20 mile cycle ride, Sunday 1st August, meet 10.30am

Meeting at St Marys Park car park , Prestwich

Leisurely circular cycle ride with Bury Council’s Ranger Service following National Cycle Route 6 along the Outwood trail and the Bury Bolton canal to Bury. Heading through Pilsworth, Unsworth, and Heaton Park back to St Mary’s Park.

Off and on road -  some of the off road sections are on rough surfaced tracks and the ride includes some short steep slopes but no big hills!.

There will be stopping points along the route including a lunch stop, so please bring pack lunch and plenty of liquids. The rise ends in St Marys Park at about 3pm

Please ensure your bike is in working order. Helmets are recommended. For more information and to let them know you’re coming phone Ranger Ian Rogers on 0161 253 5522.

Latest figures released by the office for National Statistics shows Bury witnessed a big decrease in Job Seekers Allowance (JSA) Claimants from the previous month.

Claims were down 5.8% to 4,095. Bury had the highest decrease of JSA claimants (5.8%) in Greater Manchester with the combined Local Authorities total reaching 3.6%, slightly less than the UK average of 3.9%. Bury District has seen an annual decrease in JSA claimants, 10.9% combined over the past 12 months, with Moorside and Church wards of Bury seeing decreases of 23.4% and 20.7% respectively.

The total number of jobs provided by the Jobcentre Plus increased in June by 13.4% from 967 jobs to 1097. This represents an average of 27 jobs for every 100 JSA claimants. As a whole most wards saw drops in Job Centre (JCP) vacancies with 5 wards posting fewer vacancies than May. Tottington and Redvales witnessed 433% and 52.6% increases in JCP vacancies with Redvales total vacancies accumulating to 566 vacancies.

The male JSA claimant count fell by 6.0% to 2986 and the female claimant count decreased by 5.2% to 1109. Showing that male JSA claimants are staying on JSA for a shorter period and finding it easier to find jobs than female JSA claimants.

The long-term (over 6 months) JSA claimant count stood at 1,625 in Bury for June 2010, a decrease of 3.6% from May. LTU in the Ramsbottom ward dropped considerably (11.1%) implying the job vacancies created in this ward are being filled.

The youth (16 to 24 year olds) JSA claimant count stood at 1,320 in Bury for May 2010, a fall of 7.7% on the previous month. A 7.7% drop is considerably higher than both Greater Manchester and the United Kingdom. They dropped by 5.9% and 5.0% respectively. This is a considerable drop compared to May with a total claimant drop of 90. Bury has a high percentage of total youth JSA claimants against all claimants. (32.2%) Considerably higher than the UK average (27.8%) suggesting younger people are finding it harder to work in Bury than the rest of the UK. 

Vic D’Albert commented, “This is good news for Bury but there is clearly a long way to go and the Government must not become complacent on this crucial issue. In Bury’s case it may well be that the opening of the new Rock shopping centre will have had an impact – especially on youth unemployment. But we should be cautious because there is a real fear that there could be an adverse impact on the Millgate shopping centre and the old Rock area which could lead to a reduction in jobs there, possibly cancelling out some of this improvement.Nevertheless this is an improvement in local fortunes that should be welcomed.”

With the School summer holidays now in full swing Butterstile Childrens Centre is gearing up to meet the demands for extra activities during the holidays.

Throughout the summer holidays the popular childrens centre at Butterstile School, will be organising a number of extra events and activities across the St.Mary’s area of Prestwich all on top of their normal service and activities.

For more information  you can download full details of their summer activities here:  butterstile-summer-timetable-2010.pdf

A new planning application has been received which is within Holyrood Ward of Prestwich as detailed below:-

Application number: 52614         Type of application: Full         Date Registered: 16/07/2010

Applicant: Mr Dost
Location: 33 Glebelands Road, Prestwich, Manchester M25 1WE
Proposal: Construction of ten apartments with car parking spaces and landscaping

Plans are available to view on the Council’s website. Should you require further details please contact the case officer: Helen Longworth on: 0161 253 5322 or one of your local councillors who will be able to advise on how to comment on this application.

