Meeting the Minister - and more

Not a Government one, the Minister in question being Peter Gibson who is vicar of Southgate Community Church. SGC is a vibrant congregation of 150 which worships in the Community Centre. Peter is new to the area and deeply committed to outreach work helping the community. We agree to work together where we can. Churches are key players in our communities and, as I have in the past, I sense I can work with this particular church.

Then met BSE Youth Council. All very bright young people, many of whom were entrepreneurs of various sorts. If only all SCC Councillors had so much going on. They give me a list of things they feel are important for SCC to know about in Bury, most notably how poor the main Connexions-run youth facility `46' is in the Town. I promise to raise it.

Finally met residents of Byefield Way who feel encroached upon by the garden centre which is seeking to increase its opening hours. The centre's gradual expansion over the years has added more traffic and people to this residential area and the people living there are a bit worried that St Eds is taking too soft a line. I agree to ensure a united front with my Borough Colleagues.

Three new bits of casework this week.

1. Crossing on Wilks Rd/Hardwick Lane near Hardwick Primary School. Residents want a zebra crossing where the refuge currently is. Traffic flows and usage make this a reasonable proposition but this is currently not in the pipeline. Have advised residents to start a petition that if they can start our activists will complete using door to door.

2. Traffic in Vale Lane. Lorries and cars use this road as a car-park which causes danger and inconvenience to residents of Byefield Way. Agreed to raise this with Police and Council (who seem to think this is the others' responsibility!)

3. Policing. There is strong feeling from many residents that there just isn't a particularly strong police presence/response in the town. My Green colleague Mark Ereira has expressed this view and I will hopefully join him soon in a formal meeting with the town's police.