Jim McMahon column - Sharpening the focus on community issues in Oldham

The weather may have cooled off over the last month, but the volume and focus of my work in Oldham hasn’t.

During August and September I took the opportunity of the Parliamentary recess (when Parliament closes for business over the summer and for political party conference season) to spend even more time than usual in the constituency.

I’d like to take the opportunity to update you on some of this work.

Crime in the town has been raised with me and I am clear that a lot of the problems we see on our streets are directly due to Government cuts to policing.  

This doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t be doing our best with the resources that are available.

Over the summer I spent a day out on patrol with local police officers across our town.

I also met recently with Chief Superintendent Neil Evans and my colleague Debbie Abrahams MP to discuss local policing.

What struck me most is that policing doesn’t operate in isolation.

It needs good public services to work well too; including health, social services, youth services, CCTV and the wider justice system to mention a few.

It’s an area that I’ll be pushing further in Parliament this year.

On a related note, the demolition of Hartford Mill is finally set to go ahead.

It has taken years of pushing and a lot of work behind the scenes to get to this stage, but finally an application for demolition has been submitted.

The mill has long been a magnet for crime and trespassing, with links to recent attacks and anti-social behaviour at the nearby Freehold Metrolink station.

It’s a shame to lose our industrial heritage, but the cost of bringing the building back into use far exceeds any commercial value which could be realised.

Faced with that reality and the negative impact it has on the local neighbourhood it is the only realistic option and will speed up the regeneration of what has been a derelict area for far too long.

Litter continues to be a problem in Oldham, and I am pleased to see the Council funding extra street cleaners.

They shouldn’t have to; people should clean up after themselves in the first place because litter makes the town unsightly.  We can all do our bit to help clean up the existing litter.

Last month I had the chance to join the ‘My Coldhurst’ community team and councillors out on one of its litter picking clean up events.

They are a great group, stepping up to take control of their own area.

I made a number of visits over recess, including a visit to the Crossley Centre, home to the beautiful memorial to the late Cllr Susan Dearden. 

I visited Bare Trees Primary School during their Aspirations Week and an Eid event organised by the Mayor Cllr Javid Iqbal.  

Staff at Dr Kershaw’s were inspiring when I visited them in August to see first-hand the work they do and to listen to their exciting plans to modernise their facility. 

In September I visited Freehold School to look at the improvements made to their outside space.  I visited some of our local churches during Oldham’s Histories Festival and attended Action Oldham Fund’s fifth birthday celebrations.

A real positive for me has been the Annie Kenney Project heading into the final straight of our fundraising target.  The clay model is now at the foundry to be cast (pictured above).

The project has been an example of what a community can achieve working side-by-side, with schools, local businesses, community organisations and individuals coming together to turn the statue from a vision into a reality.

I attended the Chadderton Women’s Institute’s EqualiTeas event celebrating Annie Kenney in July during Democracy Week, where Carol Talbot, who is writing a book on Annie Kenney, gave a fantastic talk.

Other recent highlights across the constituency include celebrating the 10th birthday of Oldham Cancer Support (see picture below), attending the as-ever inspiring Oldham Sports Awards; and organising an annual Summer School.

The Summer School moved on from the Summer Trade Schools I have organised in the past. 

It is about giving our young people from Oldham the opportunity to gain real insight and experience into the world of work and politics. 

This year a visit to Parliament and TV Studios at Media City in Salford were organised.  

Of course my work as your MP takes me outside the constituency too, where I work hard to make sure Oldham’s voice and story is heard.

Last week Labour Members met in Liverpool, a decade on from the financial crash, which opened the door for brutal cuts to public services and the start of austerity that is still with us.

Oldham felt the impact of that more than most and continues to do so

We also met at a time when big issues on jobs, the economy, Brexit and housing need real research, thought and policies.

So as well as delivering speeches on these subjects myself, we at the Labour party reaffirmed our commitment to end the failing Tory education system by establishing a Department of Employment and a commitment to end zero hours contracts and pay people a living wage of £10 per hour. 

A National Education Service, which will end the rule of free schools and academies. 

Ensuring that the 1.2 million vulnerable and elderly going without care are properly supported through a fully funded and resourced National Health and Social Care system. 

And, importantly, making sure that our future relationship with the European Union is one that best benefits the people of Britain.

It’s a busy period coming-up, and next week I head down to Parliament laden with local issues to lobby and push Ministers to resolve.

For example, earlier in September I asked the Secretary of State for International Trade what can be done to help businesses in the North West to boost exports, as a way of growing jobs in our towns.

Next week I have been granted time to ask the Prime Minister a question directly.

And in the coming months I’ll be attending a debate on the Government’s proposed boundary changes, which threaten the identity and democracy of Oldham.

Keep checking my Facebook page for regular updates - you can find me at: facebook.com/jimfromoldham.

Jim McMahon is the Member of Parliament for Oldham West and Royton, and Shadow Minister for Local Government and Devolution.