Richard Baum

September started well, as we ensured a new paper recycling bin for Tesco to make recycling a bit easier there for local people. I also made sure a street light was replaced outside the house of a vulnerable elderly lady who had been scared since her’s had broken.

And this blog was, bizarrely, shortlisted for “Best Blog from an Elected Representative” at the Lib Dem Blog of the Year awards (it didn’t win, which restored my faith in human nature).

Sadly, successes didn’t last throughout the month. Our plans to let local people have more of a say at Planning Committee by giving any Councillor the chance to speak on their behalf were rejected by the Conservatives. And, more disturbingly, there were a number of incidents of violent crime in the Village. We started work immediately with residents and the police to crack down on the perpetrators, who have since been brought to justice.

A hole appeared on Bury New Road near to Prestwich Park Road South, and was fixed after I intervened on behalf of local people and got United Utilities to do something sharpish. And there was great news from Metrolink, which finished the renovations more or less on time and left us with a much smoother and quieter ride.

The people of Sherbourne Court held a very successful clean up day. I joined in and helped pick up litter across the site, together with my ward colleague Cllr Maggie Gibb (Lab). I also met Cllr Peter Conner, the Labour Member of Salford MBC in charge of housing, in person at his office to discuss Rainsough and the vacant shops. Despite making this move I have yet to see anything in terms of support or money from Salford, which is probably my biggest disappointment of the year. If our moves can result in Salford committing the money, it will be a triumph and a major advancement for local people. As it is, we are falling short at the moment.

Cllr O’Hanlon and I carried out a residents survey across the ward, gathering the opinions of hundreds of local people, and getting a drenching in the process from the heavy rain! And the month ended with my old car finally giving up the ghost and dying at Watford Gap services. Which was deeply unpleasant!

Rick