Potholes, litter and fly-tipping focus for alternative budget

THE Liberal Democrats’ alternative budget for Oldham will get its first airing tonight, proposing action on potholes, litter and fly-tipping.

The Lib-Dems will unveil their “citizen-driven budget” at the Overview and Scrutiny Performance and Value for Money Select Committee.

They say it proposes a sharper focus on the priorities of local people, which they sum up as clean and safe streets.

The alternative budget to ruling Labour’s budget, which was announced last week, calls for extra environmental officers to tackle fly-tippers and litterers, extra street cleaners to reverse a “decline in cleanliness,” and a summer pothole blitz to fix holes before the winter turns them into craters.

The proposals also reverse Labour’s plans to put an end to Sunday opening at Oldham Library and Gallery Oldham.

Money to pay for the schemes would be released from a “tougher squeeze” on civic centre administrative costs.

Councillor Lynne Thompson, Lib-Dem finance spokeswoman, said Labour needs to listen to what people want.

“They aren’t asking for masterplans and frills, they want the basics right,” she said.

“At the moment, the council is not getting the basics right and it will cost the borough dear. Filth and potholes are as detrimental to business, investment and jobs as they are depressing for our citizens.”