HISTORY was made in Prestwich when democracy came a step closer to the people - but only 17 members of the public witnessed it.

Town hall officials and councillors equalled the number of local people at the first meeting of the town's area board held at Prestwich Community High School on Tuesday (Sept 21).

But chairman Coun Paul Nesbit insisted that the Prestwich Area Board will reflect the needs of the local community.

"It is a moment in Prestwich history. We are starting our area board: it is the first one and I am hoping very much it is a board where the community is listened to and participate as much as possible," he said.

Area boards have been established in six parts of the borough to deal with problems and issues faced by residents and organisations in each area. Whitefield and Unsworth Area Board will have its first meeting on Monday, October 4, at Castlebrook High School chaired by Coun Alan Bridson.

As they become established, it is hoped the boards will be given responsibility for delegated budgets and decision making.

The nine elected Prestwich councillors automatically sit on the board. They will be joined by co-opted representatives of local organisations, but only councillors will have a vote. Coun Nesbit added: "It is the sincere hope of elected members that things should not come to a vote.

"They should be well discussed and if we listen to the co-opted members we should come to a consensus and not a vote.

"There are occasions when we will need a vote but I hope these will be few and far between."

He added: "It is a new venture and I am hoping it is a very successful venture. We should be allowed to develop the area board structure to the needs of the people - residents and businesses - rather than be prescriptive and talk about what Radcliffe, Tottington or Bury is doing."

Coun Stuart Kaufman urged people to get involved after what he called a "disappointing" turn out. We want you to bring things to our attention. The whole point of area boards is they are there to engage the whole community," he said."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.