Richard Baum

March for me began very much as I imagine it did for most normal 26 year olds - with a bunch of earnest middle aged people in a conference centre in Harrogate.

I went to the Lib Dem Spring Conference and was very impressed not only with Nick Clegg’s interns but also with the great debates and fabulous training opportunities available. I will be going to the Spring Conference in 2008 too, in Liverpool.

In the ward, March saw the height of the lamp-post vandalism craze which cost the Council tens of thousands of pounds. Thugs from outside the area were pulling down lampposts, not only wasting vast sums of public money in the process, but also putting their own lives and those of local people at risk. They were idiots of the first order, and were apprehended after joint work between residents groups and the police. And I thank them for catching these vandals.

This month was also the annual chance for your local Councillors to decide which local roads get repaired. Only enough money is available to repair 20% of the most needy streets, so it was a very tough decision to make. But the Lib Dem controlled Area Board picked Spring Vale  and Lowther Road in our ward for repairs. I have seen them many times since, and they are looking good. It’s just a shame that the money can’t be found for everywhere else.

Nationally, David Cameron tried to out-green the Lib Dems, and failed. My favourite commentator Charlie Brooker gave him the lashing he thoroughly deserved and the Lib Dems referred people to the Green Tax Switch proposals which have been our policy for some time.

March was personally exciting for me as the candidates for the 2007 Local Elections were announced. I was chosen to fight St Mary’s, and Steve Wright was chosen to fight Sedgley and Cllr Wilf Davison to defend Holyrood. The election campaign began to hot up, and the three candidates assembled teams of helpers to spread the word across Prestwich. It even included stepping boldly into the 21st century with Facebook groups for the campaign!

Back in the ward I took action to clean up West Road, and Lib Dems took a petition to The Mayor calling for action on Hilton Lane / Scholes Lane.

And throughout Prestwich Lib Dem action continued for the good of the community. We vigorously opposed plans to reduce the number of police in Prestwich, and successfully campaigned for traffic calming measures on Bland Road which have not only increased safety but reduced the growing carjacking menace in that area.

The Council’s budget saw Lib Dems add an amendment calling for evey house in the Borough to receive a blue recycling bin. A major step forward for recycling in the Borough, thanks to the Lib Dems.

I visited Heathlands, one of the stars of the St Mary’s crown, to see some members of the local Jewish community and find out their views on local issues. And we successfully worked with the police to up patrols and improve safety in an alley way on Prestwich Hills.

And somebody submitted my election nomination papers… There was no turning back.

Rick