Your views would be welcomed in order that we may properly represent local residents and any concerns you may have.

Whether the sun shines or the rain pours children and grown-ups can be active at a Bury Leisure sports centre this summer.

The school holidays are the perfect time for children to learn to swim, learn to dive, take up a new sport or simply take part in fun and active activities.  Bury Leisure promises plenty to keep your kids busy and working off their energy!

Don’t forget!
Children and young people need at least 60 active minutes a day to benefit their health.

What activities are taking place?

Activities are taking place in the pool, in the gym and in the sports hall. Details of each activity and the timetable can be downloaded using the links below.

The full summer activities brochure

Download the full summer activities brochure (12 pages, 1321kb, PDF)

Pool activities

Download activities in the pool (2 pages, 399kb, PDF)

Gym activities

Download activities in the gym (2 pages, 103kb, PDF)

Sports hall activities

Download activities in the sports hall (2 pages, 465kb, PDF)

Activities’ timetable

Download the activities’ timetable (2 pages, 83kb, PDF)

How to book

To book an activity contact the appropriate centre. Contact details are provided below. To book a trampoline course phone Funtime Activities on 07939 567088.

Where are the activities taking place?

Our summer holiday activity programme is available at our three main sport centres: 

Castle Leisure Centre, Bolton Street, Bury
Phone 0161 253 6513 | Email castleleisure@bury.gov.uk

Radcliffe Pool and Fitness Centre, Green Street, Radcliffe
Phone 0161 253 7814| Email radcliffepool@bury.gov.uk

Ramsbottom Pool and Fitness Centre, Porritt Way, Ramsbottom
Phone 0161 253 7292 | Email ramsbottompool@bury.gov.uk

Bury Council is in support of Change4Life.  In order to maintain a healthy weight we need to both eat better and move more.  Many families are making changes that will help them live healthier and longer lives.  Visit www.nhs.uk/Change4Life or call 0300 123 3434 for more information. 

Nick Clegg is promising that Britain will be more Liberal by 2015, when the next General Election will be held.

And he rightly boasts about a number of achievements already since the Coalition was formed such as the scrapping of ID cards, rolling back the DNA database etc and indeed if the legislative programme promised and agreed by the coalition does get through Parliament then indeed we will be a more Liberal nation.

Of course it will take longer to truly roll back much of the illiberalism of the past 30 or more years, and in fact perhaps the harder part will not be the changing of laws and new acts of parliament, but the changing of hearts and minds throughout our towns and communities.

Running tangent with more oppressive, restrictive legislation and Government of the past we have seen the growth of illiberal attitudes, a reduction of tolerance in society and a growing narrow mindedness to other attitudes or beliefs. A developed response from people increasingly withdrawn from society behind increasingly closed doors and minds to the outside world, their community, society.

I dearly hope the changes now being wrought at the top of the political pile start an avalanche of change in society, that will inevitably roll back the illiberalism of the past 30 years. But more than that a change that fundamentally develops more liberal views across the spectrum of our society and truly leads to the rebirth of liberal Britain. 

Not right, Not left, just liberal – the freedom to be different, the power to be free, the hope to be safe.

A WATER BUTT that is!

I’ve been meaning to get a water butt for literally years, and when the hosepipe ban was introduced I said to myself now is the time! (NB – I often say things to myself, occasionally having complete discussions or as a true liberal -dissagreements!)

Of course since buying and installing my butt it has rarely stopped raining for the following 10 days. So undoubtedly you can blame my purchase for the biblical standard downpours that we suffered last week.

Oh the joy, the sheer excitement as I have surveyed my Water Butt each morning to see how much extra water I had garnered overnight – a fact that I have felt obliged to update my better half about each and every morning since.

On a serious note though it has made me realise how we take water for granted and how much water we just allow to wash away, and the ease with which we just turn on the tap.

Water butts are very cheap these days and come in all shapes and sizes to suit, I would recommend anyone with a garden of any size to get one. You usually have to attach it to a downpipe but if I could manage that then believe me you can.

