A new direction for Bury South

As I am tidying up my desk for my last day in work before the long weekend ahead I want to wish everyone a very happy Christmas, Chanukah and/or just a well earned rest. I also wish you all a very Happy New Year for 2012. I cannot believe where the year has gone – I know that people tell me that the years go faster as one gets older!

My diary shows me no respite for 2012 either so I am going to enjoy the seasonal break while I can!

I really cannot believe where the past few months have gone to and here is me neglecting my blog so I am going to try and carry out an early New Year’s resolution and update it at least twice a week!! I realised how time has flown when I met a friend of mine on the tram last night who is a school teacher who was telling me how well her pupils did in their GCSE’s – had I not seen her since then? apparently not oops!

So what is new in Whitefield at the moment – the fortnightly bin collections seem to be settling in but not without lots of emails and phone calls trying to sort out extra bins where required, recycling facilities in flats and missed bin collections. Many people have appraoched me to say how much they feel it has encouraged them to recycle.

The Whitefield Town Hall site was once again the topic of much discussion this week as an application went into planning to extend the permission granted in March 2011 for its demolition to allow further negotations to go on for the land transfer from the Council to the developer to take place. Unfortunately this was refused – I really hope that a solution to be reached and that the facade and return are able to be reserved in line with the residents’ wishes otherwise it will be lost forever.

The Halloween festival held on the 30 October was a huge success and I am looking forward to the Xmas Farmers’ Market on the 27 November!

Last week I attended the Radcliffe Township Forum meeting to which 9 members of the public turned up – I do question the merit of these meetings especially now when Councillors and indeed Council officers are so easily accessible via email or phone. The one in Whitefield is next Tuesday at 1pm but as I am working that afternoon will be unable to attend.

I suppose the hightlight of the last week was attending the Remembrance Day Service on Sunday at the cenotaph in Whitefield. A record number of people turned up and it was a most moving service. Afterwards a reception was held at Whitefield Hebrew Congregation onn Park Lane and I was delighted to welcome so many people to the synagogue I attend.

I cannot remember a summer like this when we have lurched from one crisis to another either here at home or elsewhere in the world. At least it now appears to be safe to go to City Centres again at night although I did notice a larger police presence than I can recall in the past in Manchester City Centre the other night although it was busy which was also encouraging.

It is always the same in life that a few spoil the image of many and on that note I wish to add my personal congratuatlions to the many teenagers who have passed A’level or GCSE examinations over the past two weeks and wish them all luck with their future lives.

I have taken a rest from my blog during the last few weeks having enjoyed a short break away with my daughter in Spain immmediately prior to which I attended my son’s graduation – so some quality family time. I have of course still been busy attending meetings and events and spent a glorious sunny afternoon at the Farmers’ market in Radcliffe at the end of the last month – it was a pity only a few traders turned up.

Like most people in the country today we were glued to the scenes unfolding before our eyes last night on the TV at the rioting going on in London and elsewhere. I have heard unconfirmed reports that this has now spread to Salford but have no doubt it will continue tonight in our capital city. I admire the police for the work they are doing and I am sure they all have every law abiding citizens’ backing to do everything in their power to stop this rioting, theft and what is blatantly criminal behaviour. I hope that it stops soon, people’s homes are being destroyed and generations of family businesses ruined. One question we have all been asking today is ‘where are the parents’. In spite of numerous pleas last night for parents to take control of their children – many as young as 7 or 8 were seen on our TV screens wandering around the streets.

I hope that we will quickly see an end to this terrible behaviour but I fear that last night will not be the end.

I find it so annoying that wherever I walk I see litter and people being irresponsible and just leaving their rubbish where they stand! I was listening to one of my favourite radio presenters, Nicky Campbell, on Radio 5 Live the other morning and he was out and about interviewing people as and when he saw them drop litter – one excuse was ‘well where shall I put it?’. What’s wrong with their pocket or taking it home like those who are responsible citizens do? I am not surprised that Councils spend millions of pounds a year cleaning up litter! Which reminds me I must email the Whitefield and Unsworth street care team to clean up the walk way between Ringley Road and Oakdale Drive. Let’s work together to cut down on litter and make our streets cleaner and more pleasant to walk along.

