137 fight first all-post election

No fewer than 137 candidates are seeking your vote in the local elections, representing the "big three" parties plus hopefuls from the British National Party and Bury Market campaigners.

Nominations closed on Tuesday for the poll which for the first time will be conducted entirely by postal voting.

Every seat on Bury Council is up for grabs in the first all-out elections since the metropolitan borough was formed 30 years ago. Voters, therefore, will be allowed three choices on their ballot paper.

Labour and the Conservatives are putting up a full list in every part of the borough, while the Liberal Democrats offer voters at least one candidate in each ward.

As forecast in the Bury Times, the BNP is putting up three candidates (in Tottington, Church and Radcliffe East) while seven Bury Market traders are standing as Independents in protest at plans to move the market as part of a £150 million revamp of Bury town centre.

A boundary shake-up designed to make the wards more equal has resulted in the creation of an extra ward (North Manor, which includes Greenmount, Nangreaves and Hawkshaw) taking the total to 17.

Only two councillors are not defending their seats: Tottington's Bill Johnson, and Radcliffe Labour member Andrea Hughes.

Pre-ballot letters are currently being sent to residents to explain how the new voting arrangements will work.

Along with the voting paper, there will be declaration form to complete, which has to be signed by a witness to confirm each voter's identity.

People will have two weeks to make up their minds, and either post back the forms or drop them off at Bury Town Hall. There is a telephone hotline to help anyone with queries: 253 5113, or 5114, 7314, 7749.

TRIBUTES were paid at Wednesday's council meeting to Councillor Bill Johnson, who is stepping down after 44 years.

The man known as "Mr Tottington" received praise from all sides, including the public gallery, for his unbroken record of service. He was twice Mayor of Bury, and served two terms as chairman of the former Tottington Urban District Council. He has been made an MBE.

The Mayor, Coun Wilf Davison, said: "Councillor Johnson has set an excellent example of dedicated and conscientious public service that we should strive to follow. Both Coun and Mrs Johnson are very well-known, highly regarded and held with fond affection."

Council leader John Byrne highlighted his hard work in twinning, saying he was an enthusiastic supporter of Bury wherever he has been.

And Tory leader Roy Walker said: "One person can make all the difference, and that person is you. I hope this council will honour you when you have retired in a way that's appropriate to your 44 years of selfless service to this borough."

CANDIDATES: *denotes councillor seeking re-election)

BESSES:

*Ken Audin (Lab), Harris Drive, Unsworth.

*Derek Boden (Lab), Thatch Leach Lane, Whitefield.

Julian Kershner (Con), Albert Avenue, Prestwich.

*Alan Matthews (Lab), Mode Hill Lane, Whitefield.

Chava Odze (Con), Albert Avenue, Prestwich.

Mark Roberts (Con), Manchester Road, Bury.

Winifred Rohmann (Lib Dem), Princess Parade, Bury.

CHURCH

Michael Bell (Lib Dem), Lindrick Avenue, Whitefield.

*Bob Bibby (Con), Booth Road, Stacksteads.

Leslie Jones (Lab), Beryl Avenue, Tottington.

Andrew McAnulty (Lab), Simonbury Close, Bury.

Thomas Rosser (BNP), Horne Street, Bury.

Benjamin Shatliff (Lab), Simister Lane, Simister.

*Roy Walker (Con), Freckleton Drive, Bury.

*Jack Walton (Con), Sunny Bank Road, Bury.

EAST

*John Byrne (Lab), Rochdale Old Road, Bury.

Thomas Canham (Ind), Haslingden Road, Rawtenstall.

*Mike Connolly (Lab), Topping Fold Road, Bury.

Shahid Haider (Con), Malvern Avenue, Bury.

Anthony Hill (Ind), Grindsbrook Road, Radcliffe.

*Trevor Holt (Lab), Claughton Road, Walshaw.

Azmat Husain (Con), Audlum Court, Bury.

Nawaz Khan (Con), Spring Street, Bury.

Jeanette Tonge (Lib Dem), Federation Street, Prestwich.

ELTON

*Denise Bigg (Con), Claydon Drive, Radcliffe.

