August 24, 1968

BURY'S long-delayed new public baths scheme has run into even more snags ­— this time caused by a cash shortage.

Whitehall has said that the estimated £600,000 price tag to erect the building off Bolton Street is "too high in the present financial situation".

The scheme, which received planning permission four years ago, will now be redrafted, with a £400,000 ceiling imposed meaning many features will have to be trimmed.

Original plans allowed for baths and an indoor sports hall, however new plans will focus largely on the baths. Plans for a cafe will also be scaled down.

It is hope that work will get underway by 1970-71 including a 110 feet by 42 feet pool, small instruction pool, diving pit and seating for 150 spectators.

AFTER more than 130 years the racks in a Bury newspaper shop filled for one last time on Wednesday.

Owned by Mr and Mrs Mitton, who are retiring after 22 years, the newsagent in Princess Street is to be demolished to make way for the new town centre market.

Early on Wednesday morning the couple rose to accept their final deliveries of newspapers, comics and periodicals and they sold as much as they could before closing time that night.

Mr Mitton, aged 61, said: "It has been very hard work but very enjoyable.

"There have certainly been some changes since we started here, for in those days a daily paper cost 1d. There is a much wider range of magazines, periodicals and comics to keep abreast of, whereas before the choice was very limited."

BURY'S fastest growing ward ­— Unsworth­ ­— could get three extra councillors next May courtesy of a petition to the Queen.

After administrative delays at Parliamentary level, the town council is now pressing to bring in the changes in time for the next municipal elections sending a petition to the Queen in Council.

The council had agreed last June that the ward should have more councillors owing to an substantial increase in electors and rateable values.

Unsworth is the only one of Bury's six electoral wards which still returns only one councillor each year. The others wards each have six with two seats open for contest each year.

If approved the move will double the number of councillors for Unsworth and will also involve the election of an extra alderman.