A Manchester University study has found that patients with asthma avoid using inhalers or cut down their dose because they cannot afford prescription charges.

The study discovered that patients “skipped” or “stretched out” medicine, potentially making their illness worse. The UK survey has also found more than a third of patients are struggling with drug costs due to the recession.

Whilst this study highlights problems faced by patients suffering with a specific illness, it is undoubtedly the case that a review of precription charging is now well overdue. Many people are suffering because they cannot afford multiple prescriptions and so go without with the inevitable consequences. the recession has just aggravated the situation further.

What until recently affordability was mainly a problem facing dental patients, the problem has now spread to general medication. Whilst the Government has promised a review in the autumn we need urgent action now to deal with this growing health risk.

1st - Area Partnership Chairs, Bury Town Hall

7th - Climate Change Working Group, Bury Town Hall

8th - Bury Council Executive Committee, Bury Town Hall 6pm

9th - Prestwich Area Partnership, Sedgley Park School, Bishops Rd, from 6pm for 6.30 start

15th - Economy, Environment and Transport Scutiny Commission, Bury Town Hall

A leading member of the ruling Conservative Group conceded that our roads are a disgrace at the recent full meeting of Bury Council.

The admission from Cllr Gunther was in response to a question from Lib Dem councillor, Mary D’Albert (St.Mary’s ward).

But most astonishing was the reply that for the period May 07 to June 09 Bury Council has paid out on 333 highways claims with the total amounting to a shocking £2.1 Million. The average claim was just under £6500.

This is further evidence if needed that Bury’s roads are in a terrible state and in need of massive investment. At he full council meeting we called on the Council to consider drastic action, if need be obtaining one off loans to bring inject much needed funds into the highways maintenance programme.

The Conservative leader of the council conceded that the amount needed to bring our roads up to speed is more likely to be in the region of £40 million.

One thing is sure we need action now, because our roads are getting worse, claims are going through the roof and accidents are likely to happen.

Click below for planning applications received in our local Ward in the last month. For more information on any of these applications please click here. Don’t hesitate to get in touch if you would like more information or have any concerns.

Application Number: 51473
Registration Date: 17/06/2009
Ward Name: Prestwich - Holyrood
Location: 7 LANGLEY GROVE, PRESTWICH, M25 3EE
Proposal: TWO STOREY EXTENSION AT SIDE
Case Officer: Janet Ingham
Decision: This case has not yet been decided
Appeal Received Date: This case has no appeals against it

Application Number: 51440
Registration Date: 16/06/2009
Ward Name: Prestwich - Holyrood
Location: 13 HILLTOP AVENUE, PRESTWICH, M25 1LL
Proposal: REPLACEMENT OF SINGLE STOREY FLAT ROOF WITH PITCHED ROOF
Case Officer: Jane Langan
Decision: This case has not yet been decided
Appeal Received Date: This case has no appeals against it

Application Number: 51374
Registration Date: 10/06/2009
Ward Name: Prestwich - Holyrood
Location: 22 KENILWORTH AVENUE, WHITEFIELD, M45 6TG
Proposal: SIDE GARAGE EXTENSION
Case Officer: Jane Langan
Decision: This case has not yet been decided
Appeal Received Date: This case has no appeals against it

Application Number: 51264
Registration Date: 10/06/2009
Ward Name: Prestwich - Holyrood
Location: 38 SIMISTER GREEN, SIMISTER, PRESTWICH, M25 2RY
Proposal: GARDEN SHED (RETROSPECTIVE)
Case Officer: Janet Ingham
Decision: This case has not yet been decided
Appeal Received Date: This case has no appeals against it

Application Number: 51407
Registration Date: 08/06/2009
Ward Name: Prestwich - Holyrood
Location: 19 ST MARGARETS CLOSE, PRESTWICH, M25 2LY
Proposal: SINGLE STOREY EXTENSION AT FRONT; PART SINGLE STOREY / PART 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

A wide range of free sports sessions awaits young people in the summer evenings.

