The weekend just gone saw my house well and truly “warmed,” when a large throng of people descended on it and risked their lives by taking part in that most extreme of sports – eating food barbecued by me.

The death count is currently static and zero, but can only move one way, and since the gestation period of whatever bacteria I have infected my friends with is probably a good few days, I am expected a flurry of angry and vomit-interrupted phone calls towards the end of the week.

There were representatives from every walk of my life there in the garden on Saturday night – neighbours, old friends, fellow Lib Dem types, strangers who claimed to be friends with Tam… And obviously because we all lead contented lives where our every whim is catered for in a blizzard of effortless consumerism, nobody could be bothered putting in the necessary legwork and making new friends any more. So we had the odd scenario which I see at weddings whereby the assembled crowd split off into sects, not intermingling except for laboured small talk in the queue for food. I am equally guilty of being simply too lazy to bother making friends with new people. Occasionally someone new sneaks in by the back door, just appearing at enough functions that I’m also at so that my ignoring turns to gruff nodding, then to an acknowledging smile, until eventually conversation turns to mutual ground like the fact that we keep bumping into each other at interminable social events. But mainly, I’m sorry to say, my friendship train left the station long ago.

So on Saturday I got a taste of what it must be like having a wedding of my own – being happy that everyone I love is in the same room for pretty much the only time in my life, but then spending the whole time panicking that I can’t get round to see them all. There really is a lot to be said for granting audiences with people at individual time-slots. At least then I could ask the sort of probing questions about new boyfriends that I really want to ask, rather than just glancing across rooms at laughing crowds that should have me in them, and making sure everyone has enough wine in their re-usable plastic cup.

The perfect way to get rid of hangovers, whilst simultaneously fulfilling community duty, is to attend the Annual Prestwich Clough Day. Happily for all concerned, this was yesterday, and once again was an absolutely excellent event of which our whole area can be proud. The weather was perfect, unlike last year when, as I recall, Prestwich was visited by the monsoon. This year the brass bands weren’t using their trumpets as snorkels, which is always a good sign for an outdoor event, I find.

As in previous years there were some excellent stands, full of information from community groups, the Council, local charities and societies. I learned a lot about the very exciting developments from the Forestry Commission in the Drinkwater Park area over the coming months – there are going to be some beautiful new developments, by the sounds of it. There were also animals to view – birds of prey and hedgehogs received plenty of attention from the guests who I’d brought along post-housewarming.

I think there were more people there than I’d seen in previous years too. I was there from the beginning right through until near the end, and it was a hugely successful event which showed our district off for the vibrant and friendly place it really is. Enormous credit must go to the organisers and those who gave up their time to make the stalls a success. Their efforts really did make an enormously positive impression. Here’s to next year.

Rick

Last night’s full Council meeting was, in large parts, the usual depressing slanging match between Councillors who really should know better. Watching grown men (and women) making snide remarks and childish comments  across a room, when there are people with real problems in the Borough, is not pleasant.

I raised the issue of the Butterstile Children’s Centre, and was pleased to hear from the Executive Member for Children’s Services that it will be up and running on time at the start of next academic year. Also, the outreach facilities to Rainsough and Carr Clough will also be available, which is great news. It’s taken a while to get where we are, but it will still be finished in time, and after the right processes have been followed for all local people. The Children’s Centre will be a great asset for the ward, and really have a positive impact on families locally.

A couple of people raised the issue of the toilets at Bury interchange last night. I raised it again this morning at the meeting of the Transport Network Committee of Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority. The toilets are, it turns out, the responsibility of the Council, and they really do need sorting out because they’re in quite a state. Not the right welcome to the Borough for people arriving by bus or Metrolink.

That is assuming, of course, that the Metrolink gets them here at all. I spoke once more about Metrolink this morning. I am still deeply dissatisfied with this system, supposedly the flagship public transport system for Manchester. It is still, in my opinion, far too expensive, dirty, unsafe and unreliable. On Friday I stood waiting for a very long time at Bowker Vale, a station so decrepit that it looks nigh-on abandoned, and was genuinely scared by some of the anti-social behaviour by some people who treat the network like their own uncontrolled playground. I have raised the issue many times, and in other parts of the network there are efforts to improve both the condition and the safety of stations. The Prestwich section seems not to benefit, and although improved ticket machines and CCTV are in the pipeline, they aren’t coming quickly enough.

This may have been my last ever Transport Network Committee, because I may not serve on GMPTA again next year after the elections. But I am glad I raised the issue, and will do so again given the chance.

Rick

For the second day running, your Lib Dem representatives on Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority (GMPTA) have good news for local public transport users, and this time it’s of particular benefit to the most vulnerable people in the Borough.

A new door-to-door transport service for people with access and mobility difficulties is off to a flying start in Bury. GMPTA extended the popular Ring & Ride service at the end of January when it added nine new minibuses to provide extra trips across the conurbation.

