4th Prestwich Area Partnership: Developing Communities Working Group

12th Prestwich Area Partnership: Town Centre Regeneration Working Group

14th Lib Dem Councillors conference

25th Full meeting of Bury Council, 7.00pm Town Hall Bury - Public welcome

Ages 10-14 and Absolutely Free of charge @ Parenthorn

 28^th May – 1pm – 4pmSkills and games with Salford Reds Coaches29^h May – 1pm – 4pmSkills and games with Salford Reds Coaches

30^th May-1pm-4pm Inflatable Rugby League Skill Zone

Come down & learn new skills & games with Salford

Interested in playing for a team? Bury Broncos are looking to run youth teams starting this summer come down and get involved.

Last night the Council’s consultants for the Regeneration of Prestwich hosted a workshop to engage residents views on the issues regarding the development of Prestwich.
The event at the Longfield Suite was well attended with about 100 people - residents, Council officers , Councillors, local businesses and school representative present.

Amongst other things we were asked to highlight the best and worse features of the Town Centre, highlight towns that we would like to see at least attributes of introduced into plans for Prestwich and what we would like to see Prestwich be like in 15 years time - although personally I hope it doesn’t take that long - I’ll be 64!!!
We finished by highlighting areas that we would like to see developed across the town centre - with the reasons why.
All in all a very successful event that certainly got me thinking and focussed on the future of Prestwich - a Prestwich I hope we can all be proud of when the plans eventually come to fruition.
Well done Urbed - it’s over to you!

Last night I attended a meeting of local residents,Police and Council reps to discuss the possibility of setting up a Homewatch for this area.
The issue of petty crime, nuisance and anti social behaviour in the area came to the fore at the recent meeting to consult on proposals for play areas at Heaton Park School. As a result the Area Partnership working with local councillors and local police/community support decided it would be an opportunity to explore the possibility of establishing a Homewatch in the area.
I am pleased to report about a dozen local residents turned up and expressed varied levels of support and committment to the proposal. As a result further publicity and local contact will be made and a date for an inaugural meeting is being looked at. So Watch this space.

If you would be interested in joining or becoming involved in Homewatch in any capacity please get in touch.

6th  - FULL MEETING OF BURY COUNCIL  Town Hall 7.00pm. Members of the public are welcome to attend and time is set aside for public questions.

11th - LIB DEM EXECUTIVE MEETING - All members are welcome to attend (contact me for more details or info on becoming a member).

13th - TOWN CENTRE REGENERATION WORKING GROUP 6.00pm - This working group of the Area Partnership is starting to consider te future of Prestwich town centre. Members of the public and local businesses welcome.

14th - STANDARDS COMMITTEE

20th - BUDGET COUNCIL MEETING Town Hall 7.00pm - This special full meeting of the council will set the council budget for the next year. Members of the public welcome, time is set aside for public questions.

28th - HEALTHIER COMMUNITIES SCRUTINY COMMITTEE Town Hall 6.00pm, Members of the public welcome.

Tonight I attended Bury’s service to remember the victims of the holocaust and subsequent victims of genocide, ethnic cleansing, race hate and discrimination in all its forms. Alongside the Rembrance day Service on November 11th, I feel it’s my duty to attend such events as this as a local councillor - essentially on behalf of the 9000+ local residents I have been elected to represent, many of whom are jewish or whose families may have fled persecution at one time in their past. And so I joined the Mayor of Bury, Party leaders, Chief Officers, Faith leaders - representing Muslim, Christian as well as Jewish faiths and about 200 local people including holocaust survivors.

All present were presented with a very moving collection of readings and holocaust accounts and performances of dance,  music and images all knitted together to create a moving reminder and remembrance of the horrors perpetrated and the lessons we must learn to ensure that a holocaust is never repeated and that we need to ensure that no future government can be aloud to pepetrate such policies and genocide, ethnic cleansing and race hate.  Very very moving - a powerful reminder. I wish more could attend.

Last night I attended 2 important community events.

First of all I attended the Play Area consultation event at Heaton Park school on Cuckoo Lane.

Following the identification of funds to provide additional facilities for local children it is hoped that some suitable play facilities can be provided on the school site (across the front of the school) along Cuckoo lane.

Many residents have expressed deep concerns following years of vandalism, nuisance and dodgy goings-on on the school field!

As an immediate consequence of consultation to date the plan for a “teenage” ball zone have now been dropped  and following last nights even officers are revising plans to take into account residents concerns.

Polefield Tenants & Residents

Following the school consultation I attended a meeting of Polefield Tenants & Residents Association. Plans are now being progressed to recruit more helpers and volunteers to enable the TRA to be more effective in highlighting and dealing with local issues.

Local councillors fully support the TRA and Six Town Housing Officers involved and are looking to support a special social event being planned for March - so watch this space!

Meanwhile if you are a tenant, live on the estate and would like to help, please get in touch.   

The next meeting of Prestwich Area Partnership is tomorrow, tuesday 15th January at St.Monica’s RC High School on Bury Old Road (opposite Heaton Park).
The meeting starts at 6.30pm with the Public open Forum commencing about 7.30pm.

