Councillor Peter Ashworth : Has FAILED to respond to our Letter

Councillor Ken Audin : Has FAILED to respond to our Letter

We have led the opposition to any threat of closure, and will continue to fight to keep this community facility. We have been instrumental in coordinating local opposition to Council closure threats, and will contine to work with the community which has made its feelings on this issue clear."

Councillor Bob Bibby
The starting premise for all these questions, which local Liberal Democrat councilors have fuelled, is that this facility is to be closed. As you will see from the publication of the Task and Finish Group's review this is a view that is way off the mark. The allegation that the civic suites were to close was purely political mischief by the Lib Dems. This enabled them to obtain maximum publicity at the expense and concern of the public and they appeared to have no concern about the anxiety this caused.

The value of this important community facility is acknowledged by the Task and Finish Group and this is recognized in so far as Health and Well being is concerned.

Councillor Sharon Briggs
I fully support the campaign to save our Civic Suites and do appreciate the impact on the communities health and well being. I hope with the ruling Conservative Group at the Council will listen to the strength of feeling from the Community and revise their decision on closing Prestwich and Radcliffe Civic Centres. The communities of Prestwich and Radcliffe deserve the same facilities as Bury and Ramsbottom. Closing these Centres is devaluing the people of Prestwich and Radcliffe the right to community facilities which benefits the well being of all ages. Keep the pressure on!

Councillor John Byrne
I have to say I do not know who has been "consulted".
You are right to emphasise the need for recognition of the need of people to socialise.All too often short term financial savings are implemented with no thought of the long term consequences.
It is worth saying that libraries,swimming baths,many leisure centres,community centres etc all run at a "loss".However, we accept that because they all contribute to our education,mental and physical well-being.It follows that before any suggestion of closure all other options should be explored,not least how to improve usage and what would be the long term effect of closure.

Councillor Alan Matthews
I support the retension of all the civic suite's in the borough and have done so for years, after attending many events as Mayor and other events since I feel that to loose them would be a crime.

Councillor Peter Redstone
As for my support, I do not have to explain that I was present at the recent demonstration on a cold and windy Sunday morning as my photograph along many others was shown in the Prestwich Advertiser, the following weekend.

Of course I support the Longfield Civic Suite.

Councillor Michelle Wiseman
After many hours of negotiations with the Council Leader Councillor Bibby and his team I can confirm that I have managed to secure the following assurances:-

a) Prestwich Civic Suite will not close

b) No alternative use will be considered

I sincerely hope this indicates my position, and my support for saving the Civic Suite for the community, and its continued use for which it was intended.

^^ TOP ^^

Dear Councillor

Re: The Longfield Suite Prestwich

We are writing to offer you some free publicity courtesy of the Save Our Suite campaign website (www.saveoursuite.com).

Members of the Save Our Suite campaign object in the strongest terms to Bury Council's proposal to "reconfigure" the Longfield Suite.

Clearly there are some common sense changes, which need to be made in order to make the Suite more profitable. As you know, Bury Council staff presented these changes to the council's Resource and Performance Scrutiny Commission back in 2007. As far as we can tell, many of the changes have still not been implemented almost three years on.

The Longfield Suite is precious to many local people both as a source of civic pride (its wonderful dance floor and reputation) and for the health and well-being benefits offered. Any "reconfiguration" of the Suite's dance floor will remove many of these benefits from a town, which has no public pool or leisure centre. This will undermine the council's aim of making Bury "the healthiest borough in the North West".

Consultation tells us time and time again that local people want to retain the Suite. In view of what we may be about to lose, we believe the people of Prestwich and Whitefield have a right to know which of the borough's elected representatives are fighting to preserve this well-loved asset.

We intend to publish on our website a list of all councillors who are supporting local people by opposing "reconfiguration" of the Longfield Suite's dance floor. We will gladly include any supporting statement you care to make, as long as it makes your position on this issue crystal clear.

Please respond by 28th February 2010 if you would like to be included on this list.

Kind regards

www.saveoursuite.com