VIC DALBERT

I am sure there are many like me who have watched the unfolding events of the economic crisis on our TV screens night after night have been worried and more than a little anxious for the impact on their jobs, families, communities and country.

However what is increasingly worrying me alongside the latest updates and proposals etc is the concern that the media are in danger of fuelling the crisis. As the crisis has grown so has the blanket coverage from TV and radio News and our newspapers. And, desperate for further information in our 24 hour news society there is a real danger that some of the coverage could enter the realms of speculation and risk undermining economic fortunes further.

We have seen the response and bail out proposals from the Government which have been rightly welcomed and supported by all main parties who I beleive are responding positively and rationally to the crisis. Now its time the media did the same and toned down some of their coverage with a calmer less hysterical approach.  The “Don’t panic” Dads army approach to some of the coverage won’t help anybody.

The news that Peter Mandelson is to receive £234,000 over the next three years is a disgrace at a time of widespread economic problems and at a time of rising unemployment as the country enters a recession.

The pay out is apparently a transitional payment for leaving his EU commissioners post early to take up his new Government post (3rd time lucky). But this is designed for circumstances when you don’t have another job lined up. Mandelson is going to be paid handsomely as a member of the cabinet and receive this as well.

If he has any political sense left he will not accept this pay out. His acceptance would be a slap in the face of all those who are facing economic hardship and unemployment.

“I hope that at this early stage the NHS trust will review their decision and take this opportunity to try and widen access to NHS dentistry in the Whitefield Area, I strongly feel a failure to provide general dentistry services will amount to a missed opportunity to improve dental health for local people.”

“We need action now from the Council, working with the School Governors to boost the schools prospects for next year and we need this Council to sort out once and for all Labours legacy of meddling with the failed high school review.

Planning applcations received for Holyrood Ward in September 2008
For more information click here

Application Number: 50508
Registration Date: 19/09/2008
Ward Name: Prestwich - Holyrood
Location: 81 CUCKOO LANE, WHITEFIELD, M45 6WD
Proposal: TWO STOREY EXTENSION AT SIDE
Case Officer: Amanda Uhunmwagho
Decision: This case has not yet been decided
Appeal Received Date: This case has no appeals against it

Application Number: 50461
Registration Date: 18/09/2008
Ward Name: Prestwich - Holyrood
Location: 4 GLEBELANDS ROAD, PRESTWICH, M25 1NE
Proposal: SINGLE STOREY EXTENSION AT REAR
Case Officer: Tom Beirne
Decision: This case has not yet been decided
Appeal Received Date: This case has no appeals against it

Application Number: 50346
Registration Date: 15/09/2008
Ward Name: Prestwich - Holyrood
Location: 33 GLEBELANDS ROAD, PRESTWICH, M25 1WE
Proposal: RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT - 14 APARTMENTS WITH 14 CAR PARKING SPACES AND LANDSCAPING
Case Officer: Helen Longworth
Decision: This case has not yet been decided
Appeal Received Date: This case has no appeals against it

Application Number: 50484
Registration Date: 10/09/2008
Ward Name: Prestwich - Holyrood
Location: 6 THE HEYS, PRESTWICH, M25 1BZ
Proposal: SINGLE STOREY EXTENSION TO REAR
Case Officer: Amanda Uhunmwagho
Decision: This case has not yet been decided
Appeal Received Date: This case has no appeals against it

Application Number: 50464
Registration Date: 04/09/2008
Ward Name: Prestwich - Holyrood
Location: BROOKVALE, SIMISTER LANE, SIMISTER, PRESTWICH, M25 2SF
Proposal: PROPOSED CLASSROOM BLOCK
Case Officer: Jennie Townsend
Decision: This case has not yet been decided
Appeal Received Date: This case has no appeals against it

Application Number: 50434
Registration Date: 02/09/2008
Ward Name: Prestwich - Holyrood
Location: 13 OLDFIELD ROAD, PRESTWICH, M25 2GG
Proposal: TWO STOREY EXTENSION AT SIDE
Case Officer: Jane Langan
Decision: This case has not yet been decided
Appeal Received Date: This case has no appeals against it

A special meeting of the Prestwich Local Area Partnership will take place on 16 October where the new plans for the regeneration of Prestwich town centre we be formally launched.

