SENIOR public figures have slated "Super City" plans which would see Prestwich and Whitefield taken over by the city of Manchester.

The expansion bid, involving several areas currently under the control of other local authorities, was revealed in Manchester City Council's reply to a Government review of the local authority finance system.

Bosses in Manchester want to increase the city's population to one million, thus widening their revenue collection catchment area.

But angry Bury South MP Ivan Lewis said: "I can see why Prestwich and Whitefield are an attractive target for Manchester City Council.

"However, I cannot see any benefit in terms of local services or taxation to local residents of transferring from Bury to Manchester."

Bury Council's Conservative leader Coun David Higgin labelled the idea "pie in the sky".

He said: "Figures for 1997-8 show Manchester's Revenue Support Grant was £268 million and Bury's £51 million.

"Manchester's Standard Spending Assessment was £420,178,000, Bury's was £120,353,000.

"Total external support for Manchester, excluding Council Tax, was £362,474,000.

"For Bury it was £90,443,000.

"Based on population figures of around 430,000 for Manchester and 180,000 for Bury, these amounts show the city is already receiving extra cash to deal with the problems it faces."

Bury Council leader Derek Boden said: "Big is not always beautiful, we have been proving that in the Bury borough for years.

"Manchester has its problems, and we are sympathetic to them. However, that does not mean we are just going to sit back and let them poach part of our borough to increase their own standing."

Mr Lewis added: "The proposal not only represents a threat to the interests of my constituents but would also place at risk the future of Bury as a viable local authority."

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