Vince Cable’s recent announcement about the reform of university funding highlighted the need to both find ways of developing increased funding for universities whilst at the same time reducing the debt burden faced by students and making the whole system fairer for all concerned.

As a Lib Dem councillor and former parliamentary candidate, our parties pledge to scrap tuition fees has been a long held committment by my party that I was particularly proud of. So it was with some concern, to put it mildly that we joined the coalition and then effectively appeared to shelve that committment.

The proposal for a graduate tax instead of a student loans to pay for fees, however would meet the political ambition of removing fees directly from students and in turn reducing the debt burden.

A FAIRER SYSTEM

In addition the fact that the graduate tax in place of fees would by virtue of the tax system be more progressive thus enabling graduates to pay according to their employment income – which means those high flying career graduates would pay more and those on slower burning or lower paid incomes would pay significantly less, put proportionally their fair share.

Understandably the whole issue of student debt, tuition fees and university funding has been a matter of increasing concern over the past few years , but hopefully this will prove to be a liberal minded breakthrough that will prove a win win solution for all concerned.

Look no further!

Bury Rangers Service Summer Playscheme is a completely outdoor playscheme, for all 8-12 year olds. Games, craft, circus skills, bottle rockets, kite making and lots lots more.

For a booking form please ring 0161 253 6970 or email buryrangerservice@bury.gov.uk

Week 1 – 20-22nd July – Burrs Country Park, Bury- FULLY BOOKED

Week 1 – 20-22nd July – Bolton Road Park, Radcliffe

Week 2 – 27-29th July – Burrs Country Park, Bury- FULLY BOOKED

Week 2 -27-29th July – Bolton Road Park, Radcliffe

If you wish to book onto Bolton Road Playscheme you can ring 0161 253 5522 to secure your place, and forms can be completed on the day.

Week 3 – 3/5th August – Nuttall Park, Ramsbottom – FULLY BOOKED

Week 3 – 3/5th August – Whitefield Park, Whitefield

Week 4 – 10-12th August – Nuttall Park, Ramsbottom – FULLY BOOKED

Week 4 – 10-12th August – Whitefield Park, Whitefield

Week 5 – 17-19th August – Whitehead Park, Bury

Week 5 – 17-19th August – St Mary’s Park, Prestwich

Week 6 – 24-26th August – Whitehead Park, Bury

Week 6 – 24-26th August – St Mary’s Park, Prestwich

As you see places are going fast so book early!!!

Bury Conservatives’ proposals to introduce parking charges at the Fairfax Road Car park were last night opposed by Prestwich Area Partnership.

The meeting at the Maccabi Community and Sport club on Bury Old Road, received a presentation from officers on the proposals to introduce parking charges and details of parking provision in the area generally.

Members of the partnership and general public were critical of the introduction of charges that officers confirmed were for financial reasons as well as to discourage Metrolink commuter parking.

Councillors Richard Baum questioned whether the income generated would be spent in Prestwich and it was confirmed that it would go to central funds.

Partnership members urged a Council rethink and proposed that at the very least they should consider a lengthy period free of charge to benefit precinct shoppers and users of public facilities such as Our lady of Grace Church, the Walk In centre, Health centre and library.

The item was brought to a close when Sydney Baigel, representing the Jewish Representative Council of Greater Manchester proposed a motion opposing the introduction of parking charges, which was seconded by St.Mary’s Councillor, Richard Baum. The motion was carried unanimously.

Vic D’Albert, Chair of Prestwich Area Partnership commented, “This motion proposed out of the blue by a community member, just shows the strength of feeling over this issue locally.

“These charges, if introduced would undermine the chances of recovery for the Longfield Precinct, effectively discouraging shoppers. It is false economy seemingly targeted at Prestwich alone. It is only right and proper that if cuts or increased charges need to be made to balance the books then they should be shared across the board – not just dumped onto Prestwich!

“The message from Prestwich couldn’t be clearer , “These proposals are damaging, it’s time for Bury Council to think again!”