Richard Baum

As 2007 comes to an end and we reflect on a year that saw lots happen in St Mary’s, what do you think should happen in the ward in 2008? We are here to serve you, so what would you like to see us do with you in the new year to make St Mary’s a better place?

Of course we’d all like every pot-hole filled, every piece of litter removed immediately (or, better still, not ever dropped) and crime to fall so much that the word gets removed from the dictionary. But none of these things can entirely happen, because they just can’t. No group of people can create a perfect place. But we can move towards it slowly, bit by bit, and I think that’s what I want us to try and achieve in 2008. What do you think? What would you like to see done? How might you be able to help? Please let me know.

The coming year is one of great opportunity for St Mary’s and Prestwich. We should have a Children’s Centre for the start of the new academic year, which will be a great leap forward. If Labour’s Salford City Council match our promise of funding, we’ll have an outreach centre in Rainsough as well, which I think will be one of the best bits of news for the community there in years. Regardless of this though, Rainsough will definitely have a new 16-18 youth facility, and I hope similar projects will take shape in Sedgley and Holyrood wards too to help our less well-off communities.

The redevelopment of our Village centre will really kick off in 2008, with fuller consultation and some real ideas on how Prestwich can improve in the future. New business is already flooding into the area. I hope 2008 will see this continue so that we fill the Radius units and see new and exciting shops throughout the Village.

Politically, May 1st will see the Lib Dems have the chance to make it nine out of nine Councillors in Prestwich. It will be a tough campaign I’m sure, but I know that local people value our record of year-round action and service, and I hope you’ll trust us again with your votes.

But the most important thing for 2008 is that we listen to you and act on what you want. What are your priorities? Are you happy with how your streets are cleaned? What about waste collection? Street lighting? Crime? Do you have ideas on how to make things better? Ways you could help? Or suggestions on how we could work more effectively?

Please tell us. That’s what we’re here for. And together we can make things better, I’m sure of it.

This year I am proud to say that everyone who has rung or emailed me about a Council matter has received a call or email back within a day or two. Every single person. For some of them I haven’t been able to solve their problems, but we’ve tried together and often times it works.

If I make my new year’s resolution to continue to do this - to carry on working with you to improve things, can you make your resolution to work with me as well? Make it your resolution to think about how you can contribute to the community. About how you can work with us to improve Prestwich. About how we can make this area better together.

And if you do, and we work together, I promise you that Prestwich will be a better place.

Happy new year, and all the very best for 2008.

Rick