FROM eye-sores to eye-catching!

That's a number of areas in East Bury which have been transformed as part of a successful ongoing programme to improve small sites.

It's all thanks to £144,000 worth of funding out of a total of £700,000 allocated to the area by the North West Development Agency (NWDA).

The cash has allowed local people, supported by the expertise of Groundwork Bury, to bring rundown, unsightly patches of land back into community use.

The series of relatively small scale schemes have ranged from the simple putting up of fences and clean-ups to significant hard landscaping projects with the introduction of communal seating areas. All the schemes have been universally greeted with approval.

Groundwork Bury's community programmes and development manager Sandy Mohamet said: "We have listened to what local residents have wanted and then quite simply acted. The outcome has been a string of projects which have brought a great deal of satisfaction."

Thanks to the work, previous "sites for sore eyes" have been enhanced, meaning that local householders do not have any "grounds" for complaint.

Bury Mayor, Councillor John Smith, stated: "On behalf of the residents, I am delighted to see these improvements in the area and this is another example of how, if we work in partnership, we can attract funds to the borough. I would like thank officers of the council, the NWDA, Groundwork and residents for their valuable contribution in making this happen."

Ian Whittaker, strategy and regeneration manager, on behalf of the NWDA, commented: "The Agency is very pleased that this project has come to fruition, particularly as it reflects the improvements that local people want to see happen. There will be wider benefits for East Bury, making it a more attractive area to live and do business in."

Representatives from Bury Council, the NWDA and Groundwork have toured the area to view the improvements for themselves. They included the mayor, Mike Kinsella, Groundwork Bury director and colleague Sandy Mohamet; Ruth Pugsley of the NWDA and several councillors.