Christmas greetings and good wishes for the New Year to all the people of Bury. For most of us Christmas is a happy time shared with family and friends and I hope that all will experience the special atmosphere of the festive season.

During the past months I have been pleased to be associated with the activities of many voluntary organisations. So many exist throughout the borough, working hard to meet the needs of others. I was particularly pleased that Princess Anne came to Bury a few weeks ago to formally open the Carers Centre.

The emergency services also work diligently throughout the year to ensure our well being and will continue to do so during the Christmas period.
To all the voluntary groups and emergency services, I offer my appreciation and thanks for all they do. Over the past 12 months we have witnessed many natural disasters as well as conflict. I was very proud and honoured to welcome home the 2nd Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers following their tour of duty in Afghanistan.

We are fortunate in Bury that we live and work in a reasonably secure environment, made more enjoyable by many beautiful parks, open spaces and the summer floral displays around the borough.

Bury was awarded the title of Best Large Town at North West In Bloom for the sixth year in succession. This is down to the hard work and dedication of local community groups and the council’s gardeners. Bury also won a Silver Gilt Medal at The Royal Horticultural Society Show at Tatton Park.
This year we also granted Freedom of the Borough to film director Danny Boyle, the members of Elbow and to Paralympic gold medal winner Zoe Robinson.

The year has seen the completion of many local projects such as the new Fusilier Museum, which was formally opened by HRH The Duke of Kent. New health centres also opened at Moorgate Health Centre and at the Radcliffe Primary Care Centre.

We have also seen the hugely successful Love Prestwich carnival take place with a range of community-based events and in Ramsbottom the inaugural Chocolate Festival proved to be hugely successful attracting large numbers of visitors to the town.

In the New Year we look forward to the completion of the construction projects taking place in Bury town centre which will bring job opportunities, new shopping and leisure facilities as well as new jobs to the borough, as well as a brand new state of the art police station on the site of Sir Robert Peel’s childhood home at Chamberhall.
 
My sincere good wishes for a Merry Christmas and a peaceful and a happy New Year to all.

The Worshipful the Mayor, Councillor Sheila Magnall.