Liberal Democrats now hold all 9 council seats in Prestwich!
Here’s our new team of Councillors in St Mary’s Ward - Donal O’Hanlon, Mary D’Albert and Richard Baum…… Labour MP Ivan Lewis sneaks past behind.

Lib Dem Councillors elected last night Mary D’Albert, Vic D’Albert and Ann Garner with some of their group colleagues Steve Wright, Wilf Davison and Donal O’Hanlon.

More photos here

Liberal Democrats have continued to move forward on Bury Council making another gain from Labour and holding off a challenges from the Conservatives. This is the fifth election in a row in Bury where we have made gains.

Full results to follow, but in our key wards in Prestwich the results were as follows:

Holyrood
Vic D’Albert (Lib Dem) 1632
Labour 669
Conservative 852

St Mary’s
Mary D’Albert (Lib Dem) 1308
Labour 1013
Conservatives 692

Sedgley
Ann Garner (Lib Dem) 1488
Labour 906
Conservatives 1238

Across Prestwich the share of the vote was:
Liberal Democrats - 45%
Labour 26%
Conservatives 28%

The Liberal Democrats now have ALL NINE councillors in Prestwich. We’ll be doing our best all year round to stand up for the local community.

Across the motorway Lib Dem candidate Julie Baum put in a stunning performance to move into second place with a 50% increase in the Lib Dem vote.
Besses
Julie Baum (Lib Dem) 614
Labour 1084
Conservatives 584
Others 354

Well done to all our candidates, but particularly to re-elected Councillors Vic D’Albert and Ann Garner, and to new Councillor Mary D’Albert.
A huge thank you to the whole Lib Dem campaign team for a stunning result. Full results to follow.

Please don’t forget to vote in the important local elections on Thursday 1 May 2008. These elections will decide who will represent you at the Council for the next four years.

Vic D’Albert, our hard working local councillor for the last 17 years is the Liberal Democrat Focus Team candidate on Thursday.

Important Information
- Polling Stations are open from 7.00am - 10.00pm
- You don’t need your polling card to vote
- If you have a postal ballot, but have not yet sent it in, you can complete it as normal and take the completed envelope to your local polling station on the day.

Polling Stations in Holyrood
Baguley Crescent and Bow Lea - Mobile Van at Baguley Crescent
Simister - Lady Wilton Hall
Polefield, Parenthorn and St Margarets areas - St Margarets CE Centre on St Margarets Road
Heaton Park Area - Heaton Park Social Club, Bury Old Road
Northern area - Nursery Road, Glebelands Road, Langley etc - Prestwich Arts College, Heys Road
“Kirkhams” area (M45 postcodes) - Heaton Park School on Cuckoo Lane

If you need any more information, or need a lift to the polling station call our helpline on 0161 798 0117

Thank you!

Election statement to readers of the Bury Times:

Liberal Democrats across Bury have had a brilliant response from local residents. People are telling us that they are fed up of Labour closing post offices, taxing poorer people and watching the economy slide. People are uncertain what the Conservatives stand for, and haven’t noticed any improvement since they took over last year.

Liberal Democrats in Bury have three clear priorities:

We want safe, thriving communities across Bury. People must feel safe in their own streets and communities. This isn’t just about tackling crime, it’s about stronger, united communities. That’s why we’re opposing Post Office closures and why we secured massively increased funding for children in the Council budget. It’s also why we have always opposed the unfair and divisive congestion charge.

We want Bury to be the greenest Metropolitan Borough in Britain. Last year Lib Dems secured blue recycling bins for every house, and this year more money for parks and cleaning. We cherish Bury’s beautiful environment. We will work hard to protect it.

We believe in giving power to local people, not keeping it at the Town Hall. This means that decisions should be made locally in the six towns that make up Bury. It means local people making decisions at the most local level about the services that effect communities.

On May 1st we have a choice - A return to the 21 years of neglect under Labour’s rule in Bury, uncertainty under the Tories, or a clear vision for a better Bury from your local Liberal Democrats.

Vic D’Albert - Liberal Democrat Focus Team
A record of ACTION
Vic stands up for our local area all year round at the Town Hall. Vic and the team succesfully campaigned to save our local High School, and are now campainging to save our post offices.

