Richard Baum

The Longfield Suite is safe from closure today after a successful campaign by Prestwich residents and Councillors against Conservative plans which may have seen the facility close.

A Best Value review of civic halls in Bury, undertaken by the Conservative Council, outlined several options for the future of the Longfield Suite, including the “reconfiguration” of the community hall which is popular with local people and the best used of all civic venues in Bury. Now, after a consultation process which saw thousands of local people sign petitions and protest to save the Longfield Suite, the Council has backed down. The Longfield Suite will be retained in its current format, with a plan for better marketing, awareness, usage and income.

The consultation process on the future of the Suite drew a 7,000 signature petition, 1,300 responses by survey, two large public meetings and a number of public protests including an “arms around the Longfield” event where hundreds of local people formed a human chain around the suite.

I am overjoyed that our campaign has been a success. The Conservative threat to close the Longfield Suite was a disgrace, but now after a huge number of Prestwich people told them how wrong they were, the Conservatives have backed down. It’s been great to see so many local people coming together to fight for a community space. It’s been a great example of local people power in action and proof that people can make a difference.

The Conservatives have been saying throughout this that because the halls lose money they need to be changed or closed. I disagree strongly with that. Not only does the Longfield Suite make more money than all the others in Bury (two of which were never threatened with anything) but for me community halls are about more than cash. They’re places for communities to come together. Thankfully Prestwich will have one for the foreseeable future.

Rick