Longfield Centre Saved
Here’s the press release from Bury Liberal Democrats:
“Longfield Suite safe at last” say jubilant Lib Dems
Liberal Democrats in Prestwich expressed their delight after a campaign spearheaded by residents and Councillors saved the Longfield Suite from the threat of closure.
A Best Value review of civic halls in Bury, undertaken by the Conservative Council, outlined several options for the future of the Longfield Suite, including the “reconfiguration” of the community hall which is popular with local people and the best used of all civic venues in Bury. Now, after a consultation process which saw thousands of local people sign petitions and protest to save the Lingfield Suite, the Council has backed down. The Longfield Suite will be retained in its current format, with a plan for better marketing, awareness, usage and income.
The consultation process on the future of the Suite drew a 7000 signature petition, 1,300 responses by survey, two large public meetings and a number of public protests including an “arms around the Longfield” event where hundreds of local people formed a human chain around the suite.
Liberal Democrat Councillor Donal O’Hanlon, Chair of the “Save our Suite” campaign group, said “I am overjoyed that our campaign has been a success. The Conservative threat to close the Longfield Suite was a disgrace, but now after a huge number of Prestwich people told them how wrong they were, the Conservatives have backed down. I am delighted to have been at the forefront of this campaign to stand up for Prestwich. “I must congratulate the 1000’s of people that signed the petition and returned the Council surveys, and all those local people and Longfield centre users that fought so hard to keep the facilities as they are. A great example of local people power in action and proof that people can make a difference. But the underlying message to Bury Conservatives has to be: Don’t mess with Prestwich!”
Cllr Vic D’Alerbt, Liberal Democrat Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Bury South and Chair of Prestwich Local Area Partnership, said ” This is great news for Prestwich and sends a strong signal to Bury Conservatives that people are proud of their local community facilities. The strength of feeling for the Longfield Suite was clear for all to see from the start, all except Bury’s Conservative administration who once again thought they new best.
I now urge Bury Council to work with Prestwich councillors, Prestwich Area Partnership and local people to find a long term solution and put together a sustainable business plan for the centre. Furthermore I would make a plea to this Conservative administration to stop trying to sidestep the democratic process and dialogue with Councillors. Months of campaigning and wasted officer time and resources could have been saved. I have to question the judgement of the leader of the Council. Back in November he was brave enough to attend a public meeting I had arranged. At that meeting 300 local people told him to stop this nonsense, if only he was brave enough to listen to local people and admit their mistake then. This end result shows what the community can achieve when it pulls together. We have seen off the Tory threat to the Longfield Suite. Now we need to support the facility and make sure that a strong civic hall is at the heart of a regenerated Prestwich.”
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