Putting our area FIRST

Local Lib Dems are working hard to turn back years of Labour neglect of Prestwich - new play facilities, new children’s centres, traffic calming measures and more.
Vic and local Lib Dems have secured money for a top-level review of Prestwich “Village Centre” giving local people the chance to have our say on its future.

Safe and GREEN 
Lib Dems secured Blue Bins for every household and have now secured more money for parks and clearing litter. We’ve succesfully stopped cuts in youth service provision.

Gordon Brown’s Labour Candidate
Going Going GONE

Labour tried to close our local School Prestwich Arts College. Labour are now pushing ahead with plans to close 2,500 post offices - that’s NINE in Bury - but they won’t tell us which ones till after the election!

Crunch and SQUEEZE
Labour have abolished the 10p income tax rate and from this month poorer local people will be WORSE off than before. Homeowners and families are worried about how Gordon Brown is running the economy and the ‘credit crunch’.

£5 a DAY 
Labour councillors across Greater Manchester seem intent to press ahead with the Congestion Charge scheme which will mean we have to pay to drive over the Motorway, It’s the only place outside London where Labour want to charge!

Your Vote Counts

 • Polling stations are open 7.00am to 10.00pm

• You don’t need your polling card to vote

• If you have a POSTAL VOTE, but haven’t sent it in yet, you can still take your envelope down to your local polling station on the day.

• If you need a lift to the polling station, if you want to help Vic win, or need any other information - call Vic on 0161 773 9905 - email vic@burylibdems.net

Two Horse Race!

Remember the Conservatives came a poor third in Holyrood ward last time. The Conservatives have NO COUNCILLORS anywhere in Prestwich. A vote for the Conservatives only risks letting Labour back in by the back door.

It’s been a busy year for your three Lib Dem FOCUS Team Councillors:

Save our Post Offices
The Labour Government is proposing to close 2,500 post offices - that means NINE in Bury alone. Disgracefully, they’ve put off telling us which ones will close until after the local elections!. Your local councillors are campaigning to save our much needed local post offices like the post office at St Margarets.

Play Facilities
After years of campaigning, new children’s play facilities have been installed at Bailey Street after a design competition in a local school. Funding has been secured and plans are now in their final stages to improve security at Heaton Park school, and build a new Under 5’s play area.  Funding is also secured for “ball zone” for older children near Parrenthorn school.

Budget Success
In the recent Council Budget discussions the Lib Dem team of Councillors from Prestwich successfully secured a boost areas like Prestwich with more money for parks, more money for street cleaning and litter enforcement and stopped “cuts” to youth services  and services for vulnerable children. We refused to support a disgraceful Labour proposal that would have meant cutting £1 million off  much needed help for vulnerable adults with disabilities and children in need.

Bury in the Balance
After the elections last year - no one Party has  “control” of Bury Council. Your local Lib Dem Councillors refused to enter into a coalition with either of the other parties - we vote on  a case by case basis in the best interests of the people we represent.  Proud of Prestwich
After 21 years of neglect while the Labour Party ran Bury,  your local Lib Dems have secured investment to plan for the future of our Prestwich “Village Centre”. We want to see a village that we can all be proud of and are asking local people to “have their say”.

Keeping in Touch
We’ve kept in touch with local people ALL YEAR ROUND with our popular “FOCUS” newsletters - delivered free of charge to every house in Holyrood. You can new keep up with our work “online” as each of your local councillors has a regularly updated councillor’s website.

No Charge
Your local Councillors have consistently opposed the proposal to introduce a “Congestion Charge” proposed by the Labour led Greater Manchester authorities. We support the need to tackle climate change - but to charge local people for driving between Whitefield and Prestwich is the wrong answer.  People are rightly concerned what this would do to our area.

Local Champions
Your local Lib Dem Councillors have stood up for our local area all year round:
• supported local people opposing planning applications on Sandgate Road and the Polefield Shops
• Worked with the Police to tackle youth nuisance and crime
• Worked with local community groups such as the Simister Village Community Association and Polefiel’s TRA.

