Last night was the meeting of Bury Council’s Executive Committee. I am one of the two Opposition Party leaders that sits on this Committee. There were a number of interesting issues:

Validation Requirements for Planning Applications

 This sets out an improved scheme so that it is clearer how Planning Applications are dealt with by the Council.

Car Parking Fines  

The Council will now introduce a higher parking fine for “serious” parking offences. These will include:

- Parked or loading/unloading in a restricted street where waiting and loading/unloading restrictions are in force 

- Parked in a residents parking place without clearly displaying a permit

- Parked in a designated disabled person’s parking place without clearly displaying a valid disabled person’s badge

- Stopped on a restricted bus stop/stand

- Stopped in a restricted area outside a school

The new “higher” fine will be £70, instead of £50 for “other” offences. We’ll still get a discount (50% off?) for paying early. Whilst none of us like paying parking fines, I tend to think these higher fines will help discourage some of the worst offences like parking in disabled places or in restricted areas outside schools.

 Phillips Park Restoration Plan

The Council approved a plan to submit a bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund to renovate Phillips Park. This is very welcome. As I said last night Philips Park is a “hidded jewel” for Prestwich. I understand that the site is the most historially important in Bury and potentially the park will be a major benefit for people in Prestwich and Whitefield.

 I stressed the need to improve access from the Prestwich side. If we are going to get such a large investment in the area, then we need to be able to get to it - and not have to drive all the way round via Whitefield and back over the motorway. I encouraged the development of better parking at the end of Clifton Road, and improved footpaths from the Tescos/TGI Friday’s end of the Village.

 In general a really exciting project - hopefully the Heritage Lottery Fund will think so too! Strangely the Labour Party in Bury refused to support the proposals - you’ll have to ask them why they didn’t want to see such a brilliant project proceed!

Bury Local Development Framework

The Executive Committee received an update report on the future “Local Development Framework” for Bury. This will set out how future development will take place in Bury, and is now the subject of consultation.

A “spread growth” policy “throughout the Borough” is proposed (rather than concentrating on growth in particular places).

Of particular interest to our area (Prestwich) is:

 - encouraging moderate growth in places with good transport infrastructure - this particularly affects Prestwich as we have excellent transport with the Metrolink and major bus routes running through the middle of our community

- encoraging development, including employment in the town centre areas, inlcuding Prestwich - encouraging more employment sites in the south of the Borough, including more employment sites in Prestwich

- protection of the village environments and therefore very limited growth there (this includes Simister village in our area)

- protection of the green infrastructure areas - such as the whole Irwell Valley area in Prestwich (Phillips Park, Clough, Drinkwater Park etc)

- focus on “regeneration” areas which includes the Rainsough area of Prestwich The report is now the subject of public consulation before further considerations are made.

All the papers from the meeting are available on the internet here.  Any questions please ask!

 Tim