*John Costello (Lab), Westgate Avenue, Holcombe Brook.

*Yvonne Creswell (Con), Vale Coppice, Ramsbottom.

Yvonne Eagle (Lib Dem), Pennine Close, Bury.

Shaun Fitzsimon (Ind), Malvern Avenue, Bury.

Michael Hankey (Con), St George's Road, Unsworth.

Evelyn Holt (Lab), Claughton Road, Walshaw.

Ray Watts (Lab), March Drive, Bury.

NORTH MANOR

Peter Bury (Lab), Manchester Road, Bury.

*Dorothy Gunther (Con), Crosfield Avenue, Summerseat.

Ian Hargreaves (Lab), Topping Fold Road, Bury.

*David Higgin (Con), Kensington Close, Greenmount.

Robert Sloss (Lib Dem), Newhaven Close, Bury.

*James Taylor (Con), Booth Road, Stacksteads.

Zia Ullah (Lab), East Street, Bury.

HOLYROOD

Sheila Blaby (Con), Polefield Road, Prestwich.

Jeannette Chrystal (Con), Boundary Drive, Bradley Fold.

*Vic D'Albert (Lib Dem), Prestwich Park Road South, Prestwich.

*Wilf Davison (Lib Dem), Branksome Avenue, Prestwich.

Darrell Johnson (Lab), Dashwood Road, Prestwich.

Lillian Johnston (Lab), Ladythorn Drive, Prestwich.

*Tim Pickstone (Lib Dem), Heaton Street, Prestwich.

Eve Sandler (Lab), Polefield Road, Prestwich.

Marilyn Vincent (Con), Bury Old Road, Prestwich.

MOORSIDE

*Peter Ashworth (Con), Heywood Street, Bury.

*Dot Cassidy (Lab), Poplar Avenue, Bury.

James Eagle (Lib Dem), Pennine Close, Bury.

Warren Flood (Lab), Manchester Old Road, Bury.

Victor Hagan (Lib Dem), Kingfisher Drive, Bury.

Paul Jenkins (Lib Dem), Devon Street, Bury.

Trevor Jones (Con), Burrs Lea Close, Bury.

Keith Rothwell (Lab), Kestrel Drive, Bury.

*Beverly Sullivan (Con), Middleton Drive, Bury.

PILKINGTON PARK

Lynn Molloy (Lib Dem), Dumers Lane, Radcliffe.

Elliot Moss (Lab), Butterstile Lane, Prestwich.

*Paul Nesbit (Lab), Hawkstone Avenue, Whitefield.

Alan Quinn (Lab), Whittaker Lane, Prestwich.

Peter Redstone (Con), Kibworth Close, Whitefield.

*Bernie Vincent (Con), Bury Old Road, Prestwich.

*Michelle Wiseman (Con), Park Lane, Whitefield.

RADCLIFFE EAST

Lindsey Campbell (Lab), Bolton Road, Radcliffe.

*Siobhan Costello (Lab), Mount Pleasant, Nangreaves.

Janet Lees (BNP), Acresbrook Walk, Tottington.

Eric Margieson (Con), Brierley Avenue, Whitefield.

Jeffrey McGilvray (Con), Radcliffe New Road, Whitefield.

*Steve Perkins (Lab), Cromwell Road, Whitefield.

Alison Roberts (Con), Manchester Road, Bury.

Peter Staley (Lib Dem), Federation Street, Prestwich.

RADCLIFFE NORTH

Alan Bigg (Con), Claydon Drive, Radcliffe.

*Barry Briggs (Lab), Old Oak Close, Bradley Fold.

*Sharon Briggs (Lab), Old Oak Close, Bradley Fold.

*Tim Chamberlain (Lab), Turks Road, Radcliffe.

Gaynor Clarkson (Lib Dem), Red Bank Road, Radcliffe.

Bernadette Hargreaves (Ind), Gainsborough Avenue, Bolton.

Stuart Penketh (Con), Boundary Drive, Bradley Fold.

Anthony Sprason (Con), South Royd Street, Tottington.