Members of the public are welcome to attend the whole meeting and raise questions and issues in the second half commencing 7.30pm.

If you are unable to attend the meeting but need to raise an important issue please don’r hesitate to contact your local councillors. That’s what we’re here for!

Bury Councils ‘Age of Opportunities’ initiative is one year old and in celebration of the successful first year of this Initiative (supported by all parties), Bury Council have organised a One Year on event on…

Date: Wednesday 13th February 2008
Time: Drop in between 11am-7pm
Venue: The Elizabethan Suite, Bury Town Hall

This is an event to celebrate being 50+ and promote all of the activities and opportunities that are currently available to people aged 50+ living in Bury. It is also an opportunity for you to find out what we have been doing and influence our plans for the future.

There will be various activities taking place throughout the day. There will be lots of information, freebies and refreshments available so please come along!!

For more information please contact:
Christine Maksymowski, Bury Adult Care Services
Tel: 0161 253 6587
E-mail c.maksymowski@bury.gov.uk

I look forward to seeing you there.

Thursday, January 10th - Healthier Communities Scrutiny Committee (Bury Town Hall)
Wednesday, January 9th - Bury Council Executive Meeting (Cllr Pickstone reps Lib Dems)
Tuesday, January 15th - Prestwich Area Partnership (St.Monica’s RC High School)
Tuesday, January 22nd - Planning Committee (Lib Dems - Cllr Davison and Cllr O’Hanlon)
Wednesday, January 23rd - Heaton Park School Ballzone and play facilities consultation event.
Wednesday, January 23rd - Bury Council Executive Meeting (Cllr Pickstone reps Lib Dems)

Monday, January 28th - Holocaust Memorial Service
Wednesday, January 30th - Simister Village Community Association

A drop in event is to be held at Heaton Park School on Wednesday January 23rd from 3.30pm to inform and consult with local residents about plans for community play facilities at the school.

Plans are currently being formulated to provide for a nursery school age play area, an intermediate play area and a small ballzone but all plans are subject to consultation.

If you would like to find out more or want to raise concerns this is the event for you. It is hoped a number of officers representing different departments will be on hand to listen and advise residents. Local councillors have also been invited to attend.

I’ve just returned from St.Mary’s CE Primary School Carol service at St.Mary’s Church. A marvellous occasion , proud parents watching their kids performing  nativity sketches and singing carols. Happiness abounds and we are all left feeling proud of the school and the young performers and full of the spirit of Christmas - not to mention mulled wine and mince pies. And one couldn’t help feeling an air of celebration in church - celebration that the school is now out of special measures and once again providing the first class education that the children deserve and the parents expect. 

last night I attended a consultation event that is part of the Councils review of the Area Partnerships. As you may know the Area Partnerships replaced the Area Boards and have been trying to do things differently, with varied success. As a result the Council agreed that a review was needed to identify possible improvements.

Last nights event focused on consulting with Community members (representative nominated to the Area Partnerships from local organisations ie Churches Together or Tenants groups etc). It provided an opportunity for those members to raise positive and negative aspects of the Area Partnerships.

If you have attended Prestwich Area Partnership and have a view on how to improve it please let me know and I will feed it into the consultation process. On the other hand if you don’t attend but would like to , likewise get in touch , we’d like to know why.

Christmas celebrations well and truly swung into top gear in Prestwich last night when the Prestwich Christmas tree lights were switched on by the Mayor of Bury in the company of Santa (of course).

In addition the (nearly) finished granite wall around the fountain was illuminated from lighting along the base and lo and behold the fountain was on!  It has taken much effort to get this far and re-open the fountain so I know local councillors will welcome any feedback from residents so please let us know what you think.

Congratulations must go to all who were involved in organising the event and especially the performers who did their stuff in near freezing temperatures. Well done all.

henshaws.pdf  Booking Form

Henshaws Society for Blind People are organising an afternoon of festive fun at St Mary’s Church in Prestwich. The concert is taking place on sunday 16 December from 2pm - 4pm.

There will be performances from Crystal Chords - Greater Manchester’s Female
Barbershop Harmony, St Mary’s Primary School Choir and Swinton Wind Band. There will also be traditional carols, mince pies and mulled wine!
 
They have chosen St Mary’s as it is the resting place of their founder - Thomas Henshaw. This year, Henshaws is celebrating 170 years of providing practical, caring and imaginative services to blind and visually impaired people of all ages. Henshaws help people live independent and fulfilling lives, despite the many obstacles that they face and they understand that sight loss affects not just the individual but friends and family also. Henshaws currently supports over 80 people in the Bury area.
 
I am sure they would be delighted if you could join them - I’ve already booked my place!See the attachments at the top of this posting for the poster and booking form.
 
For further details contact: Louise Ingham, Community Fundraiser, Henshaws society for Blind People, John Derby House, 88-92 Talbot Road, Old Trafford, Manchester, M16 0GS, Tel: 0161 7863 661 or email louise.ingham@henshaws.org.uk>

If you have a Prestwich community event you would like to publicise please contact me.