prestwich-lights-2007.pdf

Don’t miss the Prestwich Christmas lights switch on and celebrations on monday December 10th from 4.30pm. This year promises to be bigger and better than ever.

Click on the link above for a flier of the event in pdf format.

I hope to see you there!

Last night I attended a well attended meeting of this local residents association.

Wetlands Developments

The Simister wetlands is a local nature reserve and the SVCA are keen to see the site develop and become a local beauty spot. The SVCA have contacted the BBC’s Autumnwatch with a view to obtaining a grant fro improvements to the site.

Allotments

Specifically Egypt Lane Allotments - They are in need of attention - a large number are currently unusable due to bad drainage. The new allotment manager was there to brief residents. They hope to find funds in the near future to carry out drainage improvements and generally improve the allotments.

Roads

Concerns were raised at the lack of flexibility over the councils refusal to allow Road mirrors at junctions with poor visibility. I promised to take take this issue up with the Council. Additional issues were raised regarding the new traffic calming measures on the approach to Parrenthorn School. 

The next meeting of the Association is January 30th, 7.30pm Lady Wilton Hall

(Picture - St.Georges Church, Simister)

The estate was inspected by Six Town Housing on November 14th.
As a result a number of minor issues have been identified which have now been forwarded for action - such as litter picking and repairs to verges.
If you have an issue regarding this estate please don’t hesitate to contact us or use the link on the left to contact Six Town Housing.

Last nights meeting of Prestwich Area Partnership at Sedgley Park School was the last one before Christmas.
NEW MEMBERS
As chair, I had the pleasure to welcome new members to the Partnership - Michael Slater of Simister Village Action Group, Caroline Williams of Prestwich Business Group and Keith Grime of Prestwich Clough Centenary Group.
The meeting received an update on recent issue from the Area Partnership Manager and the Youth Manager and Youth representative.
PRECINCT NOTICE AND INFORMATION BOARD
A £1000 grant was approved to enable a notice board to be erected on the precinct.
REGENERATION
Cllr Ann Garner commented on the work being undertaken by the Partnership to regenerate areas of Prestwich - specifically Rainsough and Polefield.
TOWN CENTRE DEVELOPMENT
Cllr Donal O’Hanlon then updated members on proposals for developing the town centre. Consultants have now been appointed and it is hoped plans can be approved by late 2008. A key concern raised by members was that sufficient consultation should take place on all aspects of the proposals and at every stage.
BELLA ANSELL REMEMBERED
The public engagement part of the meeting was preceeded by a minutes silence to remember Partnership member, Bella Ansell and her contribution to the Partnership and Prestwich Society in general. Bella sadly passed away a short time ago.
HIGHFIELD ROAD
The open forum section of the meeting, when residents can raise issues, was dominated by concerns raised by Highfield Road residents about traffic in their area. These concerns followed the last meeting of the Partnership when the called for action to improve the situation. At that meeting the panel agreed to request an investigation by Council Highways officers - they are due to report back January/February and are currently monitoring the situation. Meanwhile residents asked that double yellow lines are restored and a car park should point towards the car park and not up their street!
POLICE
Inspector Ryecroft reported on a spate of pick-pocketing (”dipping”) instances on the precinct. Inaddition he called on residents to ensure doors and windows are locked and secure as we are now entering a popular time for burglaries. So please don’t be complacent with your property.
FIRE SERVICE PRESENTATION
The Partnership received a short presentation highlighting Fire incident statistics in Bury and Prestwich and watch a short film of a property just following a fire - highlighting the benefit ofclosing all doors before going to bed.

NEXT MEETING
Tuesday, January 15th 2008 at St.Monica’s RC High School, Bury Old Road.

The Government’s data disaster over child benefit records shows why plans for Identity Cards must be scrapped, say Bury South Liberal Democrats. 

Following the revelation that the personal details of 25 million parents and children have been lost by the Government’s Revenue and Customs department (HMRC), and may have fallen into the hands of identity fraudsters, Bury South Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate, Vic D’Albert has written to Ivan Lewis MP urging him to withdraw his support for the ID cards scheme and a National Identity Register in which the Government want to store the personal information of everyone in the country. 

