PEOPLE power will spearhead a fight to improve what has been described as a "forgotten" community in Bury.

Now, the New Mosses Tenants' and Residents' Association has drawn up a "hit list" of problems it aims to tackle head-on.

The association was formed at a meeting on Saturday (March 3) at Holy Trinity Church attended by many local residents. Guests included Bury North MP David Chaytor and the mayor, Councillor Bill Johnson, who officially helped launched the organisation.

The association will represent people living in the Spring Street, East Street, Shepherd Street, South Cross Street, Cook Street and Frank Street areas of the town. Joint chairmen are Father Derek Hailes of Holy Trinity and Mr Zia Ullah.

Fr Hailes told the meeting: "To be frank, we in this area have almost become a 'forgotten' people. Over the last few years, we have seen the area deteriorate."

He said homes had become empty and derelict, streets were littered and youths were hanging about causing numerous problems, with drug dealing becoming a daily occurrence.

And he revealed that the emergency services were having difficulties in gaining access to the area because certain streets and back alleyways were closed.

Highlighting this and other areas of concern, Father Hailes added: "With this in mind 140 residents, each representing one family, decided to form our association to press for a whole range of improvements."

These include:

Traffic calming and better road signs

Opening of streets and back alleys

Lighting/missing flag stones

Security including surveillance cameras

Better policing

Children's play areas

Empty property problems

Graffiti

A library.

He launched an appeal for "volunteers" from the local community to help with all manner of tasks.

"No-one is going to be paid," stressed Fr Hailes. "It is our area and it is up to us to help each other."

The association's constitution has been approved and the joint chairmen were selected to represent the English and Asian make-up of the local community.