Lib Dems in Prestwich have secured the future of the Longfield Suite and Prestwich Library, and managed to scrap shoppers’ parking charges at Fairfax Road after the vote on the Council’s budget.

So, the Council has set its budget at last. Lib Dems proposed an amendment to the much-publicised original proposal, and after a long debate we secured enough votes to make it happen. It contained provisions to save the Longfield and the Library, and to scrap parking charges in Prestwich at last.

Labour proposed similar things, but amidst a package of measures which were simply unaffordable without using money already earmarked for vulnerable children and disabled people. We were simply not prepared to support that, and our amendment which wasn’t as generous but which was fully funded and negotiated with the Council’s financial experts won the day.

As well as keeping Prestwich facilities, the Lib Dem amendment also retained Local Area working (LAPs), and made cuts to bin collections more sensible. Through our negotiations we secured the saving of the lollipop lady at Bury New Road and other traffic hot spots as well.

Nobody enjoys making many of the cuts that were made, and our amendment still meant that lots of them had to be made. But I think what was voted through was a big improvement on what was proposed, and still means that we have a balanced budget. We used our influence as a small party based mainly in Prestwich to get all of the Prestwich-specific cuts reversed (and to scrap shoppers’ parking charges whilst we were at it) and made some of the Bury-wide measures fairer.

All of this came in the context of a 0% Council Tax rise, and a local Labour Party intent on playing politics instead of doing the right thing and helping the borough. Nothing that they proposed came to pass last night because as ever their desire to provide services came at unafordable cost.

It was a dramatic meeting, setting out the cuts that will be necessary to deal with the massive budget deficit and national debt. To put the debt situation into context, the meeting lasted three hours last night and in that time the country paid around £12m in debt interest payments. That’s about as much as Bury council’s total savings target for the year, and it can’t go on, hence the big cuts.

Our goal was always to try and make good some of the mistakes proposed by the Conservatives running the Council. They didn’t consult enough, and made some rash and thoughtless cuts.

We made the Council aware of the petitions we have been maintaining for weeks. And people power worked! Over the months you told us what your priorities were – Parking Charges, the Longfield Suite and the Library, and we achieved them, with more to boot. We made the Mayor aware of those petitions tonight, and the strength of feeling swayed the Tories who run the Council, as they supported our amendment.

The Longfield Suite is saved. The threat to close it has been lifted. Thousands protested against it, and the Lib Dem amendment reversing the proposed closure was passed.

The Library in Prestwich will stay open on Sundays, again after the Lib Dem amendment scrapping the closure plan passed. Also, the community library in Sedgley, which was threatened with closure, is now saved.

Another of our long campaigns was partially realised last night when the short term parking charges at Fairfax Road were at long last scrapped. After months of difficulty for shoppers and those using local facilities, free parking will return from the end of April. Commuters will still have to pay, but there was a commitment from the Council to examine the future of these charges too.

Local roads will become less congested, and Prestwich will be more like every other district centre in Bury again.

Fortnightly bin collections will happen, but the Lib Dem amendment means that a large fund will be available to help large families and those for whom religious observance means seasonal peaks in demand for bin collections. Now, thanks to our amendment, any family can apply for a super-size black bin to avoid overspills. Areas with a high Jewish population will receive extra collections at Passover, and all areas will receive extra Christmas allowances. And areas of high density terraced housing will not automatically need extra bins.

Some of the poorest social housing tenants in Bury will be better off after a Lib Dem amendment to the Housing Revenue Account earmarked funds to reduce rent increases. We need to do everything we can to help the poorest at the moment, and this does that.

Local Area Managers, the people who run the popular Local Area Partnership meetings, were to be scrapped. The Lib Dems have saved half of them, as well as ensuring a small local grants fund for projects at ward level. This is vital to preserving the good work of the Local Area Partnership meetings, so supported by local people. 

There are still some very tough cuts in the budget, but in my view the Lib Dem amendment makes the worst of them better, and saves Prestwich from the brunt of them. The budget also contained a 0% Council Tax rise.

Nobody could come out of tonight’s meeting happy. I wish the Council could’ve avoided the cuts it needs to make. But after lengthy and difficult negotiations we managed to get a budget for Prestwich and Bury which I think makes a big improvement on what was originally proposed. It showed what a small group can do, and what can be achieved through consultation and positive dialogue. The local Labour party, which has done neither, got none of its proposals passed last night.

I hope people can see the improvements that the Lib Dems achieved in this budget, even though, of course, there are still big cuts being made.

Local Councillors were out in force spreading Christmas cheer at the Longfield Centre on Saturday 18th December, as the regular Liberal Democrat Saturday Surgery took on a decidedly Christmassy flavour.

Councillors from all three Prestwich wards were on hand as usual on Saturday morning, but donned Santa hats and handed out free mince pies to shoppers and local people who came down to take part. Richard Baum, Liberal Democrat Councillor for St Mary’s ward, said “We have a surgery at the Longfield Centre every Saturday morning from 10.45 – 11.45 come rain or shine. The snow didn’t deter us on Saturday and we were in the festive spirit with our hats and pies. There was even some mulled wine to keep us warm.”

Richard continued “There’s a serious purpose to these Saturday Surgeries. We are here to listen to local people and try to help with any problems they’ve got. We’ve also got the “Scrap Prestwich Parking Charges” petition for people to sign, and over 2,000 people have done so far. We’re also asking people their priorities for Prestwich so that we can make sure we let the Council know what needs protecting when they make cuts to deal with the deficit and debt. But we’re also here to wish everyone in Prestwich a merry Christmas, and I was pleased that so many people went away smiling with a mince pie and our Christmas best wishes.”

The Saturday Surgery series will commence again in early January after a fortnight off for Christmas and New Year. In the meantime, Councillors are available by phone or email over the holidays.

More lights not working

No.1 Dorchester ave — 669862

No.33 Heywood rd — 669864

number 3 and 11  Kings rd  653290

number 1 newtown st   653297

all reported

Back of Deyne ave    Ref no.647472

n0.18  Kings rd          Ref no. 647648

Heywood rd and Rectory ln Rounabout  Ref no. 647488

Last full council meeting I asked a question about grit bins — when are they going to be filled now we can all feel a nip in the air. The executive member assured us that they were all currently being filled accross the borough.

Currently as you can see either this is nonsense or as usual Prestwich is being left to last.

Don’t forget the crossword clue— Found on the bottom of a birdcage – four letter word ending in __it.

Forget all the conference stuff the big news is my grand-daughter was born today at 1.40pm weighing 6lb and 4oz

Sunday is the day of relaxation and there’s nothing better than a nice walk in Prestwich Clough and as you can see from the above picture the bushes are bristling with blackberries so grab a plastic bag and pick yourself some.

Firstly soak the blackberries overnight in salt water to remove greenfly and worms.

BLACKBERRY JAM

1kg blackberries , 1kg sugar squeeze of lemon plus water

Put the blackberries in a pan and just cover with water- cook the blackberries in the water remembering to stir and squash as you go. Then sieve the contents getting rid of the mush try and squeeze as much liquid out. Then add the sugar and lemon and stir it in over a low heat, when dissolved turn up the heat until the jam reaches the setting Temperature.

Have a saucer in the fridge when you think the jam is at the correct temperature put a small droplet of the mixture on the saucer, if it sets then its ready. Pour into pots leave to cool and enjoy  

After reporting the lights not working in St Marys Park, the engineers managed to get them back on within two days 

After Ann Garner high-lighted the rubbish in george st car park this has now been cleared