The Four Seasons

Walking and driving round parts of the constituency today gave me some idea of the damage caused by the storms last week.  Many houses had fencing panels missing and there were many roof tiles lying smashed on the pavements and driveways.  The tree that feel down at the corner of Scholes Lane and Bury Old Road, near St Monica’s school, remains there albeit chopped down ready to move away.  The weather today has gone from sunny, to rainy, then hailstones and then to light snow – I believe winter is definitely going to arrive this week.

Happy Birthday Marc!

Today is my son’s 19th birthday and as he is still in Israel on his gap year this is the first birthday we would have spent apart – it seemed strange this morning not getting up to wish him a happy birthday and to see what cards and presents he got (I know – it is sad but there you are – old habits die hard!).  So Marc, wishing you a happy birthday from us all here in windy, wet Whitefield.

Reading through the weekly magazine in synagogue this morning there was an adage  which said  ‘choose your own destiny don’t leave it to chance’ and it occurred to me that this applies to politics as well - so many people I meet on the doorstep say that they don’t or won’t vote – but we are lucky in this country that we have a democratic society and that we have the opportunity to vote – to make that choice.  

Mayoral Visit

It was a pleasure to welcome the Mayor of Bury, Cllr Jack Walton, to the Nicky Alliance Day Centre today.  As he was on an official visit I resisted from ‘talking shop’ and spent the afternoon showing him round the Centre, introducing him to members, staff, Board members and volunteers.  He was very impressed with the Centre and was presented with a painting done by one of our members together with a bouquet of flowers for the Mayoress who unfortunately was unable to come along.   

However saw him in totally different light after reading the Bury Times where there is a photo’ of him rather appropriately on page 3, in his early thespian days!   I guess it is one of those photo’s you regret having had taken 40 years later!

 

Speedy Repair!

Although I do grumble on about the Council’s Highways department I must give  credit where it is due and thank Steve Molloy and his team for the speedy repair to the large hole on Ringley Road near the junction with Higher Lane.  I contacted Steve in the morning and when I drove past later that day it had already been filled in!   Shame the same efficiency can’t be applied to the farcical roundabout situation just a few hundred yards further down the road.

Self test for Affluenza?

Reading with interest the article on Ruth Kelly by Andrew O’Hagan in last week’s Daily Telegraph the article on the previous page also caught my eye (I seem to have picked up my husband’s habit of reading the paper backwards!).  It was a summary of a book by Oliver James entitled ‘Affluenza’ which is about how we are trying to keep up with society by placing a high value on appearances, possessions, money, keeping up with the Joneses and fame.  I was quite worried when I read this as not only do I actually live next to a family called Jones I also answered ‘yes’ to the last 2 questions on the self test to see if I had the virus – namely ‘Would I like my name to be known by many people and would I like my name to appear frequently in the media.’  Apparently even answering yes to just one means that I have the virus – reading through the other questions at least I only have a mild dose!

Whitefield Golf Club House near completion

I called into the ‘professionals shop’ at Whitefield Golf Club today to buy a birthday gift for a friend and I was delighted to find out that the new club house is near completion and will hopefully be open in March of this year.  Work will then start on the new flats on the site of the old club house.  I know that a lot of hard work, planning, negotiating and time has gone into this but well done to all those involved – I look forward to my first drink at the 19th hole!

    

Former Whitefield Town Hall

I attended a meeting this morning at the site of the former Whitefield Town Hall with fellow Area Board Councillors Bernie Vincent, Derek Boden and Ken Audin, the Area Co-ordinator together with the owners and their architect.  We all agreed that this building and surrounding gardens has been left for too long and that we need to reach an agreement with the planning and conservation officers at the Town Hall  as to how the regeneration of this site can be achieved.  Cllr Boden and I are to meet with the Leader of the Council next week to move this forward quickly.  Thanks must go to Mavis Warner at the Elms Community Centre for providing us with hot drinks and a warm meeting place after our cold, blustery, site visit.

JT makes it worse!

I am used to being misquoted in the newspaper but this time the Jewish Telegraph (‘Confusion of Asbos for our rowdy youths’ story) quoted me totally out of context.  I can however correctly report that no ASBOs have been issued to the youths of Whitefield who hang around at the top of Park Lane but confirm that the dispersal order that is in place in Whitefield and Prestwich does apply to them as it does to any group of people causing a nuisance. 

An enforced rest!

Wednesday afernoon found myself being rushed into North Manchester General Hospital following a severe attack of sciatica.  Coincidentally enough, after speaking to a friend at the weekend who works there, I had intended to visit the hospital but not quite so quickly nor in such a manner.  I cannot thank the staff enough including the ambulance crew,  nursing staff, A&E consultant, physiotherapists and the Orthopaedic consultant who were all very attentive whilst working under extreme pressure.  I am glad to say that I am now home and (supposed to be) resting.  Thanks also to Yvonne Moore, Chairman of The Old Hall Residents’ Association, who has just called round with some flowers and a card – they will certainly brighten up the weekend.  Ah well at least I can catch up with this week’s newspapers!

Skirting round the roundabout

The saga of the Ringley Road/Stand Lane roundabout continues – do we want traffic lights, do we want a roundabout or do we want it how it was before?  Over 20 residents attended a meeting this morning in the wind and rain to air their views and to find out what solution Bury’s Highways’ Department had come up with – not a lot I think would be the overwhelming response.  The upshot is that they feel that extra signage, lines on the road, raising the height of the middle of the roundabout and oh yes possibly a mirror will resolve the problem.  This proposal will be taken to the next Area Board meeting on the 7 February – 1pm at Elms Community Centre for those who wish to come along.