the plans were revised in the light of public consultations. They are now in the 2009/10 minor works programme, to be carried out in the current financial year.

After the meeting, Councillor Hulme said: “The three-year delay and the failure to review road safety issues are utterly disgraceful.”

Councillor Hulme also complained about delays in “snagging” issues and the new priority system for traffic using the refurbished Delph bridge, particularly the poor state of roadside drainage in the centre of the village.

But Councillor Alcock said officers had held meetings with ward councillors from Oldham Council, discussing road safety, traffic management and the new road priority scheme, which means traffic has to give way on the narrow bridge.

They could arrange another meeting with ward and parish councillors and residents, if necessary. Electronic data is also being collected about the road surface and road structure, for any remedial work.

Rail cuts blast

COUNCILLORS are hoping Government plans to short-change Oldham’s rail provision hits the buffers.

Councillor Knowles gained unanimous support in his motion to condemn the Government’s decision to cut £8m a year in support to rail services in Greater Manchester from October.

He also condemned the 40 per cent cut from 182 to 106 new railway carriages on the Government’s order for the Northern Rail Franchise.

On top of a reversal of the plans, the council wants the Government to retain the five Oldham loop-line trains in Greater Manchester after the Oldham loop-line is closed to ease overcrowding on routes through Mills Hill and Greenfield.

The council is now calling on Oldham’s MPs to seek an urgent meeting with transport ministers to thrash out the issue.


Library costs debate

Savings made by closing Broadway Library in Chadderton are almost the same as the cost of opening Gallery Oldham and the central library on Sundays, Councillor Dave Hibbert claimed last night.

The Chadderton South Ward Councillor said the £108,000 cost per year was £2,077 per Sunday. And one of the reasons for the additional opening was because visitors to the borough asked for it, he said, according to a report.

“Do the people of Oldham want that?” he asked.

“They have withdrawn from Broadway Library to widen services in the centre of Oldham.”

But Cabinet member for adult and community services, Councillor John McCann, said: “The Gallery is a family affair. This is to bring families back into Oldham by opening on Sunday.”


Flowers row

THE row over Oldham’s North-West in Bloom entry keeps on growing. Councillor Jackie Stanton said: "We want the town centre to be able to compete with other towns.” Labour leader Jim McMahon said: "Residents want potholes filled in and bollards put in and they’re being told there is no money."