 Liberal Democrats have selected popular local Councillor Vic D’Albert to fight Holyrood Ward in the local elections on 1 May 2008. 

Well known local man Vic D’Albert has represented the Holyrood Ward on Bury Council for the last 17 years.  During that time Vic has worked tirelessly for our local area, campaigning for safer streets, better services and a greener community.

Commenting on his selection, Vic said: “It’s always been an honour to represent this area. Together with my wife Mary, I’ve lived in Prestwich now for 25 years and I know how important this area is.”

“Over the years I’ve had the opportunity to work with many local residents, and to help many people with local issues and concerns.”

“Thank you for all your continuing support.”

 Local Election FACT FILE

• “Holyrood Ward” is one of three election wards in the Prestwich area. It includes the northern parts of Prestwich, together with the “Kirkhams” area of Whitefield south of the Motorway, together with the distinct communities of Simister, and Rhodes and Bowlee on the Rochdale border.

• You have three Liberal Democrat councillors - Vic D’Albert, Wilf Davison and Tim Pickstone.

• Local Elections take place across Bury on Thursday 1 May 2008. If you have a postal vote, this will be sent to you about 10 days before.

• Vic D’Albert has been a hardworking local councillor for this area for the last 17 years.

• Vic is the local candidate - he has lived in the area with his family for 25 years.

• Vic is the successful Chair of the Prestwich Local Area Partnership, leading improvements in the local area such as the Village Centre and new play areas.

• Elections in Prestwich are always a close run contest between the local Lib Dems and the Bury Labour Party. The Conservatives have no Councillors in Prestwich and cannot win here.

Published by Andrew Garner in Promotion of Vic D’Albert - both at 82 Glebelands Road M25

Liberal Democrats have announced a full team of candidates to contest the elections for Bury Council on Thursday 1 May 2008. One third of the seats on the Council are up for election, with one councillor to be elected in each of the 17 wards.

Two Councillors are seeking re-election - Vic D’Albert in Holyrood and Ann Garner in Sedgley.

Liberal Democrat candidates are:
Ramsbottom, Tottington and North Manor
Ramsbottom - Janet Turner
Tottington - David Foss
North Manor - Ewan Arthur
Bury West
Elton - Robert Sloss
Church - Tamsin Thomson
Bury East
Moorside - Nissa Finney
East - Emma Davison
Redvales - Paul Jenkins
Radcliffe
Radcliffe North - Lynne Molloy
Radcliffe West - Joanne O’Hanlon
Radcliffe East - Mike Halsall
Whitefield and Unsworth
Unsworth - Theo Tzymcyca
Besses - Julie Baum
Pilkington Park - Wayne Burrows
Prestwich
Holyrood - Vic D’Albert
St Mary’s - Mary D’Albert
Sedgley - Ann Garner

The Lib Dems have claimed to be the “practical” party of local government at the launch of their campaign for council elections in England and Wales. Leader Nick Clegg said the party’s record was a “success story - quality services, and value for money”.

Speaking at the campaign launch in Sheffield, he accused Labour of failing on crime and the Tories of having “no stomach” for addressing green issues.

The party currently controls 29 local authorities across Britain, and is defending 700 Council seats on May 1st. We also hope to make other gains in Bury, including of course in St Mary’s.

Today, Nick Clegg said the party had come up with local solutions to problems including housing, crime and the environment.

“The Liberal Democrat record in local government is a success story - quality services, and value for money. And we are ready to apply the lessons that we have learned to councils throughout this country. “ He said: “We don’t promise to fix or solve every problem, but we do promise to give people a say, to give them the opportunity to fix things for themselves.”

Liberal  Democrats in Bury have accused Ivan Lewis MP and David Chaytor MP of failing to support local services after they voted to support the Government’s massive post office closure programme.

The Government has ordered that one in five branches be closed. Opposition MPs tried to stop the closure programme on 19th March when a motion was proposed in the House of Commons demanding the Government halt their plans to make 2500 branches shut up shop.

But enough Labour MPs rallied around the Government’s closure plans to reject the motion and ensure the closure programme can continue unhindered. Two of those voting to close post offices were Bury’s MP.

