BURY’S Labour group has hit out at the Conservatives for “incorrect basic facts and figures” within their manifesto.

The four-page leaflet commits to spending £2.5 million on upgrading leisure centres across Bury, including Prestwich pool.

But a Labour party spokesman said this council facility "does not exist."

A council spokesman confirmed the only council-owned swimming pools are Castle Leisure Centre in Bury, Ramsbottom Pool and Radcliffe Leisure Centre.

Bury’s Labour group also described the manifesto as “an insult to Radcliffe residents” after it omitted to mention the town within the document.

Bury's Conservative leader, Councillor James Daly, said: “Our aim is to invest millions in leisure and sports facilities across the borough. This would include a huge investment in Radcliffe pool as outlined in the Conservative’s budget amendment in February.”

Cllr Daly called for the Labour party to “get on board” with Conservative plans rather than “arguing with the wording” in its manifesto.

A Labour group spokesman said: “The borough is made up of six proud towns but it seems that Bury Conservatives can only count up to five. To produce a borough-wide manifesto which excludes any reference to one of its biggest towns, Radcliffe, is worrying to say the least and an insult to Radcliffe residents.

“Even more worrying is Bury Conservative’s commitment to invest a proportion of £2.5 million of taxpayer’s money on upgrading equipment at Prestwich Pool – a council facility that does not exist.”

Further concern was raised about the commitment to invest £2.5 million in roads, based on savings made from running the council’s leisure facilities.

A Labour spokesman said: “Bury's Conservative leader James Daly, who presumably drafted this nonsense, is a well-meaning amateur. If he cannot even get the basic facts and figures right for the content of a leaflet how on earth can he lead a council.

"The fact that Bury Conservatives are making promises which are not capable of being delivered shows how desperate they have become in the run up to the local elections. 

"Investment in phantom facilities and a plan to invest in the roads based on money generated from those phantom facilities is ridiculous.

"The Conservative Government has stripped £73 million from the local council budget. A Conservative-run council would clearly have dire consequences for the borough."

The manifesto reads: “If you believe in a brighter future for Prestwich, Whitefield, Bury, Tottington and Ramsbottom and all our communities within our borough, please vote Conservative." It also states: "We will invest £2.5 million to upgrade equipment at the Castle Leisure Centre, Ramsbottom, and Prestwich Pool."

Councillor James Daly, leader of Bury’s Conservative party, said: “Radcliffe has been badly let down for years by the Labour party and the Conservatives are the only ones with a positive plan to fight for a new secondary school for Radcliffe, to reopen Coronation Road Library, and invest a minimum of £25 million into our local road network.

“The Labour party should get on board and support Conservative plans which would transform our area rather than arguing with the wording of the leaflet.

"Insults and slurs are the stock in trade of the Bury Labour party. Anything to deflect attention away from the appalling way they manage Bury Council.

"I will continue to put forward policies to improve the lives of all residents in our borough."