WHO will get your vote when Saddleworth and Oldham go to the polls on Thursday, May 2?

In the local elections, voters will cast their choice of who they want to elect to represent them on Saddleworth Parish Council and Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council.

Voting will take place to elect 20 Saddleworth Parish councillors. 

Saddleworth is split into six wards, each electing a set number of councillors. Your number of votes is equal to the number of councillors in the ward in which you live.

The wards are:

• Delph (3 councillors, covering Delph and Denshaw)
• Dobcross (3 councillors, covering Dobcross and Diggle)
• Greenfield (5 councillors, covering Grasscroft, Greenfield, Friezland and Lydgate)
• Springhead Higher (2 councillors, covering Austerlands, Scouthead and Higher Springhead)
• Springhead Lower (5 councillors, covering Lower Springhead and Grotton)
• Uppermill (2 councillors, covering Uppermill)

Six candidates have already been confirmed as Parish councillors after being uncontested in the elections: 

• Delph: Kevin Dawson (Lib Dem), George Hulme (Labour), Luke Lancaster (Conservative)

• Dobcross: Linda Dawson (Lib Dem), Kathryn Phillips (Labour), Max Woodvine (Conservative).

Candidates for Greenfield (5 councillors covering Grasscroft, Greenfield, Friezland and Lydgate)

Neil Allsopp – Conservative

Over the last eight years I have seen many changes in both Saddleworth and the way Saddleworth Parish Council defends our unique area and our traditions.

Among some of the initiatives I have brought in my time on the Parish Council have been:

• Improving the way the Parish Council communicates with the community allowing easier access to committee minutes, decisions and for local people to speak for example at planning meetings.
• Introduced dash cam recording on the Parish Vehicles to help combat vehicle crime.

In the next four years I will be a strong voice for Saddleworth, ensuring development meets local needs and Saddleworth remains an attractive place to live and bring up families.

 

Alan Belmore – Liberal Democrat

I have been a Parish councillor for the last four years during which time I have led the Liberal Democrat group on the council.

During that time, I have seen a desperate need for change, so the council is more than just a talking shop for old men.

If elected, the Lib Dem group are committed to implementing policies that will help all of Saddleworth, including:

1. Affordable housing for local people in appropriate sites
2. Supporting community groups to maintain and improve Saddleworth’s unique character
3. Opening up the council to make it easier for people to ask questions
4. A cleaner and greener Saddleworth

Mavis Bingley – Liberal Democrat

A sitting Greenfield councillor, I am a retired Friezland School Dinner Lady of 33 years, I have a long record of representing Saddleworth.

I was one of the first members of the Satellite Youth Centre Committee and have lived in Grasscroft for 72 years.

I’m a former governor of St Mary’s School in Greenfield and St Anne’s school in Lydgate and was a Brownie Guide leader at Uppermill for 30 years.

I hope you will re-elect me to continue to support the Liberal Democrat priorities as well as fighting for disabled access and to preserve Saddleworth’s green spaces.

 

Helen Bishop – Independent

I am 42 years old, was raised in Greenfield, and have been a youth and community worker based in Saddleworth for over 20 years, providing a service to young people from across the area.

I now run Saddleworth’s Youth Project, Youth Local (YoLo) from the Satellite centre in Greenfield.

I am a trustee of Saddleworth Sports, Youth and Community Association and an unapologetic campaigner for services and facilities for all age groups, abilities and social backgrounds.

I am passionate about the work that I do with the community and know the area and people well.

 

Roger Blackmore – Liberal Democrat

I came to Saddleworth in 1974 and soon grew to love its hills and its villages. If elected to the Parish Council I would strive to preserve its unique identity whilst at the same time supporting proposals to provide urgently needed affordable housing for local people.

In order to thrive, Saddleworth also needs to encourage more local employment opportunities.

I have experience in finance and education and my interests include hill walking and transport, especially maintaining good public transport links.

