Bury South Lib Dem candidate, Vic D’Albert has called on Bury Primary Care Trust to reconsider their proposals for new health facilities.

It was recently confirmed by the PCT that following rejection of a previous planning application for the uplands health centre near Whitefield Town Hall, that they now plan to relocate most of their plans to premises in the Radcliffe area.

Vic D’Albert commented, “This is a dreadful decision by the PCT that will significantly disadvantage many people in the Whitefield area and will do nothing to help deprived communities in Whitefield. I would urge them to reconsider for the sake of all concerned.

“There has to be a middle way here that provides a planning application in this conservation area that is acceptable to the local authority and enables the PCT to bring first class modern medical and health support services to local residents.”

I have to say I find todays rantings by David Cameron regarding the 3 MP’s charged with theft over their expense claims more than a little distasteful.

He is so determined to make political capital out of anything and everything he is in danger of ignoring natural justice.

Perhaps someone should remind him that we still have trial by jury in this country and as I understand it you are also innocent until proved guilty.

However, do I appreciate much of todays furore is over the MP’s claim that they will seek Parliamentary privilege and claim immunity from prosecution. Clearly that would be a nonsense and if they themselves are so convinced that they are innocent of the charges then they should be prepared to submit to the scrutiny of trial rather than searching for a way of avoiding trial which will only serve to further discredit MP’s and reopen the wound that is MP’s expenses.

As for David Cameron when he acknowledges that there is more to this than MP’s behaving badly and that the whole system is discredited and rotten and that we need root and branch reform, then I’ll take his comments on this issue more seriously.

We get the Government we deserve, and much less than half the population voted for this Government using a system that does not fairly represent the consensus within constituencies  and renders the election in many of the constituences pointless.

Reform is the key word and it’s about a lot more than expense claims.

The latest Homewatch newsletter from Greater Manchester Police brings good news, highlighting a 15% fall in crime.

The bad news is the spate of shed and garage break-ins over the past fortnight. 4 Sheds and 2 garages in Prestwich alone. There has also been the usual spate of thefts from cars. So keep those shed/garages locked and secure and don’t leave items on display in your car. Remember thieves don’t know that the box on your back seat is empty until they have smashed your window to get at it!

The latest newsletter can be viewed and downloaded here: homewatchnewsletter20jan202010.pdf

Hot on the heals of their meddling with the Prestwich area partnership and threats to Prestwich’s Longfield Suite community Centre, Bury Conservatives are now planning to introduce parking charges at the Fairfax Road car park.

The proposal has been introduced into their proposed council budget for 2010/11 and is budgeted to provide income of £35,000.

But the proposal is yet another example of Bury riding rough shod over Prestwich the town and its residents, no proper consultation, no consideration of the local situation and not even the courtesy of a an email to local councillors.

What’s more it cements the growing opinion that Bury’s Conservative administration doesn’t give a jot about the opinion of local townships like Prestwich and will do what it wants irrespective of local opinion.

But even worse, this proposal is either utterly negligent of plain spiteful. With the recovery of Prestwich Town centre in the balance, with some new businesses, some still struggling businesses and regeneration/development of the precinct not even started the conservatives have either not thought about the damage that parking charges could do to a fragile local economy (negligent) or it is a determined strategy to undermine recovery of the Prestwich economy because of its Lib Dem led local Area Partnership.

Time will tell whether it’s negligence or spite. What is certain is that this proposal will damage local businesses and the prospect for local recovery. I can assure readers that Lib Dem councillors will fight it all the way

Liberal Democrats in Bury South today set out their General Election plans to put more police on the beat.

The extra officers for Bury will be funded by the savings from scrapping ID cards, and are part of the Liberal Democrats’ Safer Streets – More and Better Police manifesto commitment.

Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Bury South, Vic D’Albert said: “People in Bury South are often telling me how they feel unsafe. “Expensive ID cards aren’t going to change that, but an extra officer walking down Bury New Road or Dumers Lane or more police in Radcliffe on Friday night will.

“The Liberal Democrats are committed to more police, and this is the only way to create safer streets.”  

Commenting, Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg said: “The Liberal Democrats are the only party that wants to cut crime by putting more police on the street. “When only one in a hundred crimes ends up with a conviction in court, it is time for things to change.

“Labour and the Conservatives may talk tough but they are unwilling to make the crucial decisions to cut crime.”

You can download our Policing manifesto committment here: safer_streets_-_more_and_better_police.pdf

Last nights Full meeting of Bury Council which brings all 51 councillors together in the ritual mud slinging contest was mercifully low on mud hurling for once.

SUPPORTING FAIR FUNDING FOR GMP 

As mentioned previously the Lib Dem Group proposed a motion in support of Greater Manchester Police. We are concerned that financial pressures may lead to 100 or more front line Police officers being lost, with all the consequences for crime fighting that would have. We reiterated our support for GMP and called on the Government to provide greater financial support by releasing funds originally granted (by a funding formula) but not paid over to GMP.

Sadly both the Tories and Labour refused to support the motion, Labour put a “spoiling” amendment that basically wiped out our motion, however as it basically also provided support for the Police, albeit Bury rather than greater Manchester, and sadly lacked any figures, we nevertheless were able to support it.

COUNCIL PAY

Thas was followed by a Labour motion on Council pay. Basically the motion called for a renegotiation of the nationally agreed pay award for local Government employees. It has been agreed that due to the impact of the recession and ultimately the poor state of public finances that local authorities could not afford to offer a pay increase this year.

Shamefully Labour wanted to ignore the financial situation and commit the authority to paying an increase. It was estimated that the increase would cost the authority £2.8m , equivalent to a 4% council tax increase. Everyone wants to pay (and for that matter receive) pay rises, but in a climate where there are going to be cuts this year and probably even bigger cuts in the next few years a pay freeze this year is prudent. Labours motion was nothing short of irresponsible and blatant posturing to voters.

My Lib Dem colleague and Group leader, Cllr Tim Pickstone moved an amendment recognising the plight of lower paid staff and asking that the council consider doing what they can to help them, after all its the lowest paid that suffer most in a recession.

Sadly once again Labour and the Tories voted against our amendment.  Lib Dems and the Tories voted against Labours motion.

After those two motions you certainly got the feeling that battle lines are being drawn for the local elections and general election which will probably take place on May 6th

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