So Brown’s Labour Government has outlined it’s so called legislative programme for the rest of this Parliament – all 70 parliamentary days of it.

In essence this Queens Speech was the mother of all Party Political Broadcasts on behalf of the failing Labour Party. And as such was either an abuse of the process or a missed opportunity or both.

While Brown has taken the opportunity to try and highlight areas of division at the next General Election he has completely failed to tackle the unfinished business of electoral and political reform that has dominated the past year and has been left hanging in the corridors of power like a bad odour.

He seems to forget the anger from the expenses scandal and the demands for reform from inside Parliament and out, and the derision and low public confidence and esteem politicians are held in, not to mention the damage to the legitimacy of parliament. Sadly Brown seems to think enough has been done and we can now move on. I think the general public think otherwise.

Under the circumstances I think Nick Clegg was right to call for the Queens Speech to be scrapped to enable reforms to be debated and implemented before the General Election.

Lib Dems believe in order that trust can be restored in politicians and Parliament, reform is now essential and have proposed the following refoms:

1. Recall power for MPs suspended for misconduct – so we never again have to wait months and years to get rid of people who have betrayed the people they represent
2. Code of conduct for candidates in the next election, including declaration of financial interests – so everyone elected can command full public confidence
3. House of Lords reform – so only elected representatives have the power to make our laws
4. Party funding reform in time for this election – so big money and the whiff of corruption it brings are removed from politics for good
5. Fixed term Parliaments – so the voters can never again be toyed with by a Prime Minister planning an election timetable to save his own skin
6. Legislation to establish a 100-person Citizens’ Assembly, on the Canadian model, to agree a new voting system for Parliamentary Elections
7. Changes to House of Commons procedure to reduce executive power – so never again can a government use the power of the whips to ride roughshod over the views of Parliament.

SEVERE FLOODING is expected for the River Irwell at Strongstry and Chatterton. There is extreme danger to life and property.  Act Now!

Areas at risk are those adjacent to the River Irwell through Strongstry and Chatterton. Including North St, Strongstry Bridge, Chatterton Rd. Other areas at risk include Areas in the vicinity of, Bolton Rd North, and Cuba industrial estate.

Flooding of low-lying land and roads is expected for the Upper River Irwell Catchment.

The Upper Irwell catchment includes the Rivers Beal, Roch and Croal, Limey Water and their tributaries. Other locations which may be affected are around Farnworth, Whitefield, Little Lever, Radcliffe, Bury, Heywood, Whitworth and Bacup area.

For up to date flooding information phone the Floodline on 0845 988 1188 .

Be aware.  Be prepared.  Watch out!

Bury Council is facing a funding crisis for Disabled Facilities Grants according to local Lib Dems. Figures obtained by Vic D’Albert, Lib Dem Parliamentary Candidate for Bury South reveal that over £1,500,000 of grants are either waiting for approval or approved and not yet paid.

“This is a serious issue with serious consequences for those waiting for these important grants” Said Vic D’Albert, adding, “These grants are essential to enable people with severe disabilities to adapt their properties to enable them to live as independent and full a life as possible. Often these involve proving basic ground floor facilities. These figures show that Bury is heading for a financial crisis with these grants, and are stalling over payments more and more in an effort to keep payments down. If the Council does not address this issue sooner rather than later we will see an escalation in the number of disabled people suffering longer and longer as a result.”

The Council had a budget for the year of just over £1.1m but already have applications totalling £1.53 not paid on top of £418,713 already paid this year. On top of these outstanding applications there are a further 34 cases that have now been marked as medium or low priority.

This backlog of grants follows on from the recent high profile local case of Mr Westwood of Whitefield, a double amputee and constituent of Vic D’Albert, who had to wait over 10 months for his grant. In another instance a mother with a 5 year old autistic child approached Vic D’Albert after being told by a council officer that “the council couldn’t afford to do the work yet – could they find the £29000 necessary and the council pay them back later”.

“I find it intolerable that in an effort to meet the budget that has been set at the beginning of the year, that Bury Council is effectively stalling on providing much needed adaptations. We are not talking luxuries here, these are essentials and needed immediately not in 10 months or a years time. I expect Bury Council to respond to this crisis with a detailed strategy as to how they plan to deal with this problem in a way that meets the demands of disabled residents.“

“It’s stressful, hurtful and frankly insulting for people to be treated this way. Bury Council needs to get a grip of the situation immediately.”

It was extremely sad to read in the local paper of the tragic death of Rachel Davies as a result of an air rifle accident. And to read the heartfelt plea from grieving parents Angela and Ricky Davies at the inquest into their daughters death urging people to stop buying these weapons.

Too often we read in national and local news of either tragic accidents or abuse of these weapons by owners. I firmly believe the time has now come for the Government to take a firmer line with these weapons. Whilst there are regulations already it is worrying that air guns and rifles do seem to be readily available and they seem to fall into the wrong hands too easily.

I myself was “shot” at from a bedroom window while visiting an estate in my council area a while ago and whilst I suffered no injuries the incident was alarming, and even now I wonder what damage would have been done if the pellet had hit me in the eye rather than my jacket.

It would seem to me that the regulations are too casual, we need need firm regulations from beginning to end – from importers to shopkeepers to purchasers. Outlets selling these weapons should be strictly licensed and limited.,And there should be strict penalties for improper use of these weapons. Too often people treat them as toys when they are offensive weapons.

How many more tragedies will we have to put up with, how many more parents have to lose their precious daughter? 

The scandal of 180,000. dementia sufferers being prescribed anti-psychotic drugs – leading to behaviour changes in many and even death, is bad enough, but sadly I think the problem is a much wider problem.

