A planning application has been received by the Council for permission to temporarily erect 4 modular classrooms on the playground adjacent to the car park for one year. This is to allow construction of the small children’s centre building that is planned for the school.

More details are on the Council’s website soon here. Its application number 51908.

Organisers of the LovePrestwich Festival want residents to tell them what they thought of it.

Starting with the Clough Event and ending on Prestwich Carnival day, no fewer than 55 events were held over 35 days.

Feedback from local people and businesses is vital if the team is to plan an even better and bigger event next year.

The aims of the LovePrestwich Festival were: to bring people into Prestwich to support local businesses; to bring Prestwich’s diverse communities together; to provide an opportunity for local people to showcase their talents; to raise funds for local charities and community projects; and to create success stories associated with Prestwich.

Organiser David Curtis said: “I went to many events during the 35 days and received so much praise about the festival - so much so that I’ve been working on holding another Farmers Market on Sunday August 23 and on a Sunday at the end of November as part of the Christmas lights switch-on. We want to make the 2010 event better so please let us know what you thought of it all.”

Councillor Vic D’Albert, chair of Prestwich Local Area Partnership, said: “I was delighted to be involved with this, our first festival, and between us we got to as many events as we possibly could, although on some nights there were several events going on.

“What people thought about LovePrestwich Festival is really important if we want to stage it again. You may have attended an event or many events and have tips for future events, you may be a charity that was able to raise funds at events, or you might be a local trader who saw increased custom.”

Feedback forms are available from Prestwich Library, or online - from www.iloveprestwich.com - soon. Alternatively, email c.o’grady@bury.gov.uk and request a form.

Prestwich Festival will take place for the first time in 2009. It is intended to be an annual four week calendar of events running from 17 May to 21 June. The festival will provide the opportunity to showcase as many events as possible during a four week period and will build on its success year on year, similar to existing events like Prestwich Clough and Prestwich Carnvial.

Click here for an first look at the packed events listing.

As many will be aware Manchester City Council have announced that the want to develop the whole St. Margaret’s “corner” of Heaton Park by introducing a commercial sports development. The site although proposed to feature many useful sports facilities, will be charged for except at non peak times and will lead to much increased traffic on St.Margarets Road and loss of a massive block of public open parkland close to Prestwich.

Local Councillors for the area (Holyrood Ward) Vic D’Albert, Tim Pickstone and Wilf Davison are shocked and appalled by the scale of the development proposed and are therefore leading a campaign against these proposals from Manchester City Council.

If you are also concerned about the plans we hope you may be able to support the campaign and as such we thought it would be useful for you to receive an update on the whats has been organised so far.

First of all following growing community unrest we have now organised a petition and a public meeting.

The public meeting is at St.Margarets Church House (opp the church) on St.Margarets Road, Prestwich on monday, April 27th from 7pm.

A special Save Heaton Park Petition web site has been set up at http://campaigns.libdems.org.uk/saveheatonpark where you can also sign an online petition. The Save Heaton Park Petition is also available online at our new community web site www.myprestwich.org.uk (see the article about the park).

A paper petition is to be distributed to local shops in the near future and emailed for printing.

Finally for Facebook enthusiasts you may be interested in joining the “Heaton Park for the PUBLIC” facebook group that has been established by concerned residents.
Other events and activities are being planned so come along to the public meeting or sign up at the Petition web site to receive news updates via email.
Regards and Keep it Green!

In order to take forward the “Love Prestwich” Village Centre strategy, a further retail capacity study has been undertaken to ensure that the key recommendations of the Love Prestwich Village Strategy are based on the most up-to-date possible assessment of the capacity and need for new retail development within Prestwich. This new evidence, the Prestwich Town Centre Retail Capacity Assessment, has now been prepared by Drivers Jonas and can be viewed by following the link below:

Download Prestwich Town Centre Retail Capacity Assessment document (1mb 127 page pdf)

Copies of the Prestwich Town Centre Retail Capacity Assessment are also available for inspection at Prestwich Library and at the Planning Reception, 2nd floor, Craig House, Bank Street, Bury.
Brief Summary of the Retail Assessment:

More information here.

The Council’s Planning Implementation Team are currently undertaking consultation on the updated “Bury But Better”: town centre development strategy, prepared by URBED. The strategy will form part of the evidence base for the Bury Local Development Framework Core Strategy and the intention is that it should be approved as a Material Planning Consideration to help guide the Council’s future decisions on planning applications and other potential regeneration initiatives in and around Bury town centre.

The consultation is taking place between 30th March 11th May 2009. Details of the consultation process together with the Consultation Draft – Bury But Better:Town Centre Development Strategy and other supporting information can be down-loaded from the Council website at www.bury.gov.uk/burybutbetter

Download the consultation leaflet here.

Manchester based regeneration experts ‘URBED’ are seeking the views of local people on their initial options for a regeneration strategy that is looking to reshape the face, and the fortunes of Prestwich.

Having conducted an appraisal of the area, the masterplanning options are now available to view in Prestwich Library and at the Longfield Centre for a three week period between 19th May and 6th June 2008. The library is open from 9am to 7.30 Mondays and Thursdays, 9am to 5pm Tuesdays and Fridays , 9am to 1pm Wednesdays and Saturdays and 10am to 2pm on Sundays.