Disappointed local Liberal Democrat campaigners are calling on Ivan Lewis and David Chaytor to explain why s/he voted to close post offices.
“Our MPs have let down people in Bury by voting to allow the closures to continue,” said Lib Dem Parliamentary Spokesperson Vic D’Albert. “In May the announcement will be made as to which branches here will be put forward for closure. This was an opportunity for Ivan Lewis and David Chayor to make a stand on behalf of residents. I am disappointed they have backed the Government rather than local people.

“The loss of post offices will hit communities hard in Bury. They are vital assets for many local people and closing them will cause many difficulties for older people and others with mobility problems, in particular.
“Despite the decision of our MPs to help the Government press ahead with closure, Liberal Democrats are continuing to fight the demolition of the post office network.”

Many residents will be aware about the discussions that have been taking place around the development of play facilities in the area of the Holyrood Ward to the East of Bury Old Road (Polefield, Parenthorn, Cuckoo Lane areas etc). At present there are no play facilities at all anywhere between the younger children play area on Bailey Street (near Heaton Park Metrolink) and Simister.

Many residents have raised this as a concern with their local councillors and we have been campaigning for the money to change this. This money has now been made available.

Original Plan

The origional plan (which is now not proposed) was to construct three play areas on the grounds of Heaton Park County Primary School on Cuckoo Lane (one for Under 5s, one for slightly older children, and a “ball zone” for teenagers).

We have held extensive consultations with residents who live nearby to the school, and also with parents and children at the school. It very quickly became clear that there were major security problems around the back of the school playing fields which is causing nuisance to local residents. Understandably, local people were concerned that the plans would make the issue worse, not better!

We have listened to these concerns and the plans have now been changed:

Current Proposals

The current proposal is in three parts:

Firstly, we propose to invest money (both money from the Local Area Partnership and the School will invest some money) to make the fencing around the school and the school playing fields more secure to reduce trespassing and nuisance to local residents. In addition a CCTV camera will be installed to monitor the area.

Seondly, we propose to build only one play area on the School site - this will be a play area for small children (under 5’s) and will only be locked after around 6.30pm by the School Caretaker. This will also be monitored by the CCTV scheme to make sure that the area isn’t abused.

 Play area plan - click to see larger image

Thirdly, we propose to build a “ball zone” for older children on the grounds of Parenthorn High School further up Heywood Road. Plans for this are at an early stage.

The Local Area Partnership has agreed all the necessary funding for these three schemes, but at the request of your local Councillors this funding has been agreed subject to further consultation with local residents and the two schools concerned. We want to make sure that the schemes are exactly right for the area and will only proceed when local people, including local children and young people are happy with the proposals.

Please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you need to know more.

Tim, Vic and Wilf

Lib Dem’s Secure More Money for Children and Young People, and more money for Parks and Cleaner Streets 

Liberal Democrat Councillors saved services for young people and vulnerable children and secured extra expenditure on much needed environmental services such as parks, cleaner streets and environmental enforcement in Bury Council’s budget for next year.

The Lib Dem proposals, which were agreed and have become part of the budget:

- saved advice services for children and money for youth services across Bury

- saved services for disabled children, the “young carers” service and provision for children who are at risk

- secured new money for our parks and environmental services

- secured new money for a cleaner environment such as street cleaning and enforcement such as dog fouling and fly-tipping

 Cllr Tim Pickstone, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group said:

 “This is a difficult budget again for Bury. We all need to be clear on why these difficult savings once again have to be made. The blame is quite clearly with the Labour Government who, despite many years of pressure, continue to effectively give Bury a “poor deal”.

“Services to young people are already stretched  -  A vibrant youth support service is essential to ensure educational staying on rates and engagement in training or employment, with the subsequent positive impact on reducing anti-social behaviour”

“We are not prepared to put up with an unsafe reduction in support for vulnerable children, and to not see advances in supporting the environment in this borough.”

Cllr Richard Baum, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson on Resources said

“The people of this Borough want cleaner streets, green space and safe places for their families. And the Liberal Democrat group will ensure that as much as possible is done to give them what they want. Our proposals tonight are to invest in parks in this Borough to ensure that every community has a well-managed place of peace and greenery to enjoy.

