Cyril Smith's customers - BEWARE!

Posted By: Pat Flynn
Date Posted: 26/06/2007

There has been a habit lately in this column of Councillors talking about "...where it all began"  I'll start this column by going back 26 years when I first became a Councillor.  How did I get involved with the Liberals?  Well my husband Ted was a Coal Merchant - E. Flynn and Sons.  He had hundreds of customers across our Borough.  One of them was an unassuming individual from Emma Street, Rochdale.  Sir Cyril Smith was making waves at the time as Rochdale's MP.  He also knew Ted through his role as Treasurer and Governor at Balderstone School.

A Labour Councillor had resigned (Yes there used to be Labour Councillors in Castleton) and Cyril was on the hunt for a Candidate for the Liberals.  Ted was first choice but due to his business and community committments couldn't do it.  Ted though knew someone who could be persuaded to stand and unbeknown at the time volunteered me.  I stood, and I won with the help of a younger Councillor Alan Taylor and his partner Viveon Coburn.  I have continued to represent the area I love for over a quarter of a century. Ted followed 14 years ago and I was delighted to see the ever popular Councillor Peter Davison joining our team nearly a decade ago.

I have heard a wide variety of rumours with regard to recycling most of which have been assisted by the local press and one or two ill-informed Labour councillors, but the most ridiculous suggestion was that an unemptied bin could cause bubonic plague.    Rats, maggots and dirty nappies causing the bins to smell have also been used as a reason for not recycling, presumably by those peoeple who would prefer to pay a much higher rate of council tax as the alternative.    Last week - 20th June was Castleton's first chance to display our support for recycling and much to my delight, when taking my dog Oscar for his morning walk, the evidence was overwhelming with the new bins displayed along the footpaths ready for collection.
  
Another subject close to my heart is the 'Rebuild' project which is based at 47 Crescent Road, Meadway.   On visiting these premises I have seen first hand the excellent work being done by Iain and Helen whose dedication to the young people they help is doing exactly what the project suggests - rebuilding their lives.  But being  victims of their own success, the present venue is inadequate and either an extension to the building or a move to larger premises is desperately needed.   Any suggestions for funding this project would be very much appreciated.