Tottington Ward Update

Update from Yvonne :- A snapshot in the life of a busy Cllr ……

Since  my last update I have attended  meetings connected with the Council
and also local charities (which the Council appoint Elected  Members ).Years ago this was to ensure any funding awarded by the Council was used appropriately.These days as budgets have been reduced or cut completely ,the charities have no obligation to have Councillors on their respective committees. Pleased to report as a keen active attendee , I am still a Board Member of Bury Society for the Blind and now Deputy Chair of COMMUNIC8TE ( The Deaf Society ) .

I gain satisfaction from trying to help the vulnerable in society and volunteer to organise  fundraising events for both charities .Communic8te are desperate for  volunteers.Please contact me if you are interested.

I have attended the following;

Monthly Planning  Committee Control Meetings including site visits and ongoing training sessions .
Standards Committee
Freedom of the Borough Awards

 

Weekly Meetings of Friends of Tottington Library
Monday mornings volunteering in the Blind Society preparing for events.
St Johns, Kirklees Street ,Board Meeting
The Blind Society AGM
Bury Rural Inequalities Forum Meeting

Other  time spent supporting local charities;

With my experience in fundraising I have been giving support and advice to a new member of staff employed to recruit volunteers  and organise fundraising events at COMMUNIC8TE .
I worked on the Car Boot sale for COMMUNIC8TE
I attended the annual dinner of Bury Society for The Blind
I helped organise a  ladies lunch and fashion show for Bury Hospice……..

I helped organise a quiz night to raise funds for the Library and we raised £608 .

I attended a coffee morning for local NSPCC group.

Organising a Lancashire Night fundraiser for the Library.
Attended a fundraising Race Night supporting residents of Birtle who are raising funds for COMMUNIC8TE.

As part of the usual duties as a Cllr  we campaign constantly. We need to hear what you are thinking…not just at election time but all year.We hold Street surgeries outside the co op and promote on social media…..do approach us for a chat or with concerns  …….

Ward Cases I have  recently been involved  and tried to resolve ;

Flytipping at Harwood  Crescent on 2 separate occasions..firstly a fridge  followed some weeks later by bags of litter dumped at the rear of one of the blocks. The not so clever perpetrator left an envelope with an address on in Radcliffe which I immediately reported to the Council for prosecution  I hope !

A Pest Control issue on Boothway which took some time to resolve  with Pest Control Officers is now sorted.

Staff shortages  left Tottington Primary School without  crossing patrol staff on several occasions.

Two complaints  requesting assistance from Planning Enforcement team re perceived breach of Planning conditions, Elton School being one case, ongoing.

Dog bins being removed and vandalised on TownsMeadow Park , Whitehead Gardens and the Lines. One found this week in the bushes.I have requested  repairs and replacements.

Complaint re overgrown bushes and weeds off Rhode Street.

The future of the Canoe Centre at Burrs although not in our Ward is enjoyed by many.I support individuals hoping to take this on as a commercial enterprise.

Others matters……

A pleasure to be invited to events at Walshaw Hall / The  Beeches , we are to attend an Armistice Day event on the 10 th .We will be present at both Walshaw Church on the morning of the 11 th and in the afternoon at the ceremony in Tottington.

A pleasure to support Tottington Business owner Paula Henry of CHAPS barbers this week at her new salon  .This her third  which is now open on Brandlesholme Road . We arranged for the Mayor to officially open the shop with a ribbon cutting ceremony.An inspirational lady, Paula has fought Breast Cancer and is looking forward to her third shop being a success,we feel sure that it certainly will be.

St Johns are making much progress with the refurbishment, painting of the interior is to take place soon and repairs to the wooden floor is underway.

Being your Cllrs we are  tuned into social media and do pick  up issues by chance…..we can only help if you make direct contact as we are not glued to our screens constantly , so do email us on any issue and we will do our best to help you efficiently and promptly.

AND THE BIG ISSUE …..

The potential loss of Tottington Library has been the biggest issue in our Ward for years.

We have been involved in the campaign from the start in February and have had to give this much  of our time.Meeting weekly since February and lots of time on top .

We have an excellent committee made up of Tottington residents and we have been focused on getting the agreement of the Council to allow volunteers to operate it.Yes the Council have agreed but it is an enormous task and it will only succeed with the support of local residents. Many have expressed a wish to volunteer and in the next couple of weeks we will be contacting those people to chat about the role they are interested in undertaking. We still do not have a date when the community take over.

We held a fundraising quiz night last week and raised £608 and  we are holding  a Lancashire Night next  to be held at Walshaw Sports Club who have already donated £500 to our funds………. .( PIC of committee with Steve Hunt ).