“The fiasco at HMRC has shown the dangers of the Government holding huge amounts of information about each one of us whilst being slipshod in the way that same information is kept,” said Vic D’Albert. 

“This whole saga of incompetence has been shocking and families across the Bury area are now rightly asking whether their personal details are safe. 

“The National Identity Register, which the Government are setting up as part of the Identity Card scheme, will hold vastly more information on each and every one of us than Customs and Revenue managed to lose.  

“The possibilities for the loss of that information, either accidentally or through illegitimate means must make the Government stop and think again very seriously about their plan to store all the data they can on us on a central register. 

“This is a clear illustration of the real dangers of a big brother centralised state.  State control of personal identity details is a real threat to our civil liberties. The Government should respond to the anger and now abandon its ID card scheme. It is clear that the Government cannot be trusted to manage effectively mass databases of personal information. 

“Labour MP, Ivan Lewis voted for Identity Cards when the scheme went through Parliament despite some Labour MPs taking a principled stand and joining the Liberal Democrats in voting against the Government’s big brother plans.  

“But a debacle on this scale must surely give him cause to think again. I have written to him calling on him to press the Government to end the Identity Card scheme for good and to ensure that we do not risk a personal data disaster on an even more catastrophic scale.”

papagenda271107.pdf

Please click on the link above to view the agenda for the next meeting of Prestwich Area Partnership on tuesday, November 27th from 6.30pm. Public Forum from 7.45pm

The meeting is being held at Sedgley Park School on Bishops Road/Kings Road. All local residents welcome.  

 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.”

Last night was the prize giving ceremony for those that had entered the Bury Friends of the Earth poster competition to highlight climate change. Which was also run with the support of Bury Environmental Services.

It was great to see an array of posters designed by all age ranges of local school children. What was most interesting besides the quality of the winning entries was the stark message emanating from these posters - that climate change affects us all and has to be dealt with now.

And, when you look at those young people and their visions of climate devastation you realise more than ever that for their futures we must tackle this issue now.

I know my colleague Cllr Ann Garner was very much involved in supporting FOE in this competition to raise awareness on this vital subject and helped bring the Council on board, and I congratulate her on her efforts. Certainly the winners went away with the biggest goody bags I have ever seen!

This group is made up of the Chairs of the 6 Local Area Partnerships in Bury. I attend as Chair of Prestwich Area Partnership. The Area Partnerships replaced the Area Boards in May.

Tonights meeting received a report on how the Council plan to review progress with the Area Partnerships and the process and methodology they plan to employ. There has been criticism that the transition to Area Partnerships was rushed and it has caused a number of problems. Therefore the Council agreed that the a review should take place to see how they can be improved.

Many councillors are concerned that a) we are not reaching enough local residents, that b) when we do we struggle to achieve the results they want and c) the Council is struggling to meet the aspirations for Area Partnerships demanded by residents and councillors alike.

The main part of the review will take place over the coming months and will report to the council in March with suggestions for improvement. In the meantime if you have suggestions for improving them please let your councillors know.

The next meeting of the Prestwich Area Partnership is on tuesday 27th November at Sedgley Park School, Bishops Rd. Starting at 6.30 with the public participation section of the meeting starting at 7.45pm. All welcome. 

I popped into St.Margarets earlier today to say hello to old friends and support the event. It was immediately clear that from the rows of virtually empty stands and tables that the event had been its usual tremendous success.

Nevertheless there was still time to be sold a “unique, limited edition” two sided jigsaw (my better half has the patience, not me). I also bought a “unique, limited edition, two sided” tie (you can never have enough ties!) and indulged in a tea cake.

I did of course witness the arrival of Father Christmas - I suspect his busy schedule was the key factor in deciding to hold the Christmas Fair in November!

Good to meet everyone, well done to the organisers and your obvious success. A Merry Christmas to you all!