A new direction for Bury South

This afternoon is the Mayor Making and the First Council Meeting of the new municipal year one to really celebrate with the Conservatives in control for the first time in 22 years.  It really will be a special occasion.  In spite of being offered my role back on the Executive I have decided to decline this in order to concentrate more on my role as LAP Chair.  It was not a decision I took lightly and a role that I shall miss very much.

Last Friday I visited the Samaritans office in Bury which is situated just across the road from the Town Hall.  I was shown around by Stan Edwards and had the opportunity to meet some of the volunteers who give of their time often at unsociable hours to staff the phones and welcome visitors.  It was interesting to hear of how they operate and hope that I can be of support in the future with the issues of concern they raised to me during my visit.

Tonight I attended the 60th anniversary party of the founding of the State of Israel at the Sheridan Suite in Manchester.  The event was superby attended by over 1,300 people.  The atmosphere was fantastic and I had the opportunity to meet many people I had not seen for ages from all over Manchester.  After a very filling falafal and pitta bread I sat down to listen to the music and relax for a while.  Well done to all involved in organsing tonight’s event it was well done and a credit to all.

It was an exciting Group Meeting on Tuesday night and I am delighted that I am to remain on the Executive as porfolio holder for Safer and Secure Communities.  I have also been appointed as Chair of the LAP (ex Area Board) and wish to thank Cllr Bernie Vincent for his hard work in this role over the past year and wish him every success as Chair of the Planning.Â

What a magnificant result for the Conservatives on Bury Council taking control for the first time in 22 years.  Now the hard work begins but we will continue to deliver on our pledges of last year.  After an exhausting week all the hard work paid off and David Cameron MP kept his promise and visited the centre of Bury on Friday morning.

Taking the total votes cast across Bury South the Conservatives polled more votes than Labour!

After trying to catch up on some sleep this weekend went to a meeting this morning where we re-elected Cllr Bob Bibby as Group Leader and Cllr Yvonne Creswell as Deputy Leader not only of the Group but of the Council - congratulations to them both on a successful year.

Then went off to a wedding and a diamond wedding anniversary party - so a busy day and weekend.Â

Today we welcomed William Hague MP to Bury again where he visited the Post Office in Ainsworth which is under threat of closure.  He then went out with the candidate for Radcliffe North, Jackie Harris, Cllr Stuart Penketh and other candidates and Councillors to meet local residents.  I spent the rest of the day delivering leaflets and meeting residents in between the rain showers and a trip to the local Asda which seemed to be quite a good meeting place as I bumped into 3 of my colleagues all out shopping!  Oh well back on the campaign trail tomorrow ………….

The past few days have been very busy for me.  Firstly Passover started on Saturday evening so I would like to wish all my Jewish readers a Happy Passover which finishes next Sunday night.  Yesterday we were fortunate to have David Cameron pay a visit to Bury where he first went along to the Town Hall to meet candidates and Councillors and then met doctors and staff at Blackford House Medical Centre on Croft Lane in Unsworth Ward.  They were coincidentally commencing building work on an extension to the surgery yesterday and David cut the ground for them.  His visit was much appreciated even by some rather startled patients. 

Today I was delighted to welcome Chris Grayling MP Shadow Cabinet Member for Work and Pensions to Bury where alongside our local election candidate Angela Cane and Bury North PPC David Nuttall we went canvassing.  Off to do some leafletting tonight good job I had three pairs of shoes heeled last Friday!

William Hague MP made another visit to Bury today when he launched the Conservative Party’s local government manifesto and visited residents of Croft Lane in Unsworth.  He made a point of calling in to see the Landlord, Tony Hooley, of The Roach Bank Inn to discuss the proposed road repairs and planned closure which has now been kept to a minimum thanks to representations made by myself and Conservative Councillors Cohen and Sullivan to the Council.

I was pleased to welcome Alan Duncan MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform to Bury this morning where we spent a rainy morning out canvassing meeting residents in Radcliffe.  Thanks to all those who joined us and gave Sam Hurst our candidate their support.  We received a warm reception and residents were pleased to see us out and about.  Also in Radcliffe on the old Halls Sweet site where the land awaits to be redeveloped after plans were rejected by the Labour members of the Planning Committee at a recent planning meeting gypsies have now settled causing mayhem to the local residents.  Thanks to Cllr Berry and the police these have now been moved on.  Let’s hope that this site can soon be redeveloped into a site for mixed housing and business premises bringing job opportunities into Radcliffe.

I cannot believe it is the first of April already and that I have not written on my blog for over a week.  Well first is first - happy birthday to my husband Alex!  A busy week again - last Wednesday was the last official Coucil Meeting of the municipal year although there is one on the 24th April to discuss the Mayoral Refendum and issues regardings this.  On Friday I welcomed Theresa Villiers MP Shadow Minister for Transport to Bury where we discussed current issues including the proposed congestion charging along with my Bury North colleague David Nuttall.  Sunday was spent leafletting and yesterday I spent some of the day reading our very own Bury South MP’s views on this Labour Government!  Last night was the AGM of Bury South Conservative Association and congratulations to Mervyn Turnberg on his election as Chairman and tonight off to the Old Hall Residents’ Meeting.