Qualified coaches from Bury Council’s sports development team will offer football, rounders, basketball and rugby, to name but a few.

The sessions take place at Heaton Park Primary School in Cuckoo Lane, Whitefield, for boys and girls aged from ten to 16.

They run every Monday and Wednesday between June 29 and July 15, from 6pm to 8pm.

There’s no need to book – simply turn up, register and play.

For further details contact Andrea Pilling, Health Kick co-ordinator, on 0161 253 6463.

Today is the first Armed Forces Day -a day to remember past and serving armed forces personnel.

Taking into account the extraordinary service and committment of our service personnel across the world and domestically in recent years then surely this commemorative day is not before time.

This country is naturally proud of the men and women who serve this country, often in extremely difficult not to mention dangerous cirumstances. Prepared to lay down their lives if necessary.

I for one will be remembering past members of my family that have served this country and thinking of those especially in Afghanistan and still in Iraq that are being called on to risk the ultimate sacrifice.

Cllr Sheila Magnall followed the House of Commons speaker in making a very competent debut at Wednesdays full council meeting at the town hall, maintaining a firm control of proceedings and not afraid to make judgments. Clearly the lady is not to be messed with!

However it is a shame she is operating in an apparently ever diminishing democratic environment at the Town hall.

To recap the Conservatives have made it more difficult for members of the public to ask questions at council, they have limited questions from councillors at Full Council and restricted questions at Executive meetings, they require further notice of questions in writing. On top of that they are in my opinion trying to restrict the scrutiny commissions scrutiny of policy and limiting the scrutiny commissions work programme of items they may wish to scrutinise. And if that wasn’t bad enough if an item is scrutinised, any recommendations to teh Executive tend to be ignored - at least if opposition members have had a significant input.

We desperately need to open up our democracy and re-engage with members of the public. The public we serve!

It’s time our democratic decision making and policy review structures were completely reviewed, if necessary with the aid of independant advisors or members.

Last night I took the opportunity to question the Conservative leader of the Council about his references during the week to disabled children attending Radcliffe Riverside. He had stated at a previous meeting that “It’s a reality of life” and the move to The Derby High could pose “A bit of a problem” as it does not have disabled access.

Whilst he clarified his comments last night, I told him that his remarks had been totally insensitive to the concerns of disabled people in the Borough not least Radcliffe and he should have apologised.

I also put it to him that the disability access issue is symptomatic of a Conservative Council making policy in a panic, on-the hoof and that the reorganisation of high schools had been mishandled and was a shambles.

He neither apologised or agreed with me - no surprise there. What was surprising was the leader of the Labour group accusing me of hypocrisy. This was apparently because we supported the motion to proceed with merger (with the Derby) to get the school built. Cheap points scoring, when he knows full well we never agreed to close Riverside before The Derby High. And we have consistently pressed for the pupils, parents, staff and Governors to be fully consulted and kept on side all along. Of course what we now know is that the Tories panicked and the rest is history.

I thought the new speaker, John Bercow made a competent start today at his first PMQ’s. It can’t be easy knowing most of your party colleagues voted against you and the Labour party only voted for you cos’ they don’t want to get the blame if and when things go pear shaped again!

But he started to impose himself - cutting short a couple of MP’s that threatened to waffle on, calling for MP’s to be quite while people spoke etc, and in his post PMQ’s statement he has demanded that Ministers make statements to the Commons BEFORE varied radio and TV programmes. How will the spin doctors cope - we’ll see what happens when that dictat is tested.

Pity he can’t force people to answer questions properly, never mind one step at a time.

The first case of swine flu has been reported in Bury. A 13 year old pupil of The Derby High School has been confirmed as having mild symptoms.

It is understood she may have contracted the virus on a visit to Scotland recently.

As a result the school have taken appropriate measures to contain the virus and have sent home identified possible contacts with the affected pupil. I understand about 50 pupils have been sent home.