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Bury says 'no' to elected mayor

1:07am Friday 4th July 2008


RESIDENTS have voted against plans for a directly-elected mayor in Bury.

The council will continue to be run by an executive committee, with an honorary mayor.

A total of 15,425 people voted 'no', while 10,338 votes were cast in favour of the proposals.

Less than one in five people - 18.25 per cent - turned out for the referendum.

The council was legally required to hold a referendum because campaign group Manchester Against Road Tolls (MART) gained signatures from local people who said that they would like to vote for a change in administration.

Signatures were collected by MART in their bid to make a stand about proposals to introduce a congestion charge.

What do you think about the result? Leave your comments below.


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carlchrystan, Bury says...
7:21am Fri 4 Jul 08

That's what happens when you try to cajole signatures out of people. Now, can MART please raise the money that was wasted on holding the vote so that we don't have it added to our council tax?

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snapper, Bury says...
1:09pm Fri 4 Jul 08

I don’t appreciate being bullied by “MART” while I’m out shopping into trying to sign a petition. I think all those names + addresses on the petition should be sent a bill to cover a cost of the vote, where would the money have come from to cover the cost of the elected mayor and office?

It looks like the mayor wouldn’t even have had a say on the congestion charge due to the referendum anyway. Next time MART, think about what you’re doing and leave the Bury Tax payer out of your exploits.

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Brian Trousers, Tottington says...
1:52pm Fri 4 Jul 08

What worries me is that there are at least 10,338 Empty Headed electors stupid enough to be willing to sanction yet another level of unnecessary beaurocracy AND expense which would not make a ha'porth of difference to local government.

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redvales rebel, bury says...
4:23pm Fri 4 Jul 08

lets see how long it is before the above three are bleating when Bury gets its own congestion charge. Will they be so glad then waiting for Bus in the rain that doesn't come.Don't think so. Maybe the council could save money cutting back on unneccessary banners or signs here there and everywhere informing us how well we should think they are doing. Maybe a Mayor could be paid for by having fewer back slapping ceremonies that we read about in the Bury Times. Maybe a Mayor could thin out the dead wood within the Town Hall offices.
I think Bury residents missed out on a great opportunity to give the local councillors who after all are there to represent Bury residents are good kick up the a**e.

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snapper, Bury says...
5:53pm Fri 4 Jul 08

Congestion charging zone in Bury? Don’t be so stupid. All the major cities in the U.K will get congestion charging before they look at the towns, we’ll all be using a totally different mode of transport by then.

I’m undecided about the congestion charge until I see all the consultation info on the public transport improvements. Its funny seeing some of the stupid miss-informed comments and ideas coming from people who seemed to be anti- congestion from day one before they even knew the full details. I worry that those people who have well thought out views about problems with the congestion charge will not have a chance to be heard due to the big mouthed idiots.

If you’ve got a problem with your local councillors then a mayor would have added to those problems by doubling the length of time and cost in the decision making process. Do you not understand?

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carlchrystan, Bury says...
2:22pm Sat 5 Jul 08

Oh no!!! Oh no!!! Waaahh!!! I'm waiting in the rain for a bus!!! That's the worst thing that can ever happen!!!

I just wish I was one of those lazy idle people who drove everywhere.

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