The council has teamed up with urban designers, URBED, and regeneration specialists, AGD, to prepare the ‘Love Prestwich Village: Town Centre Development Strategy’.

The strategy describes how Prestwich can be transformed into a thriving ‘village in the city’. It considers how a new primary care centre, a new library and a refurbished Longfield Suite could combine to create a community hub at the heart of the village.

As well as the Big Talk at the Local Area Partnership meeting these plans will be subject to a six week consultation, which begins on 29 September.

The meeting will take place at the Longfield Civic Suite, starting at 7pm. The exhibition outlining the proposals for the regeneration of Prestwich will be on view from 6pm. For further information about the Prestwich Local Area Partnership meeting please contact Carran O’Grady on 0161 253 7245.

Councillor Vic D’ Albert, Chair of Prestwich Local Area Partnership, said, “The plans provide a vision for the regeneration of Prestwich over the next ten to fifteen years. I hope as many people as possible will come along to the Big Talk event to let us know what they think, view the plans and learn more about the consultation process”.

As I write Gordon Brown is re-shuffling his cabinet. Ostensibly billed as an attempt to sharpen up his front bench, refresh the cabinet and relaunch his premiership the same problems nevertheless remain.

The key problem is the Labour Government is tired and running out of steam. Its lost the trust of the people on many of the key issues and even its own backbenchers now doubt Brown’s leadership.  So that is perhaps why he is turning to old hands, Mandelson and Beckett. 

Trouble is how ever much he shuffles his pack there are the same old suits and more than a couple of jokers.   

Gordon Brown’s proposals to deal with the economic slowdown are too little too late, say Bury Liberal Democrats. 

The party has published its own package of proposals designed to help people left struggling by the credit crunch. And the plans are being strongly backed by members in Bury.

The Liberal Democrat measures include tax cuts for low and middle income households, stopping unnecessary repossessions, action to cut energy bills and moves to stop reckless banks jeopardising economic security.

Bury South parliamentary spokesperson, Vic D’Albert, said:  “Gordon Brown’s response to the economic crisis has been too little, too late.

“Right across Bury from Prestwich to Tottington and across Britain people are struggling with rising bills, rising prices, and wages that aren’t keeping up.

“If the Prime Minister really wants to help people on low and middle incomes he should take the simple and obvious step of cutting their taxes, releasing billions of pounds to boost the economy. 

“The Liberal Democrats have consistently called for action to cut energy bills, stop irresponsible behaviour by banks and deliver more help for those threatened with repossession. If Gordon Brown had acted when we first raised these issues we would not be in as deep a mess as we are.” 

Key points of the Lib Dem Fairer Future Economic Recovery Plan

• Put more money in people’s pockets - tax cuts for people on low and middle incomes

• Stop unnecessary home repossessions and provide more affordable housing

• Make energy companies reinvest their windfall profits in cutting bills

• Extra help for people in debt or who lose their jobs

• Tough new rules to limit the excesses of the City

2nd Prestwich Area Partnership 6.30pm with Open (public) Forum - Sedgley Park School, Bishops Road, Prestwich.

6th Bury Lib Dems Executive - New members always welcome, drop me a line if interested.

13th Heaton Park School Governors Meeting 7.15pm

16th Special Prestwich Area Partnership Meeting 7.00pm Longfield Suite.

22nd Consultation Event - Housing Strategy for Older people, Town Hall, Bury

25th North West Lib Dems regional conference

29th Simister Village Community Association 7.30 Lady Wilton Hall, Simister