Blog: May 2012

28 May 2012: We all get the Hump sometime

As Jack Nicholson said in Terms of Endearment: I'd rather stick needles in my eyes. Although I don't think Jack was talking about watching the Eurovision Song Contest.

Not my favourite programme. These days we can't even rely on Malta and Ireland to save our bacon, as the Eastern Europeans and Scandinavians lob a succession of "nul points" our miserable way. It's not Engelbert's fault, but it's definitely the last waltz for the good old Royaume Uni in this farrago, and we should bow out with as much grace as we can muster .

On the domestic front, it was a privilege to watch the athletes in action - including the astonishing Oscar Pistorius - compete in the Paralympic World Cup last week. Their dedication to their sport is immense and quite humbling. I was given a very interesting statistic - in the 2004 Paralympic games in Athens, 4,000 tickets were sold; some 10,000 were sold in Beijing in 2008; and for London, 1.1 million tickets have already been sold.

I'm continuing to get around the borough's schools. My most recent visit took me to Chesham CP school (I'm pictured here with Peter Hudson) and this week I head for Emmanuel Holcombe, Hollins Grundy and Lowercroft primaries.

And we have the official opening of the new Millwood school on Thursday, a magnificent new school for our children with special needs. It was great news for parents, pupils and the staff at Elton High School with the announcement that a new high school would be built on the same site. We await information on the actual date construction will commence. On the same topic, I was disappointed that Radcliffe Hall Primary School wasn't chosen, and so we must continue to do what we can to lobby government for funds from other sources.

Late last week I received a briefing on the planning for when the Olympic Torch comes to Bury. We have some fabulous party events planned along the route starting at Openshaw Park, through The Rock down to Whitefield and Prestwich. Book this date in your diary, Saturday 23 June.

Wednesday, I'm going to look at the new Woolfold Viaduct, another great new project recently opened in Bury, which will provide a new link for walkers and cyclists between the town centre and the north of the borough. Later that day I'll be at the Adult Learner of the Year awards.

It was a superb day at the East Lancs Railway, which has picked up another couple of national heritage awards - I'm pictured here pretending to be a train driver.

 Finally, time to relax with the Saddleworth Band contest on Friday. Not everything great comes from Bury, you know. And then I'm heading to bonnie Scotland for a few days, where no doubt they will give me tips on how we can achieve independence for Bury. I'm not sure even Engelbert could pull that one off.  

21 May 2012: No bungle with this rainbow  

Putting out more flags, as the great Evelyn Waugh might have said, is a lot more tricky than it looks. I was showing my support on IDAHO (International Day Against Homophobia) by flying the rainbow flag in the new Union Square. Supporting a worthy cause is one thing - hoisting a flag is another, as you can see in the picture below.
 This week has encompassed so many things that make Bury a great place to live. On Friday I went to The Ark in Whitefield to have breakfast with the children, and see the fabulous work that the staff do there to help them. Later, I paid my final respects to the late Albert Little by attending his funeral, a moving and fitting occasion to remember the council's first leader, former mayor and freeman of the borough.

On a happier note, the Mayoral Sunday service at St Bernadette's Church in Whitefield went well, and I wish Unsworth councillor Joan Grimshaw all the very best in her new role as the borough's "first citizen".

We're busy making plans for the Olympic Torch when it passes through the borough on Saturday 23 June - make a date in your diary now for this historic occasion. Staying with sport, I'm going to the Paralympic World Cup twice this week, including to see the international boccia match, the sport played by our paralympian (and also freeman of the borough) Zoe Robinson.

My visits to local businesses have continued with a trip to Tamicare in Radcliffe, a pioneer in hygienic/personal care clothing. They have gone from strength to strength since being founded in 2001, and have big plans for the future. I'm pictured here with company director Ehud Giloh.

Later this week I'll be visiting the packaging firm Printpack, which will be a bit nostalgic for me: my parents worked for many years at its predecessor, Transparent Paper.

Also this week I'll be at the East Lancs Railway which is hosting the National Railway Heritage Awards, and then judging the art work done by students on our adult learning courses.

