Mary DAlbert

Due to the huge public outcry Goals Soccer Centres have failed to present their plans to Manchester City Council Planning Committee for a second time.

They are trying everything they can to get these plans approved. It’s up to us to stop them.
They have tried and failed in other parks. We must fight them every inch of the way.

Goals have been stopped before

Regents Park - REJECTED
Mordern Park -REJECTED

Lets stop them in Heaton Park and make it three nil for all those people who love open
parkland.

We urge you to object to this new planning application
The new planning application from Goals includes raising the level of the pitches by
80 centimeters which is almost a metre higher than they were originally planned. Making this blot on the landscape even more obvious.

Additionally security fencing is also planned. This physical and visual barrier will effectively cut off this area of parkland and thereby detract from the special character of this area of the park.

You need to send your objections to Manchester City Council by 3rd February 2010 If you have already sent in an objection during the last consultation period you will still need to send in another objection.

A - Sign the Online Petition

If you’ve already signed - find TWO friends to sign! - Ask them to join the “Save Heaton Park” Facebook Group.

Here’s the link to the petition to send to a friend in an email.
http://www.saveheatonpark.org.uk/?page_id=2

B - Download and email / send in an objection letter.

Download the letter here - you can amend this letter to include your own words and objectsion.

Email your objection to r.griffin@manchester.gov.uk

C - Write your own Objection Letter

Quoting Application No: 090370/FO/2009/N1

and send to:

Peter Babb
Head of Planning
Manchester City Council
P.O. Box 463
Town Hall Extension
Manchester
M60 3NY

D - Attend the Save Heaton Park Meeting
Find out what has been happening with the campaign.

Monday 25 January 2010
7.00pm Church House (St Margaret’s Road, Opposite the Church), Prestwich.

Thank you for all your support so far!

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Wishing all residents of Prestwich a happy new year.  My new years resolutions are my usual, Loose weight, Be more active, and to update my site more often, I may even start to ‘Twitter’.

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

Application number: 51920         Type of application: Full         Date Registered: 30/10/2009 10:46:50

Applicant: Yourspace
Location: 449-449A BURY NEW ROAD, PRESTWICH, MANCHESTER M25 1AF
Proposal: CHANGE OF USE OF GROUND FLOOR 449 BURY NEW ROAD FROM (A1) TO (A2) AND 1ST FLOOR ABOVE 449 & 449A BURY NEW ROAD FROM (A4) TO (A2)

Plans will be available to view on the Council’s website within 2 working days from the date of this email. Should you require further details please contact the case officer: Tom Beirne on: 0161 253 5361 or reply by email.

Well over 200 local residents packed into the Longfield Suite in Prestwich last week and sent a clear message to Bury Council that they want to keep the Longfield Suite.

At a previous meeting residents had demanded that the Leader of the Council, Cllr Bob Bibby attend to face concerned residents, and he attended for an hour with Mike Kelly, Bury Council’s Deputy Chief Executive.

Following introductions from meeting organiser, Cllr Vic D’Albert and a statement from Cllr Bibby questions were taken from the floor.

Vic D’Albert commented, “I think it’s fair to say Cllr Bibby received a real grilling on proposals for the future of the Longfield Suite as residents demanded explanations and more details about the so-called reconfiguration planned. Sadly Cllr Bibby was generally unable to respond positively to any great satisfaction of those present.”

“What pleased me most about last nights meeting was not just the turnout, which for a miserable bonfire night evening, was excellent, but the broad representation of Prestwich residents that were present.”

“I hope Cllr Bibby has now taken notice of the strength of feeling from local people on this issue and I would urge him to show he has listened by scrapping the “Task & Finish” officer group he has established and to instead work with local people and councillors in an open and transparent way to look at how the Longfield Suite can be improved in every way to become a more sustainable and even more attractive community centre.”  

“It’s a great shame Cllr Bibby had to leave the public meeting to attend a Conservative meeting as many more people had questions to put to the Council leader. However we hope he has listened to those he did hear, and we now expect action. Meanwhile I would just thank all who attended last night and those who have volunteered to help with the campaign - it’s just a shame we needed to do it in the first place.”

