SADDLEWORTH VOTERS go to the polls on May 22 to help choose representatives in both the Local and European Elections.
The Local Elections are an opportunity for residents to vote for borough councillors and there is one spot available for each of Saddleworth North, Saddleworth South and Saddleworth West and Lees.
Meanwhile, the European Elections give locals the chance to elect members of their preferred political party to European Parliament for the next five years.
Eleven political parties will contest the elections to choose the North West of England’s eight Members of the European Parliament (MEPs). The full list can be viewed at www.northwestvotes.gov.uk
All residents must ensure they are on the electoral role and so eligible to vote in the elections by Tuesday, May 6.
If you think you may not be on the register contact the Oldham Council Elections Office by calling 0161 770 4718 or emailing election@oldham.gov.uk for a registration form.
You can apply to vote by post or proxy by visiting www.aboutmyvote.co.uk or by contacting Oldham Council’s Elections Office on 0161 770 4718 or email election@oldham.gov.uk
The application deadline for a postal vote is 5pm on Wednesday, May 7 while the deadline to apply for a proxy vote is 5pm on Wednesday, May 14.
Saddleworth wards
Saddleworth North: Alan Roughley (Lib-Dem), Angela Michelle Clark (UKIP), Paul Fryer (Lab), Nicola Jeffery Sykes (Con), Nikki Kirkham (Independent).
Saddleworth South: John McCann (Lib-Dem), Lesley Brown (Independent), Pam Byrne (Con), Ian Manners (Lab), Chris Shyne (UKIP).
Saddleworth West and Lees: Neil Allsopp (Con), Robert Allsopp (Lib-Dem), Stephen Gordon Hewitt (Lab), Peter Klonowski (UKIP), Oliver Thompson (Green).
Oldham and Saddleworth Green Party
Oldham and Saddleworth Green Party, the clue is in the name, values the unique and independent nature of the villages that comprise Saddleworth Parish.
Saddleworth has a growing tourism industry which we would seek to enhance building on assets such as the canal and the landscape, but also recognising that it is a living and working area.
The Green Party would aim to retain the range of independent shops, encourage sensitive developments to provide housing and employment for local residents and the retention of local services.
We would campaign for better local transport links including increased capacity on the railway through Greenfield and for the reopening of Diggle Station.
Our candidate, Oliver Thompson, lives in Grotton and makes a contribution to the local community as a PCSO. Oliver says “local action is key to the Green Party, listening to and working with the community to provide a more sustainable Saddleworth”.
Saddleworth & Lees Labour
Saddleworth & Lees Labour candidates will work with the majority Labour group in Oldham to bring a fair share to Saddleworth & Lees. Across Oldham there will be 2015 new job opportunities by 2015; a Fair Employment Charter tackling low pay and zero hours contracts; £2m invested in road repairs; Enterprise Hubs in all secondary schools; Scholarships to help young people go to University; a Green Dividend to fund new allotments and planting projects.
Saddleworth & Lees Labour candidates will campaign for improved access to free NHS services and affordable housing for Saddleworth.
All the main parties support the brand new building for Saddleworth School and Saddleworth & Lees Labour candidates also look forward to a better future for Saddleworth children.
For every Saddleworth school leaver a Youth Guarantee of further education, training, an apprenticeship, a job or self-employment opportunity.
Conservatives
Nicola Jeffery- Sykes (North), Pam Byrne (South) and Neil Allsopp (West & Lees) are Saddleworth people who are active in their communities and are committed to putting people before politics.
Neil serves as a Councillor on Saddleworth Parish Council and Pam has also served on this body for Greenfield and Grasscroft and on the Saddleworth and Lees Area Committee. Nicola is active in the local business community owning two businesses.
We are active volunteers within our communities in many spheres, meaning we are all alive to local issues; be it the issue of Saddleworth School, potholes and safer roads, or protecting our Green Belt and Freezing Council Tax.
We believe that a balance can be struck between protecting our heritage, delivering value for money whilst improving our vital infrastructure, and that it can be done whilst working with people of other political parties to achieve the best results for you.
“If you believe that good local government costs less, then on Thursday 22nd May Vote Conservative”.
Independents
Nikki Kirkham
Nikki Kirkham, was born in Denshaw, but is a life-long Delph resident. A working mum, Nikki is leader of the Delph Methodist Cubs and represents Delph and Denshaw on Saddleworth Parish Council.
Nikki promises to fight against the Oldham house-building agenda which she sees as threatening the natural beauty and character of Saddleworth. She is also seeking better protection of the green belt and for more affordable housing for first time buyers and the elderly.
Lesley Brown
Lesley Brown has served on Saddleworth Parish Council since 2011. An active member of the community, she is Vice-Chairman of Saddleworth Civic Trust, and also finds time to play with Dobcross Brass Monkeys. For the last twenty-four years she has run her own catering business at Manchester University.
Lesley is concerned about the impact that moving Saddleworth School will have on the children of Uppermill and Greenfield and the negative effect on the Uppermill business community.
UKIP
UKIP’s three Saddleworth candidates, Chris Shyne, Peter Klonowski and Angela Clark, are all local people. They offer a completely new political approach to the Saddleworth community, that of LISTENING TO THE PEOPLE, representing their views and acting on them instead of being hogtied to party policy and dogma like other parties.
UKIP is dedicated to bringing democracy back to the people – both nationally and locally.
Local democracy allows the people a greater say in all the decisions that affect their daily lives and UKIP guarantees that all major decisions would be subject to local referenda. This would have ensured that the Saddleworth School development issue was decided by local people!
Saddleworth is an area that has been under-represented on Oldham Council for years. By electing UKIP Councillors on May 22, you can change this. VOTE UKIP!
Liberal Democrats
Local Liberal Democrats really do Stand up for Saddleworth, making sure that this rural area is not treated as an outlying suburb, only good for raking in Council Tax. Presently we are desperately trying to keep Green Belt and Open Protected land safe from still more very expensive houses.
We live here, are active in our village communities, know local problems and are determined to keep Saddleworth as a special place. We look East as well as West and see the future as bright, with lots of local jobs and new business enterprises.
We don’t like bossy officialdom and will fight to preserve local services and our way of life. Without Liberal Democrat Councillors, Oldham would be a one party Borough, a very, very, dangerous situation.
Stopping at home on Election Day, 22nd May is not a clever option. Vote Liberal Democrat. Vote for people who do the work. Vote for Saddleworth.