In the first few months, 246 passengers journeys have been made from Bury on the new ‘cross boundary’ service into neighbouring districts. And 2,355 journeys have been made.

Ring & Ride makes a real difference to people who find it difficult to use ordinary public transport to get out and about. It has always been a very popular service for making trips in Bury but we’re always listening to users’ suggestions for improving it. We surveyed passengers and they said they would be prefer to keep on paying a fare rather than travelling for free - so long as we invested in this new cross boundary service.

So I am delighted to see so many people finding it useful. It is clearly giving Ring & Ride users in Bury a lot more choice about where they can travel.

Previously we could only offer local district based services but the new minibuses are allowing us to take people that bit farther afield into neighbouring areas. The investment has clearly been worthwhile and I’m glad to be able to offer such an improved service. I’d encourage anyone who might want to give Ring and Ride a go to call GMPTA and register to use the service.

Passengers must register their details before they travel by calling the Bury depot on 0161 764 1999.

The service currently runs from 9.30am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday. Journeys can be booked from seven days in advance up to one hour before travelling.

To book a journey on the cross boundary service call 0845 688 3989 (lines open between 8am and 4pm, Monday to Friday).

Fares are set at £2 for a single journey, and £1 for a single journey for GMPTE concessionary permit holders.

For more information on Ring & Ride visit www.ringandride.info http://www.ringandride.info

Great news for Bury!

Rick

After a year of campaigning for reductions on bus travel rates for children in Bury, the Borough’s young people will be able to save £1 a week on the cost of school travel from next month.

Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority (GMPTA) is introducing a new £6 weekly ticket for three of the school bus services it provides in the borough. It currently costs 70p for a single child ticket. The Bury members of GMPTA are my fellow Lib Dem Councillor Andrew Garner, and me.

The School Saver ticket will be valid on the 799 service to Derby High and the 797 and 798 to St Monica’s RC High in Prestwich .

The new School Saver ticket could save families in the borough nearly £40 a year on school travel costs. I’m pleased we’ve been able to provide the ticket on three of the school bus services we provide in Bury. Unfortunately, we’re not able to extend the offer to commercial services, and of course we continue to campaign for big reductions and more fairness in children’s school bus travel..

The new School Saver ticket will be on sale from Monday 31 March in newsagents, supermarkets and garages across Bury with the Pay Point sign, as well as from the GMPTE Travelshop in Bury Interchange.

Pupils will be able to buy the School Saver ticket up to three days in advance of its start date and will need a GMPTE Under 16 membership card. The card is free and application forms can be picked up from Travelshops or downloaded from www.gmpte.com/under16

Rick

Bury Liberal Democrats broke new ground last night, ensuring the largest investment in the Council’s budget from any third party in the history of the Council.

In a budget amendment proposed by Group Leader Cllr Tim Pickstone, the Lib Dems ensured that £350,000 would be invested in services for the most vulnerable in our society, and to protect the environment and keep our Borough clean, safe and green.

We earmarked a quarter of a million pounds to reverse dangerous Conservative cuts to Children’s Services which would have drastically cut back the numbers of youth workers, social workers and those supporting disabled children. In doing so, we protected the neediest by providing the services that they desperately need.

The Lib Dems achieved this whilst calling for no greater increase in Council Tax than that proposed by the Conservatives. The 3.4% increase agreed by Council last night is lower than the inflation rate, and yet still achieves Lib Dem values.

Last year the Lib Dems ensured that the budget contained provision for every house in the Borough to have a blue recycling bin. This year, the Lib Dem commitment to Bury’s environment was shown even more clearly, with an amendment ensuring greater street cleaning and enforcement powers.

We have ensured that Saturday street cleaning occurs in commercial centres in the Borough such as in Prestwich Village, helping to alleviate the scourge of litter.

We have ensured that support is given to all of our parks, building on the successes of St Mary’s Park and helping the Council to achieve its vision of having 12 “Green Flag” parks across the Borough.

And we have ensured that enforcement of dog waste, littering and fly-tipping is boosted so that our environment is protected.

A third of a million pounds worth of additional investment is something I am personally proud of. We stood up for our values and made good our promises last night, in a sustainable and sensible way. It wasn’t the budget that a Lib Dem Council would have passed, but it instilled the Lib Dem ideals of a fairer, greener Bury, and made sure that the Conservatives listened to the views of those who elected us to make Bury a better place.

Rick

This morning I have been chasing up a number of outstanding environmental issues in the ward, with limited success. I must say that I am still very frustrated at the lengths I have to go to to even get a response from Council officers, let alone any action to taken to remedy legitimate residents’ concerns. We aren’t asking for solid gold pavements and diamond encrusted bin-wagons. We’re asking for dangerous trees to be cut back, and our streets dragged up from the medieval levels of squalor which they sometimes seem to have sunk to.

So I contacted the Council again regarding over-hanging trees on Bury New Road and on Church Drive, having received no word on progress since I first got in touch nearly two weeks ago. It’s not good enough, and I let the Council officers know as much.