Goals Soccer Centres have re-submitted an amended planning application to Bury Council for consultation following formal submission to Manchester City Council last week.The details are;
Application number: 51957         Type of application: Consultation From Neighbouring Authority         Date Registered: 03/11/2009

Applicant: Goal Soccer Centres plc
Location: AREA ADJACENT TO EXISTING BOWLING PAVILION, HEATON PARK, PRESTWICH, M25 2SW
Proposal: PROPOSED SPORTS DEVELOPMENT COMPRISING OF DETACHED BUILDING TO FORM CHANGING ROOMS WITH ANCILLARY STORE, MULTI USE ROOMS AND CAFE BAR TOGETHER WITH THE FORMATION OF 13 SMALL-SIDED FOOTBALL PITCHES, 6 TENNIS AND NETBALL COURTS, SKATEPARK AND CLIMBING WALL WITH ASSOCIATED PARKING, LANDSCAPING, BOUNDARY TREATMENTS AND ASSOCIATED FLOODLIGHTING (AMENDED PLANS)

Plans will be available to view on the Council’s website within 2 working days from the date of this email. Should you require further details please contact the case officer: Mark Kilby on: 0161 253 7639 or reply by email. For further clarification please don’t hesitate to contact your local councillors.

We are beginning to see more and more mornings when vehicles are frosted over.

Many people in residential areas may be tempted to leave their vehicles with the engines running whilst they nip back inside their houses to keep warm. Unfortunately car thieves are aware of this and now that winter is here they will be up and about early in the mornings driving around residential areas looking for easy pickings.

Don’t leave your car engine running on the street or your driveway unless you are stood with it. If a criminal steals your car with the keys in the ignition, your insurer is unlikely to pay out. Can you afford to give away thousands of pounds in an instant?

Bury Council is gearing up to introduce new borough-wide rubbish and recycling collection routes as from Tuesday 24 November.

The new routes are part of a plan to reduce carbon emissions by cutting down on fuel usage, make better use of the collection vehicles and extend recycling opportunities into rural areas. This is the first major change to collection routes for eight years and the first since kerb side recycling was introduced. As a result 20,000 households out of nearly 82,000 are to be given new rubbish and recycling collection days.

Prestwich Local Area Partnership will showcase Prestwich Winter Wonderland which kicks of on Sunday 22 November with a bumper Prestwich Christmas Farmers Market and Christmas Lights Switch On at The Longfield Shopping Centre with not only top Coronation Street Star Katherine Kelly (Becky) to switch on the lights.

There will be lots of family entertainment to enjoy this splendid day with top local entertainment, Dave K, a Town Cryer, Besses o’th Barn Brass Band, Pop Star Academy, Prestwich Arts College Choir, Sweeky the Clown and Santa’s Grottos of course. Prestwich Library have pulled its own cracker for the visitors at the Farmers Market to drop in with their children to enjoy Carnival of the Animals Story time and mask-making 11am-12 for children under aged 10 and under in Prestwich Children’s Library and a FREE prize draw for a big cuddly blue teddy bear. (Please contact the library to book your place), a chance for children to write your letters to Santa and post them in the post-box at the Santa Grotto, Local History Displays – with Craig Brisbane, Guitar Class & Art Society Demonstrations and a one off Computer Taster Session – ‘Shop till you Don’t Drop!’ teaching shoppers how to online shop from the comfort of your home 11-1pm. There’s even a chance to pop in and see Prestwich Hospital Exhibition. What a Cracker!

Transport bosses in Greater Manchester are encouraging people to take advantage of two days of free travel on the Metrolink network.

Greater Manchester Integrated Transport Authority (GMITA) is providing free travel on Metrolink all day, from the first tram until the last tram, this Saturday, 14 November, and next Thursday, 19 November, as a ‘thank you’ to passengers.

Councillor Keith Whitmore, Chair of GMITA, said: “We’ve invested a significant amount in improving the Metrolink network this year; projects that will make journeys smoother, quieter and more reliable.

“We’ve completely replaced the city centre tracks, provided high quality new street finishes, upgraded two of the busiest city centre stops and installed the first sets of new ticket machines – major improvements that were completed on time and on budget.

“However, we fully appreciate that passengers were left without a full service while all this work was done, and we want to thank them for their patience and understanding during that time – that’s why we’ll be providing these two days of free travel.”

The city centre section closed in April and services returned on 2 November

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.