Attacking the Labour Party Proposal to cut vital services for a zero Council Tax rise Cllr Pickstone said:

“This proposal is madness. We would all like to have a zero council tax rise, but the Labour Party are proposing to scrap £700,000 on much needed services for disabled people, are proposing to scrap services for young people and vulnerable children, and proposing to run Bury Council into the ground by running reserves down to a dangerous level. This is a disgrace - I am shocked that that Labour Party will stoop so low in a pathetic attempt to gain votes.

“There are two opposition parties in Bury. One, the Lib Dems, have achieved over £1/3 million of expenditure on young people, children and the environment, while Labour have achieved nothing but a cheap gimmick at the expense of vulnerable people.” 

Last night was “Budget Council” for Bury MBC. This is probably the most important meeting each year for a local Council as it is when Councillors set the full budget for the following year.

In a shapshot, here’s what has been agreed:

- a Council Tax rise of 3.4% from 1st April. This is a significantly lower rise than in recent years - which is good.

- A discount for the over 65s of 3.4% off their council tax.

- The ability for people to pay their council tax in 12 installments, not 10 as is the case now.

- More money to pay for pressures on services for disabled people, more money (thanks to the Lib Dems!) for environmental issues like parks, street cleaning and environmental enforcement.

- A “capital programme” over the next three years which includes building the new High School at Radcliffe Riverside, as well as plans to develop Phillips Park Hall in Prestwich.

It was a very difficult year (again) for Bury setting its budget. The amount of money that the Government gives us was yet again less than our neighbours in the rest of Greater Manchester. Its been calculated that since Labour came into Government Bury is 15% worse off than before - and that was from a low starting point. This means that a number of “savings” (cuts) have had to be made - totalling around £5 million.

What did the Liberal Democrats do?

The Liberal Democrats proposed an amendment to the Budget which proposed to reallocate just over £1/3 million of different expenditure than what was being proposed by the Conservative Party administration that runs Bury.

£250,000 to maintain services in a number of important areas for young people and children. This included
- saving proposed cuts to the youth service and schools advice services. We believe that services for young people are an essential, not just for their own sake, but also because they help tackle issues like anti-social behaviour.

- saving proposed cuts to services to vulnerable children including: disabled children, the whole young carers service, the whole service to support parents with mental health needs, and vulnerable children at risk.

£100,000 of new expenditure for our parks, streets and environment

- we proposed £50,000 on environmental issues to help deal with issues such as Street Cleaning and maintaining the “Green Flag” status of our parks. We’ve been promised a Saturday clean of town centre areas which should be excellent

- we proposed £50,000 on environmental enforcement which will tackle issues such as fly-tipping, dog fouling and stray dogs (dog warden service).

The Liberal Democrat Group amendment was accepted (not, it should be noted with any support from the Labour Party…) and became part of the agreed budget.

What did the other Parties do.

I am not easily shocked in politics, but last night the Labour Party amazed me. They proposed different budget which can only be described as “mad”.

The proposed to make wholesale cuts to make way of a cheap “gimmick” of a zero rise in Council tax. No rise in Council tax would be brilliant, but I was amazed about what they were prepared to sacrifice to come up with this cheap gimmick.

Labour proposed to:

- ignore the needs of disabled people in Bury by removing £700,000 of much needed expenditure for people with learning and physical disabilities. This is a disgrace. They should be ashamed of suggesting that disabled people don’t need services from the Council.

- ignore the needs of children and young people by cutting £350,000 of services for young people and vulnerable children. Mostly this was exactly the same list of services saved by the Liberal Democrats. Labour proposed to cut youth services, cut ALL services to young carers, cut services for disabled children and, most worryingly, cut services for vulnerable children at risk. This is a disgrace.

- put the future finances of the council at risk by spending all the “reserves” down to the bare minimum (reserves are needed to cope for emergencies such as spending on flooding, unexpected demand etc) AND ignoring the long standing “equal pay” issue to address women employees who have been paid less than men doing the same job.