For those unable to attend the consultation, the documents are available to view online by visiting Urbed’s website on http://www.urbed.coop/ . There are three documents available online which (links below) including the “Options Report” which looks at a number of options for areas in Prestwich for development, including; The Longfield Centre, The Health Centre, Metrolink Station, Tesco’s, a Techno Park and Prestwich Hospital among others.

URBED will use feedback from the options to help produce a final masterplan and development strategy for further consultation later on in the year that addresses the concerns of the community and local business community, as well as the development aspirations of developers.

Prestwich Option 1 - using an expanded Tescos to anchor the centre

Prestwich Option 2 - Anchoring the centre in the south

Prestwich Baseline Report
Draft Baseline Report May 2008

Prestwich Consultation Report
Report of proceedings of the Prestwich Roundtable Workshop in the Longfield Suite 13th March 2008

Prestwich Options Report
Options Report for Prestwich May 2008

Prestwich Masterplanning Options

At tonights Prestwich Local Area Partnership (6.30-8.30pm Longfield Centre) the “URBED” design consultants who have been appointed to come up with plans for the future of the Prestwich Village Centre will be making an initial presentation of options to local people.

As your councillors we got a “sneak preview” last night, and there are some excellent ideas, but ones which give us all lots to think about. Issues we need to consider include:
- the link between Tesco’s and the Village, and whether Tescos should/could be rebuilt on the “road front” to bring it closer to the village centre.
- ideas for new buildings in the whole village centre area including shops, housing above shops, a new Health Centre and Library and extended open spaces.
- What do we do with the Longfield Centre? - its an excellent public facility now, but if it was removed would there be any chance of it getting paid for again?
- How do we make the A56 through the Village Centre a more “friendly road” for shoppers and pedestrians whilst maintaining its through traffic role both for local people and as a trunk route into Manchester?
- Is there scope for re-opening up a second road onto the A56 from the east to relieve Fairfax Road?

For me the most important thing is that as many people as possible get the chance to say what they think about the plans and options. Its our village centre and we need to get it right! Do come along to the Area Partnership meeting or to other events. As soon as I have some links or electronic versions of the options I’ll post them on this site.

More information from URBED here.

Plans to move forward on development of the Prestwich Heys Football Club on Sandgate Road have been approved.

As a ward Councillor I was at a site visit with many local residents who raised many important concerns about the proposal. My councillor colleague Cllr Vic D’Albert represented residents at the meeting later that evening.

Here’s Vic’s report from the meeting:

“Bury Council’s Planning Control Committee last night approved controversial plans to re-develope the Sandgate Road Football Ground. The plans for new buildings, fencing, extended car park and floodlighting were passed by 6 votes to 3 and followed a visit to the site by the Committee earlier in the day. Ward Councillor Vic D’Albert commenting on the decision said, “I am pleased for the club but very dissapointed for residents, some of whom are very distressed about this result. I think the club has to learn lessons about working with their neighbours and would reiterate my belief that this successful club is fast out growing their Sandgate Road home and in considering future developments start to look at a more suitable location.

Earlier Vic addressed the committee and said:

 “First of all I would like to say that I am not opposed to Prestwich Heys and I hope that they continue to thrive and prosper both on and off the pitch.However just I am not opposed to The Heys, I also feel that the applications before the Committee tonight should be divorced from any emotions about enabling the club to develop and ultimately to compete in higher leagues.Just as the committee would approach the request for development of a residential property would not take into consideration the growth of the family living there the committee I feel should not be looking to accommodate the growth of Prestwich Heys. That issue should not be a contributing factor.The key issue generating most opposition to this application is with regard to the proposal for a set of 6 floodlights on 15 meter stanchions….15 meters is about 50 feet. When I tell you that an ordinary residential property is about 30 feet – I think it puts this issue into perspective.  Those affected have a right to live their own lives free from pollution of whatever kind. Without having their homes and gardens illuminated at inappropriate times and disturbing their lifestyles. I believe these proposals are a step too far. When Heys relocated to Sandgate road in 1991 this was a football pitch and St.Josephs Avenue was already built and occupied – they have developed into a reasonably successful club and now have a football ground. I would argue that the plans before you tonight for fencing extended car park provision and floodlighting take the club a step nearer having a football stadium and therefore these plans amount to an over-development of the site.I think its time the club were more open in sharing its visions with the local community and also considered its long term future.I feel the time is fast approaching when Heys should consider as part of those ambitions finding a more suitable location to enable them to grow and achieve at a greater level.One thing is sure and that its not for the local community to accept Heys development at cost to their own quality of life. Its not for St.Josephs Avenueto accomadate the ambitions of Prestwich Heys – especially as they were there firstIt could be argued tonight that rejection of these plans would make Prestwich Heys a victim of their own success. That may or may not be the case. In any event what is clear to me is that the residents living adjacent to this ground should not be the victims of their success. I therefore, with much regret , but as a matter of fairness, request that these applications are rejected.”

A site visit by the Council’s Planning Committee is scheduled to take place next Tuesday, 20 November 2007, to consider the planning application made by the club.

The Committee will be at the Club at 3.50pm on Tuesday where they will look at the proposals for improved car parking, fencing and floodlights prior to a decision being made on the appliation at the Planning Meeting that evening at 7.00pm.

I am planning to be at the site visit, to brief members of the Planning Committe of the concerns that many residents have raised concerns over the proposals.

Tim