MORE than 200 people have so far had their say on how £2 million should be spent on Prestwich Village’s main road

On November 16, a consultation process began after Bury Council tabled two proposals to transform Bury New Road.

Both options would see Bury New Road being reduced from two lanes to one in each direction between St Mary's Close and Fairfax Road, with pavements widened.

Proposal one is to add cycle lanes, parking bays, make Clifton Road one way and stop access onto Warwick Street.

Proposal two is to add a bus and cycle lane northbound, with some changes made to bus stops and parking bays.

Councillors told The Guide that more than 200 people had completed an online survey — at bury.gov.uk/prestwichhighst — and dozens more had attended information sessions at Prestwich Library.

People have until Christmas to air their views.

Meanwhile, concerns have been raised about the consultation's methodology as ten questions ask 'how important' something is rather than whether people favour a particular idea.

Prestwich Liberal Democrat Cllr Tim Pickstone said: "In typical Bury Labour style, the consultation only asks the questions that they are interested in.

"At no point are we asked how important the traffic flow through Prestwich village is or how we feel about making the Fairfax Road/Chester Street junction safer.

"If you feel that closing Warwick Street making Clifton Road one way is stupid, you have no box to tick."

He added: "This is a really significant thing for Prestwich, and we need to get our high street right.

"Labour councillors have made it clear that this consultation is the only thing they will be listening to and many people are worried that they're only asking the questions they want to hear."

Prestwich Township Forum chairman, Cllr Jane Black, of Labour, dispute those claims.

She said: "At the end of the consultation, there is a box and people can use it to write anything they want to about the two proposals.

"The consultation questions have been put together in a professional, skilled way and the answers will allow for the best possible analysis of what people want."

Cllr Black added: "I am very pleased with the early response to the consultation and the fact that a mixture of people, including pedestrians and cyclists, have been attending the information sessions at the library."

She said a public meeting would be held to discuss the issue at the library, though a date is yet to be announced.