My latest school visit is at Chesham Primary which, being in my back yard, does at least save me a long walk. And talking about avoiding exercise - I'll be at Bury Athletics Track on Saturday where they're having a fund-raising walk as part of Dementia Awareness Week. As you know, with my plantar fasciitis, I have to take doctor's orders and give the athletic stuff a miss. But that won't stop me from urging you all to turn up and take part - it costs £2 to enter, and you can choose to do the Bronze, Silver or Gold Walk. The walks start at noon (registration from 11am) and you can meet celebrity guest Judy Holt, who plays Lesley Kershaw in "Coronation Street".

15 May 2012: Blue moon makes my brother see red

As the great Jimmy Greaves often said, it's a funny old game. Things can get pretty dramatic at Gigg Lane, especially when I show up and put the mockers on the team's prospects, but the final day of the Premiership was something else.

I visited my brother in Anglesey yesterday, who has long been a red hot Man Utd supporter: posters on the wall and all that. For a laugh, his carers decided to dress him in pale blue, which of course he appreciated no end. For a family of reds, I think that's a cruel form of abuse, don't you?

Back in Radcliffe, I enjoyed a visit to Chapelfield, where we've opened our new Community Resettlement Service. I met a lovely lady, Mrs Anne Moore, who has lived on the estate for 50 years. She has seen many changes on the estate over the years, and is keen to see how the new service develops. (Pictured here)

Tomorrow it's "mayor making", when the council is scheduled to install Unsworth councillor Joan Grimshaw as the new Mayor of Bury. I'm sure she will do an excellent job and be a fine ambassador for our borough. We'll also be deciding who will make up the cabinet and chair the various committees on the council.

On Thursday I'm doing my bit for IDAHO. No, it's nothing to do with an American state known for its potatoes, but the International Day Against Homophobia. I'm against discrimination and hatred in all its forms, so I'm showing my support by hoisting a rainbow flag outside Knowsley Place in Union Square.

On Friday I'm off to the Shuttle Centre to meet youngsters who attend The Ark and have a spot of breakfast with them. Later that day, I'll be attending the funeral of Albert Little OBE, former Bury councillor, mayor and freeman of the borough. And on Sunday, I'll be at the annual mayoral service at St Bernadette's Church in Whitefield - I believe you're all invited too!

Good news: we've won £90,000 from the Government to help us deal with problem drinking in Bury East. Bury as a whole is nowhere near as blighted by this problem as other areas, but it's important to tackle problems where they arise and stop them spreading.

Finally, it's Dementia Awareness Week next week, and the council is playing its part by organising a series of events which you're very much invited to take part in

8 May 2012: Back to business

Now that the elections are over, we can all concentrate on getting on with what we need to do make Bury an ever-improving borough that is appreciated by all those who live, work, study and visit here.

Firstly, I'm delighted that the redevelopment of Pimhole is racing ahead (and more affordable housing) after the council signed a deal with developers Prospect GB for Phase 2 of the project. This means they can stay on site and get the remaining houses built quicker, which is important for the wider regeneration of the area and for people who want to buy a new house there.

And yesterday saw the official opening of the new Woolfold Viaduct - you might have been there - which is another boost to the whole Kirklees Valley and will be a super addition to the many green and open spaces we have in our borough.

A third development takes place on Friday, with the opening of our new homelessness service at Chapelfield in Radcliffe, a project which should improve the service we offer and one on which we worked with local residents.

Back at the town hall, I'll be at the new member induction course tomorrow. This is where all the newly elected councillors are told how to behave. I'll leave others to be the judge of whether it worked for me.

My recently engagements (doesn't that sound posh?) have included a trip to Holy Cross College, one of our two Beacon Colleges in Bury. And on Sunday, I'll be at Bury Parish Church for the official service to mark the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, with the Bishop of Manchester, and I'll be giving one of the readings. 

In the meantime, many congratulations to Ramsbottom United for their great achievement in winning the North West Counties League Championship.

I must also, sadly, offer my condolences to the family of Albert Little OBE, who died last week. Albert was a councillor in Ramsbottom and Bury for nearly 20 years, and was the first Leader of the new metropolitan council, as well as serving as Mayor of Bury. He was a towering figure in the local community, and he will be fondly remembered for the dedicated work he carried out.   

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