RADCLIFFE WEST

Kathleen Armour (Con), Heys Road, Prestwich.

Ian Bevan (Con), Whalley Road, Ramsbottom.

*Wayne Campbell (Lab), Hunter Drive, Radcliffe.

*Anthony Cummings (Lab), Marsden Walk, Radcliffe.

Caroline Gardner (Lib Dem), Cottam Street, Bury.

*Tony Isherwood (Lab), Gatefield Close, Radcliffe.

Roger Thompson (Con), Hathaway Road, Bury.

REDVALES

Ijaz Ahmed (Con), Radcliffe Road, Bury.

Bill Brison (Lib Dem), Scott Avenue, Bury.

*Farook Chaudhry (Lab), Springwater Avenue, Ramsbottom.

Khalid Hussain (Con), Inman Street, Bury.

Debbie Pierce (Ind), Waterside Close, Radcliffe.

*John Smith (Lab), Ainsworth Road, Bury.

Susan Southworth (Lab), Redvales Road, Bury.

Iona Worthington (Con), Summerseat Lane, Holcombe Brook.

RAMSBOTTOM

Fiona Davison (Lib Dem), Branksome Avenue, Prestwich.

Nicole Ivanoff (Lab), Guiseley Close, Bury.

Jane Lewis (Lab), Rosewood Avenue, Tottington.

*Sheila Magnall (Con), Balmoral Close, Greenmount.

Richard Nuttall (Con), Humber Drive, Bury.

Michael Rae (Lab), Battersby Street, Bury.

*Barry Theckston (Con), Cunliffe Avenue, Ramsbottom.

SEDGLEY

Gill Campbell (Lab), Mildred Avenue, Prestwich.

Catherine Evans (Lab), Cuckoo Lane, Prestwich.

Andrew Garner (Lib Dem), Glebelands Road, Prestwich.

*Ann Garner (Lib Dem), Glebelands Road, Prestwich.

Henry Kessler (Con), Cavendish Road, Salford.

Shneur Odze (Con), Albert Avenue, Prestwich.

Donal O'Hanlon (Lib Dem), Bland Road, Prestwich.

Neville Singer (Con), The Coppice, Prestwich.

*Peter Timperley (Lab), Eastleigh Road, Prestwich.

ST MARY'S

Antony Barlow (Con), Rectory Green, Prestwich.

Mary D'Albert (Lib Dem), Prestwich Park Road South, Prestwich.

Maureen Davison (Lib Dem), Branksome Avenue, Prestwich.

*Margaret Gibb (Lab), Poppythorn Lane, Prestwich.

David Green (Con), Hamilton Road, Prestwich.

*Keith Grime (Lab), Birch Grove, Prestwich.

Mike Halsall (Lib Dem), Dumers Close, Radcliffe.

Denise Ormrod (Con), Craigwell Road, Prestwich.

*Steve Treadgold (Lab), Sunnymede Vale, Holcombe Brook.

TOTTINGTON

Roger Brown (Con), Kirklees Street, Tottington.

Simon Carter (Lab), Rosewood Avenue, Tottington.

Stewart Clough (BNP), Waterside Road, Bury.

Emma Davison (Lib Dem), St Austell's Drive, Prestwich.

Iain Gartside (Con), Sycamore Drive, Bury.

Vera McClung (Lab), Cann Street, Tottington.

Vic McClung (Lab), Cann Street, Tottington.

*Yvonne Wright (Con), Whalley Road, Ramsbottom.

UNSWORTH

Sam Cohen (Con), Ennerdale Drive, Unsworth.

Alan Garman (Ind), Kersley Hall Road, Radcliffe.

Marilyn Green (Con), Walmersley Old Road, Bury.

*Joan Grimshaw (Lab), Heathfield Road, Bury.

Jonathan Grosskopf (Con), Bishop's Road, Prestwich.

Maurice Konyk (Ind), Hargreaves Drive, Rawtenstall.

*Gordon Sharkey (Lab), Elms Close, Whitefield.

*Stella Smith (Lab), Ainsworth Road, Bury.

Geoffrey Young (Lib Dem), Millom Drive, Bury.