Well a busy few days and once again all good intentions of updating this blog gone! Well here goes ………
Thanks first of all to all the staff at Whitefield Library last Thursday night where I held my first surgery and for keeping me provided with tea and biscuits! Most of Friday was spent sorting out a hire car while my car is in the garage following an accident I was involved in on the previous Sunday when someone drove into the back of me. Hiring a car now takes on a whole new experience – a conference call to the DVLA verifying my driving license details and then a form from the hire company asking me why I need a hire car! Um I had a car which was smashed into so I need another one to replace it !! I can’t wait for that form to arrive in the post! The main issues of the week in Pilkington Park appear to be parking – with several hot spots of inconsiderate or dangerous parking being reported to me. I thought I was fortunate when I met Chris Rigg (our friendly PCSO) in synagogue on Saturday morning hoping she could sort it all for me but alas not as the responsibility is all now in the Council’s hands but she can hand out fines for dog fouling so all is not lost – another hot issue in the ward. Last night I went to the first night of the latest Jewish Theatre Company production at the new Parragon Theatre at Prestwich Arts College – it was excellent as is the theatre a little gem in the heart of Prestwich. Off to a business networking event tonight so better put some business cards in my handbag!

I know I revamped this website with every intention of writing a daily message. Well all good intentions as they say – work, meetings and well no excuses really overtook me.

So here I am back in the routine of regular meetings. I have attended the school governors meetings of both Phlips High School and Higher Lane Primary both who have recently been Ofsteded (apparently we can now make this dreaded inspection team into a verb). I attended by first Overview Management meeting which I had to leave early which is not good particularly when they are at the point of choosing sub committees at your departure!

On Thursday night is my first surgery at Whitefield Library – from 6pm – 8pm so please do come along to raise any concerns or issues.

This Sunday is the Farmers’ market in Hamilton Park – I went to the first one held there and it was amazing so do try and get along there from 9.30am til 2.30pm. Fantastic fresh produce and you get to meet people you’ve not seen for ages as well! Let’s hope the weather stays dry.

Hi readers! After having rather a long break from writing my blog I have decided to try and update it almost daily.

So what’s happened in the last year – well too much to write about here but life carries on in Pilkington Park. The owners of the former Whitefield Town Hall have now received planning permission to build a 60 bed care home and hopefully this will transform the whole of the area into its former glory – the artist’s impression looks really good!

Labour have now taken back overall control of Bury Council and tonight we have our first Group Meeting under the auspices of our new leader Cllr Roger Brown and Deputy Leader Cllr Michael Hankey and I wish them much luck in the forthcoming months.

I am on the Overview Management Committee and remain a governor of both Philips High School and Higher Lane Primary School.

I am going to be holding monthly surgeries at Whitefield Library – the first one being on Thursday, 16 June from 6pm – 8pm. Of course I can always be contacted as in the past by email or phone to resolve your issues.

I am sat at my desk looking at the calendar and I cannot believe that it is already 2 months ago today since the General Election took place. Since then I have celebrated my birthday, my two eldest children have gained a 2.1 in their respective degrees and I have returned to work at the Nicky Alliance Day Centre. Oh and the new Government have set about trying to mend 13 years of Labour ruin. The new retail park in Bury Town Centre opens next week and Blackburn Street in Radcliffe Town Centre has now re-opened allowing traffic once again to flow through the heart of Radcliffe. The next couple of years are going to be hard financially for everyone as drastic savings have to be made to have the long term effect this country needs. As George Osborne says ‘we are all in this together’.

Well the most important General Election for a generation is now over with no clear winner.  I do wish to thank everyone who voted for me in record numbers in Bury South, over 16,000 people put their trust in me and it was a magnificent achievement.  It was a massive swing holding Labour to account.  The turnout here in Bury South was up by 8% and the swing of 8% is almost twice the regional swing and more than 50% higher than the national swing.   Having reduced Labour’s majority significantly it has now gone from a Labour safe seat to a marginal seat.  I have really enjoyed the last 4 years of campaigning and meeting all the thousands of people I have met during this time.  The campaign was not run by me alone and I must thank the many people who have helped over the years by delivering leaflets, making phone calls and organising events.  Tomorrow it will be back to catch up on my Council case work and then a well earned break away for a couple of days next week.