I believe in this country having good quality public services for the benefit of everyone. These are worth fighting for.

 

Jamie Curley – Conservative

Now, more than ever, Saddleworth needs a local team ready to work for everyone.

Over the last four years as a Parish Councillor and as a Borough Councillor I have been a strong advocate for our community producing positive local action such as:

• Establishing the Saddleworth Youth Committee
• Initiated and run a Community Speedwatch programme
• Provided new lighting on Greenfield Park
• Started a pilot scheme to combat parking issues outside schools which is due to go Borough wide

Saddleworth is our home and a special place as I showed when speaking up for Greenfield residents on a proposed unwanted development on Shaw Hall Bank Road.

I will fight to make sure it stays that way. I will always be on your side.

 

Jeff Garner – Liberal Democrat

I live in Greenfield and have been a Saddleworth community campaigner for over 40 years.

A founder member and former chairman of Greenfield and Grasscroft Residents’ Association, I have consistently opposed over-development and threats to destroy Saddleworth’s unique character.

Jeff is keen to see Saddleworth’s Green Belt preserved for future generations to enjoy.

 

Nye Goodwin – Labour

I have been a Greenfield resident for 28 years. I am a retired headteacher, school inspector and maintain a commitment to supporting local schools including the new school at Diggle.

I will work to ensure public services are maintained and developed, especially health, education and public footpaths.

I will campaign for pedestrian road crossings in Greenfield, which is in urgent need of traffic calming measures.

I support the implementation of Labour’s local manifesto pledges and will work with other councillors to ensure that the borough provides a good quality of life for its citizens.

 

John Hudson – Conservative

As a former Mayor of Oldham and twice chairman of Saddleworth Parish Council, I have had the incredible privilege of serving this community for over 40 years.

But there is still much more to do. Saddleworth’s unique heritage needs us all to come together as a community to keep our villages special, our green spaces open to all and our Council Tax to be spent on those things we need for our area.

I will continue to fight for this and for all of the residents of Saddleworth.

I have always been an active Councillor and always available to residents, I intend to remain so and not be an invisible councillor.

 

Mano Vithyashaker – Conservative

I have lived in Greenfield for over five years and have made this wonderful place my home and place of business.

I realised as soon as I came her how special this place was and how much it means to the people who live here.

In the last five years I have been active within the community, supporting crime and anti-social behaviour initiatives, supporting community events and taken an active part within my new home community.

Our special area is under threat from overdevelopment and I will be a relentless worker for the community to make sure we all have a stake in our area and our future.

 

Ian Manners – Labour

Greenfield resident, member of Greenfield Whit Friday Band Committee, USDAW, Unite & Co-op Party. Governor at Greenfield Primary School.

I want Greenfield to share in Labour’s revitalisation of Oldham. I stand for sensible, sensitive progress, better local community services, especially health, education and maintaining public footpaths plus implementation of Labour’s local manifesto pledges: Oldham Health Check, better terms for social care workers to help support those in need, Clean Air Plan, spending council money with local businesses, Northern Roots project to enhance green spaces, affordable housing, more specialist housing for ageing and disabled residents, the living wage.

 

Geoff Roberts – Liberal Democrat

I am now a retired teacher having served the profession for forty years.

I have lived in Lydgate with my Wife Brenda for almost 40 years. Our three children all attended Saddleworth School.

I have been a strong supporter of many Saddleworth activities having served on the committee of the Saddleworth Musical Society and the Saddleworth Festival of the Arts. I continue to support, as a committee member, the Saddleworth Concerts Society and the Oldham Wednesday Walkers.

My wife and I have gained immensely from the decision to move to Saddleworth when we were looking for our first home together and I would consider it a privilege to represent local residents by serving on the Parish Council.

 

Candidates for Uppermill (2 councillors covering Uppermill) 

Pam Byrne – Conservative 

As a former Parish Council Chair and Chair of Uppermill Whit Friday Committee I know what Saddleworth means to me and to all the people who live here. Listening to local people and their concerns.