It really is incredibly frustrating, and goodness knows how this level of “service” makes average Council-tax payers feel if this is how Councillors get routinely treated.

But still, I hope to be able to report success with these initiatives shortly. If anyone ever bothers to return my calls.

Rick

I heard some great news today from the Council, and credit where credit’s due regardless of whether this is a decision made by an officer or a politician – serving members of the armed forces will now be able to use Council sports facilities free of charge.

The service is to honour the sacrifices made by our forces - and celebrate the town’s strong links with them. And there’s a chance that it could be extended to ex services-personnel too.

Members of the armed services face extraordinary risks for the good of our country and often don’t get the recognition they deserve. The current debate about the military covenant, military pensions, healthcare and kit proves that.

But this gesture goes a small way to repaying the huge debt of gratitude we owe these incredibly brave people, regardless of our views on the conflicts they serve in.

Bury has a proud tradition of being associated with the services. especially the Lancashire Fusiliers, and long may that association continue. By taking this step the Council is doing what it can to show its appreciation and admiration for their bravery, and its gratitude for what they do.

In my view, a great gesture and a way in which we can all say thank you for people who put their lives on the line for us.

Rick

Great news for users of the Ring and Ride service today - there are going to be 19 new minibuses for this vital door-to-door service thanks to the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority. Bury’s two members of the GMPTA are both Lib Dems - Cllr Andrew Garner and me. We’re proud that from January next year, as well as making local trips, Bury’s Ring and Ride users will also be able to travel into neighbouring districts for the first time thanks to the new vehicles. 10 of the 19 new minibuses will replace older vehicles in Greater Manchester’s Ring & Ride fleet and the other nine new vehicles - one for each depot in Greater Manchester - will run the new cross-boundary services.

Ring & Ride provides an essential transport service for people of all ages who find it difficult to use ordinary public transport.

It is extremely popular and up until now there just haven’t been enough vehicles to provide many journeys outside Bury. We know that passengers often want to travel a bit further afield and I’m delighted that, thanks to the extra minibuses and their new drivers, they will now be able to do so.

We want people to use public transport as much as possible and by investing in important local services like Ring & Ride we are giving everyone the opportunity to do that. 

A consultation with members of the public and Ring & Ride passengers last year showed that users were keen to see any money raised through fares reinvested in new vehicles to increase the capacity of the service. Passengers must register their details before they travel by calling the Bury depot on 0161 764 1999. The standard fare is £1 per trip or 50p for GMPTE permit holders.

Rick

Local people will have their chance to put their case to the Planning committee over the proposed Children’s Centre at Butterstile School next Tuesday, and I have been asked to speak on their behalf.

This is a repeated item on the agenda because last time a lot of residents were unaware of their right to make representations, and so didn’t. Now the Council has consulted more widely and I can give across the views of local people very concerned about the increases in traffic on School Grove, and the increased danger to school children caused because of it.

I think everyone is united in their desire for a Children’s Centre in St Mary’s ward. I think the planning process has been seriously flawed, and now time is running out to get the money committed without us risking losing it. I am still of the view that a better site for the entire thing would’ve been in Rainsough, and we need to make sure that at the very least a substantial outreach centre is sited there, preferably in the shops at Chapel Road. But we are where we are, and whilst I’ll continue to push for this, if it has to be at the school then we nee to mitigate the potential problems with things like residents-only parking, no stopping in the turning-zone on School Grove, and enforcement.

These are the types of things I’ll be asking for on Tuesday. And remember that the meeting is public so you can come along as well.

Rick

Residents who live alongside the Metrolink line need to be aware that the contractors currently working on renewing the track have informed the Council that some limited work may be needed during the night. Your local councillors have protested against this proposal, and we have received assurances that no heavy cutting or noisy work will take place.  However, despite local Lib Dems asking for no work to take place at night, and for the contractors to do as they promised all along, it seems as though we’ve been ignored.

Residents should only have to endure some noise for one night in the majority of cases, but on occasion there will be areas which are inconvenienced for two nights. Please contact me the next morning if work is disturbing you during the night and I will report this immediately to the relevant authorities.

The proposed areas and dates for night working are given below:

Thursday 16^th August – Prestwich to Heaton Park

Friday 17th August  –  Heaton Park to Bowker Vale

Saturday 18^th August – Bowker Vale

Thursday 23rd August  –  Prestwich to Heaton Park  

Friday 24^th August – Heaton Park to Bowker Vale

Saturday 25^th August – Bowker Vale to Queens Road

Wednesday 29^th August – Bowker Vale to Crumpsall

The work will take place in the above mentioned locations between the hours of 10pm and 10am each night and every effort will be made to keep un-necessary noise down to a minimum.  For more details about the track upgrades programme, please phone 0161 228 7811 or visit www.gmpte.com.  Alternatively call Carillion Control on 01788 866 080.

Rick