We need (as a country – society) to decide how we want to be treated both in old age and when unable to properly look after ourselves such as in this case. We need to once and for all decide how we are going to provide the hidden health service – our carers, with the support and advice they need and deserve.We need to fundamentally address a few issues as a society, we need a national debate on these issues which can ultimately inform Government as to what we should expect.I remember when the elderly were often referred to as Senior Citizens – that phase doesn’t seem to be used often enough these days. But to my mind that’s what they are.

In a week when we have commemorated the passing of a generation that gave so much for our freedom and quality of life, isn’t it time we properly recognised that we owe them a certain quality of life in their final years. And isn’t it time we guaranteed a certain quality of life for severely disabled or those generally in need of constant care?

It’s time this issue was placed firmly on the agenda before it slips beneath the cloud of spending cuts and the un-holy political auction between parties fighting to out-cut each other.

Read the rest of this entry.

Tonights Prestwich Area Partnership was dominated by news that the Area Partnership Manager is to be moved to a different area.

Bury Council Management have decided that Area Partnership Managers will be rotated around the Borough every two years to help them develop their personal skills.

It was clear tonight that their was considerable upset and anger at the news. I made a short statement on behalf of Prestwich Councillors that I nor my fellow councillors have ever been consulted on this decision.

I further confirmed that we believe that to rotate managers would be detrimental to the efficiency of the area initiative and the delivery of local goals and objectives.

Finally I confirmed that all Prestwich councillors are opposed to the decision and I finished by calling on Bury Council to reverse this decision to rotate managers.

Councillors from all 3 Bury political parties have been opposed to this, 5 out of 6  Area Partnership Chairs are opposed to it, many local partners and community members are opposed to it, the area partnership managers are opposed to it.

In fact most people seem to be against it. Two people however DO support it, Cllr Yvonne Creswell and the Assistant Chief Executive. In fact at a recent meeting of the Area Partnership Chairs, Cllr Creswell confirmed that this is an officer decision.

So the question has to be put; Who is in charge at Bury Council? Do Bury Conservatives support this, or are they being kept in the dark and being told to support it? I know several conservative councillors that don’t support the decision to move partnership managers, but they seem to feel unable to change anything, despite the fact that they are in charge?

Read the rest of this entry. Read the rest of this entry.

Prestwich Local Area Partnership Meeting this week, at 6.30pm, Thursday 12th November, Heaton Park Primary School.

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!

Read the rest of this entry. Read the rest of this entry. Read the rest of this entry.

As a thank you for putting up with major disruption caused by replacing city centre tracks, upgrading of two of the busiest city centre stops and installation of the first sets of new ticket machines Metrolink passengers are to get two days free travel. 

The free days planned are this coming Saturday and Thursday 19th November.The city centre section was closed in April and services returned on 2 November. 

Vic D’Albert commented, “This is an excellent way of repaying commuters loyalty and recognising the disruption they have faced since April. I hope residents will now flock back to the service and make the most of the free travel by leaving the car at home and taking the tram and perhaps kick starting their festive shopping!”

Major overhauls of the St Peter’s Square and Piccadilly Gardens stops – two of the most heavily used on the network – have been completed.The St Peter’s Square stop has been widened and the platform heights modified to allow level boarding for all passengers.The Piccadilly Gardens stop has also been widened and new canopies have been installed to provide better shelter for even more people. 

New state-of-the-art ticket machines that take bank notes and credit and debit card payments, have also been installed on the two revamped stops. They will be rolled out across the Metrolink network by spring next year.

Passengers who have a season ticket which covers the days valid for free travel can claim a refund by writing to Customer Service Secretary, GMPTE, Freepost MR7 116,Manchester, M1 9QL, by 7 January 2010 with their name, address and telephone number. They will also need to provide a photocopy of their Metrolink Travel Club membership card as well as a photocopy of their season ticket if it is still valid, or the original ticket if it has expired. 

Yesterdays announcement by the Government for proposals that will fast-track a new generation of nuclear power stations is nothing short of a “cop out” according to Lib Dem parliamentary candidate for Bury South, Vic D’Albert.

“This Labour Government have gone grey on sustainable energy and renewable power and are now on the verge of a devastating mistake if they plough ahead with plans to build a new generation of nuclear power stations.It’s nothing short of a cop out” 

“There is a massive cost to the taxpayer involved in building Nuclear plants and they are seemingly determined to build these plants without addressing the issue of lethal toxic waste that will be inherited by future generations.

“And, so determined are they to ride roughshod over local public opinion on this issue that they are even prepared to change Planning Law to make it easier to avoid public opposition.That is a disgraceful way to treat people near these sites, people that may well be worried sick about these proposals.

“By putting all our eggs into this toxic radioactive basket the Government is putting at risk any strategy to develop sustainable energy in the UK . The fact remains nuclear energy even with these new sites would only contribute a fraction of the energy demand when it is available – which won’t be for many years.

“The best way for Britain to reduce emissions and secure its energy supply is through the rapid development of renewable power which is clean, safe, effective and would create huge numbers of jobs.

“With one reckless stroke this Labour Government has endangered the development of renewable energy strategies, undermined energy demands, failed to respond to much needed energy consumption cuts and put at risk future generations who will face the legacy of toxic waste.”

Goals Soccer Centres have re-submitted an amended planning application to Bury Council for consultation following formal submission to Manchester City Council last week. It is expected to be a supplementary item on Bury Councils Planning Committee of NOVEMBER 17th where it will be presented for consultation only.

As reported last week, this application will be decided by Manchester City Council on December 17th.

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.