I was shocked by how low the Labour Party could stoop. The socialist “founding fathers” of the Labour Party will be turning in their grave to watch their Party abandon people in need.

And the Conservatives…

In the end it was the proposals of the Conservative Party, with the addition of the new expenditure proposed by the Liberal Democrats that won the day which are outlined about.

We didn’t feel able to support all the proposals of the Conservatives - particularly some of the savings around the environment and social services, so abstained on the final vote.

The papers for the Budget are available on the Council’s website here. You can read the speech of the Lib Dem Resources Spokesperson Cllr Richard Baum here. If you have any questions, or comments, please don’t hesitate to ask.

Tim

National Grid plan to run cables through a disused rail tunnel that crosses the Peak District National Park. If they go ahead, the tunnel could no longer be used as a railway, despite there having been several
proposals in the last 10 years to do just that (Central Railways, Arriva, and Translink–all rejected by the Government!) That would be a big mistake.

MPs and local people are trying to persuade the government to intervene, to protect the route so that it could, in future, be re-opened and provide much-needed passenger and rail-freight services connecting the east and west sides of the Pennines.

See recent article in the Guardian

Please act quickly as the National Grid work is scheduled to start in January 2008.

We need MPs across the country to sign Early Day Motion (EDM) 459 calling on the Government to intervene and help safeguard the Woodhead Tunnel for future rail use.

Campaign for Better Transport have set up an easy e-action form on their website. To write/send an e-mail to your MP asking them to sign EDM 459:
http://www.advocacyonline.net/eactivist/srv/render?NdsTID&view=GB,en,2581,15223,-1,n,n,n

Plus, there’s a petition online calling for the railway to be reopened:

Visit the Save Woodhead Tunnel website.

Happy New Year to all! Here’s to a succesful and peaceful 2008.

Here’s Nick Clegg’s New Year message:

Congratulations from the Lib Dem team in Bury to the new Leader of the Liberal Democrats - Nick Clegg MP.

Nick will make an excellent Party Leader, he has an excellent track record on standing up on issues that matter. We look forward to working with him.

Nick Clegg has set out his priorities in a message to Bury residents:

“I am greatly honoured to have been chosen by my fellow party members to be the new Leader of the Liberal Democrats. Throughout Bury, Liberal Democrats are already working hard to reach out to local people and listen to their concerns. In my leadership I will be taking that  spirit nationwide, moving beyond Party Politics and making liberalism connect with the millions of people who share our values.

Labour and the Conservatives have failed Britain’s families. I will lead my party to change politics, and change Britain, for the better. Only the Liberal Democrats are committed to giving the people of Bury a greater say in the decisions that affect our lives, by shifting power away from Westminster and back to local communities.

I will fight for a fair deal for Britain’s families, campaign tirelessly to cut crime and improve our NHS so it delivers the care people need.”

Nick Clegg is going to be a great leader. Labour and the Conservatives share so many policies, the time has come for a politician who will speak up for people and local communities.

Tim

The Bury Manchester Metrolink line is back up and running again after a summer long closure during which we’ve been dependent on bus replacement services.

I haven’t had chance to go on the tram since the upgrade yet, but work seems impressive! On Heaton Street where I live many of us have the tramline at the back of our houses, and its a significant difference in the noise made by the trams. The track prior to work was laid on wooded sleepers and (apparently) dated back to the days of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway before 1914!

I know that in some parts of Prestwich - particularly nearer to the Village where the line is more elevated that my area - residents have had enormous problems over noise. Hopefully this will mean a smoother and quieter time for passengers and residents alike!

At the last full meeting of Bury Council I submitted a written question on the safety of the tram network at night. The tram is an excellent service for all of us, but I’m worried that many people are frightened of using the serivce in the evening - especially in the darker months. I’ve asked Cllr Andrew Garner, who is Bury’s spokesperson on the Passenger Transport Authority to take this up for me.

Bury’s local hospital has been let down by the Labour Health Secreary’s decision to go ahead with the closure of Fairfield’s maternity and inpatient children’s services claim the local Liberal Democrats.

