Mary DAlbert

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

The admission from Cllr Gunther was in response to a question from myself.

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 a ’one-off loan’ to 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. 

Liberal Democrats have criticised Bury Council’s under-investment in road repairs after a local councillor discovered a two-metre deep crater on a Prestwich street.

Cllr Donal O’Hanlon, Liberal Democrat member for St Mary’s ward, discovered the hole on Lowther Road, and launched a stinging attack on road maintenance in the borough. “We can’t go on like this - the condition of our roads is appalling, and the amount we are allocated to repair them is paltry!” said Cllr. O’Hanlon.

“Bury Council announced it’s annual budget recently, but the amount given over to road repairs was so low that we can’t even afford to fix the single neediest road. Local Area Partnerships decide how much of the meagre money allocated can be spent on the upgrading of the roads and pavements, but there is nowhere near enough.”

Cllr O’Hanlon described the moment he almost became a victim of the crumbling road himself. “I came round the corner and swerved around a dip in the road. I got out to investigate, and found a crater two metres deep. The damage to someone’s car if it’d fallen in, let alone the shock to the person, would far outweigh the cost of keeping the road in a decent condition!”

It’s started with a storm at Prestwich Clough and almost ended in glorious sunshine at Prestwich Carnival. After 35 days, 55 events, 1,000’s of visitors to events, money raised for charity Prestwich Festival puts its feet up and says goodbye for 2009 with a final weekend of fun.

The Highways Agency is advising drivers using the M60 between junctions 19 at Middleton and 23 at Ashton-under-Lyne in Greater Manchester to allow extra time to complete their journeys over the next six weekends.

Starting Friday (June 19), work is being carried out along this 6-mile section each weekend until August, weather permitting.

A new planning application has been received within theWard (Prestwich - St Mary’s) as detailed below:-

Application number: 51463         Type of application: Full         Date Registered: 17/06/2009

Applicant: Mr Lepki
Location: 43A SHELLEY ROAD, PRESTWICH, M25 9GH
Proposal: SINGLE STOREY SIDE & REAR EXTENSIONS

Should you require further details please contact the case officer: Jane Langan on: 0161 253 5316 or reply by email.

A new planning application has been received within the Ward (Prestwich - St Mary’s) as detailed below:-

Application number: 51419         Type of application: Full         Date Registered: 03/06/2009

Applicant: Mr Robin Wernick
Location: 3 HAMILTON ROAD, PRESTWICH, M25 9GG
Proposal: SINGLE STOREY EXTENSION AT FRONT; ALTERATIONS TO EXISTING WALLS, WINDOWS AND DOORS; NEW BOUNDARY TREATMENT AND GATES

Should you require further details please contact the case officer: Tom Beirne on: 0161 253 5361 or reply by email.

A new planning application has been received within the Ward (Prestwich - St Mary’s) as detailed below:-

Application number: 51393         Type of application: Advertisement         Date Registered: 26/05/2009

Applicant: China Sun Restaurant
Location: CHINA SUN RESTAURANT, 458 BURY NEW ROAD, PRESTWICH, M25 1AX
Proposal: 2NO ILLUMINATED SIGNAGE

Should you require further details please contact the case officer: Jane Langan on: 0161 253 5316 or reply by email.

Following the last meeting of the Council’s Executive, a new strategy to tackle domestic violence has been launched in Bury. The first of its kind, it outlines the extent of the problem at local and national level, and sums up what is being done both in Bury and through government initiatives. 

Domestic violence affects one in four women and one in six men. Last year, police in Bury attended 4,100 incidents of domestic violence: and more than half of those were repeat incidents. The last three murders in Bury have been related to domestic violence.

The financial cost in Bury is £87 million a year, in terms of agency costs, medical bills, employers’ costs, and personal expenditure such as having to move house. At the launch, second-year students from Bury College performed a 15-minute show on the impact that domestic violence has on family life.

Four groups were presented with cheques totalling £2,500 raised locally during the White Ribbon campaign of November/December. They were: Women’s Housing Action Group, Greater Manchester Domestic Violence Helpline, the CAB, and Counselling Direct.

For more information contact Jaria Hussain-Lala on 0161 253 5167.

A variety and talent show for individuals, pairs and groups no larger than five, attending Prestwich Junior Schools has been organised as part of the Love Prestwich Festival.

Prizes include:
- £150 Canvass portrait
- Family meal at Croma
- Music Vouchers for all finalists

Auditions are open, so turn up anytime between 3.30 and 5.50 on April 28th at Parrenthorn High School. The finalists will perform at “Prestwich has Junior Talent” in St Marys Park Thursday June 11th in front of a panel of industry professionals who will decide the winner.

This event is part of the Love Prestwich Festival and is sponsored by the event organisers plus Prestwich Arts College and Parrenthorn High School

For further details telephone 772 4405