Whether it is the state of roads, fly-tipping, advice on planning issues, dealing with overhanging trees and Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs), dealing with anti-social behaviour, noise pollution and events plans, people’s lives are impacted by many things a Councillor can do.

As Parish Councillor for Uppermill and a Borough Councillor I can always help with these varied issues and the next four years will be crucial for Saddleworth and our future.

I want to use my experience to make sure that the future for Saddleworth is bright and everybody can have a say in how we keep Saddleworth special.

 

Connor Green – Labour

I am the Labour Party candidate for Uppermill in the Parish Council election.

I am also standing to represent Saddleworth South in the borough election.

I recently graduated with a postgraduate degree from the University of Leeds. I also had the honour of working for the late MP Jo Cox as part of her Parliamentary staff.

Uppermill is both a busy and thriving village. I am eager to work with local businesses, community groups and with politicians across the political divide to help this continue.

Additionally, I would work with the council to address challenges surrounding parking.

 

Sue Hazlehurst – Liberal Democrat

I was born and bred in Derby but have lived in Uppermill since 1986 and OMBC since 1979.

I am a widow who retired from NHS Administration in 2012 alongside my late husband who was an HR manager in the NHS.

I have two sons who both attended Saddleworth School and am passionate about maintaining the environment (preserving public footpaths and bridleways) and improving public transport locally as well as the lives of local residents.

I am a keen bridge player and attends Oakfield and Saddleworth Grand Slam Bridge Clubs locally as well as playing regularly in Huddersfield and Ashton under Lyne.

 

Graham Sheldon – Conservative

The work of a councillor is varied and touches on many aspects of people’s lives.

In the last year I have undertaken many varied pieces of work on behalf of residents such as:

• Supporting flood prevention works in Greenfield
• Working with colleagues on combatting anti-social behaviour
• Supporting residents against the Network Rail fencing in Uppermill
• Representing residents with planning Issues
• Dealing with many individual aspects of casework

Saddleworth’s future belongs to the people who live here, not developers or bureaucrats.

I will use my experience to be strong voice standing up for the people of Saddleworth and make sure your voice is heard first!

 

David Stanton – Liberal Democrat

I am a retired, married man with two grown-up children, and five granddaughters. I have lived in Uppermill for over 35 years – it was an area I knew well, as my wife was born and brought up in Saddleworth.

I have been active in local politics since I have lived in Uppermill, and I was a councillor on Oldham Council in the 1990’s.

My greatest wish for politics, both locally and nationally, is to get rid of the increasingly adversarial attitude taken up by many politicians to their opponents.

Politicians, at all levels, are putting the good of their party before the good of the electorate.

 

Candidates for Delph (3 councillors – all candidates elected unopposed – covering Delph and Denshaw)

Kevin Dawson – Liberal Democrat

I am an active campaigner for good public services and a strong believer in local empowerment at Parish Council level.

I look forward to serving residents in Delph and Denshaw I was born in Oldham, worked in logistics and have lived locally all my life.

I am married to Linda and have three grown up children, grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

 

George Hulme – Labour

I am looking forward to serving my local community on the Parish Council. I have lived I Delph most of my life, going to Delph Primary School, playing in the Delph Youth Brass Band and volunteering at the library.

The target now is winning Saddleworth North in the borough elections on May 2.

I was incredibly close last time – only 113 votes away. With a little extra support, I can go all the way and make sure there is a strong, local voice for Saddleworth on Oldham Council.

 

Luke Lancaster – Conservative

I’m proud of having been brought up in Saddleworth and consider myself very fortunate to be a part of such a fantastic community.

I am a former head boy of Oldham Hulme Grammar School and an avid Oldham Athletic fan.

I am delighted to have been afforded the opportunity to serve our community in the capacity of Parish Councillor for Delph and Denshaw.

However, my campaign is not over and I am working hard to earn the trust of Saddleworth North residents ahead of the Borough elections.