The decision of Health Secretary Alan Johnson and the Independent Review Panel to uphold the recommendations of the Greater Manchester review of maternity and children’s services will mean the loss of services at Bury’s Fairfield Hospital. The Panel recommends that the NHS looks into a midwife led maternity unit at Fairfield, but there are no promises.

Cllr Vic D’Albert, the local Lib Dem’s spokesperson on health said: “This is terrible news for the people of Bury. We’ve all been terribly let down by the Labour Health Secretary. Bury needs and dererves high quality maternity and children’s services, the Government’s decision is a terrible blow to Bury.

“To get a midwife-led maternity unit would be a help, but nothing is confirmed, and nothing is promised. How can we trust a Government that does this to our local hospital?”

“Earlier this week Conservative Leader David Cameron forgot Bury when he presented a list of hospitals his party planned to save from cuts. In the same week Labour’s Health Secretary has gone one further and closed our vital services”.

Conservative Leader David Cameron has ignored Bury by leaving out Fairfield Hospital from his campaign to save 29 local hospitals across the country.

Only last year the Tory Leader visited Bury’s Fairfield Hospital, which is currently awaiting the decision of Labours Health Secretary on the future of its maternity service.

Lib Dem Parliamentary candidate for Bury South Vic D’Albert said:

“It just shows we can’t trust the Conservatives on Health”. They voted against the current investment in health in Parliament, and believe in unlimited private sector involvement in health”

Local Lib Dems have been campaigning alongside others concerned about proposals to re-configure local hospital services, insisting that full maternity services and Accident and Emergency should remain at Fairfield.

“To forget to include Fairfield Hospital says a lot about Conservative priorities, if they really care about our vital hospital services local Conservatives will apologise to the people of Bury”.

“Many local people have been deeply worried about the potential of losing maternity and children’s services at Fairfield, David Cameron has just ignored us all. ”

Residents who live alongside the Metrolink line need to be aware that the contractors currently working on renewing the track have informed the Council that some limited work may be needed during the night. Your local councillors have protested against this proposal, and we have received assurances that no heavy cutting or noisy work will take place, and that work will only take place if the recent wet weather continues and work cannot be completed during the day.

 Please contact me or one of your other councillors if work is disturbing you during the night and we will report this immediately to the relevant authorities.

Tim

Liberal Democrats called for a £3bn investment in public transport in Greater Manchester at the July meeting of Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority (GMPTA). The Lib Dem proposals also called for control of the bus network to be seized back from private hands and into the control of GMPTA again for the first time in over 20 years. But Lib Dem GMPTA members were furious that discussions on congestion charging were prevented when the meeting was rescheduled to take place after a decision on road charging had been made elsewhere.

Cllr Andrew Garner (Liberal Deomcrat member for Sedgley ward), one of two Bury Lib Dems who are members of the GMPTA, said “The issue of congestion charging and whether to back the controversial Transport Innovation Fund (TIF) bid was made by the Leaders of Greater Manchester Authorities on Friday morning. The GMPTA was supposed to meet on Thursday, but this meeting was re-scheduled until Friday afternoon, depriving us of a say. But whilst Bury’s Conservative led Council gave the green light to backing the bid, we used our influence on the GMPTA to press for real improvements to public transport.”

Liberal Democrats proposed important amendments to a Labour-backed motion calling on the GMPTA to support the public transport proposals put forward in the TIF bid. The Lib Dems demanded that a specific figure of £3bn be agreed as the minimum investment needed in the transport network. Cllr Garner said “We want world class public transport. Anything less than £3bn just won’t be enough, and yet the government have been strangely vague on the total that we’ll be eligible for. We need absolute certainty, and if the figure ends up less than £3bn, then the TIF bid is dead in the water as far as I am concerned.” Lib Dems also called for re-regulation of the bus network. Cllr Garner said “Whilst our buses are improving, they need to be better. They need to serve our vulnerable communities more, and put service before profits.”

The Lib Dem amendments were passed unanimously by the GMPTA. Cllr Garner stated that “although the GMPTA was deprived of an opportunity to debate the TIF bid ahead of a decision, we made the best of a bad situation by putting important safeguards in place for local people. “