BURY goes to the polls next week with a third of the 48 seats on Bury Council up for grabs.

Some 49 candidates are standing across the borough, with the three main parties up in virtually every ward.

Here are statements from the three main party leaders, published in the Bury Times the week before the May 7 election.

COUNCILLOR Derek Boden, leader of the Labour group and of Bury Council, promised to act on principles but not dogma, who said all sections of the community will benefit as Bury faces a new future with a new and sympathetic Government.

"For the first time since Labour took control of Bury Council in 1986, we are looking forward to working in partnership with a Labour Government who share our principles and values," he says in the party's manifesto.

"Until one year ago, we were engaged full-time in a grim struggle for survival against a Tory Government whose best-known leader stated that "there is no such thing as society" and who seemed hell bent on destroying any vestige of democratic decision making at local level.

"Now that co-operation has replaced confrontation we can unbuckle our armour, lower our shields and get down to what our business should be about - working with all who share our principles to make our borough a good place to live and work, for our present citizens and for our children and grand-children.

"There are very firm principles in this manifesto but there is no dogma. What works and is acceptable to the people of Bury is right." FRESH ideas to waken up a moribund council is what the Conservatives offer, says group leader Coun David Higgin.

"We believe in community politics and make the time to listen to what people want.

"Our grass roots democracy is based on our desire to stand up for local institutions like schools, community groups and voluntary bodies.

"We offer the fresh future in local government after 12 years of Labour misrule. We want to breathe fresh life and ideas into a council that has become moribund. The people speak but are not heard.

"In Bury it's time to change to the Conservatives.

"We believe that local decisions should be made locally and we are strongly against the Government's proposed nine regional development agencies which will be the most powerful unaccountable quangos ever, and highly likely to take many of the decisions now taken by local authorities like Bury. We want to put local communities first.

"Conservatives believe in choice and diversity in housing and giving tenants a greater say in how their homes are managed.

"Conservative councillors will fight for better and more informed management to improve the services of the council at the point of delivery." LIBERAL Democrats are the only party fighting for a fair deal for all the towns and communities that make up the borough.

Group leader, Coun Vic D'Albert, said: "The centrist corporate approach by Bury Labour invariably means that their priorities don't match those of the townships of Bury.

"The make-up of the various towns varies enormously, for instance Tottington is very different from Radcliffe; Prestwich and Bury are very different. The needs of those communities are not being addressed as the council takes a "we know best" approach.

"The result is wasted ratepayers' money. Nobody bothers to ask local residents what their priorities are so invariably mis-spending takes place which then offends local residents.

"Liberal Democrats on Bury Council would address the problem immediately by firstly establishing area township committees as soon as possible so that local issues can start to be addressed. And secondly, introducing an annual "council spending priority survey" which could be sent out at no extra cost to all ratepayers at the beginning of each council year with council tax bills.

"Until better consultation is introduced and Bury Labour acknowledges that local towns have different priorities and needs, areas will continue to lose out and money will continue to be wasted.

"Only the Liberal Democrats offer a fair deal for all communities in Bury, a fair deal that recognises local needs and concerns."

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