Talking Politics by Councillor Tom Bailey

I am delighted to contribute to this section of the paper… So what do I know about politics? Well not as much as people may think! You see I got into politics to make a difference to my community. I'm not a politician, I'm a Community Activist!

I have been a Councillor in Healey for 6 years and enjoy campaigning for the residents in my area alongside Councillor Elwyn Watkins, Council Leader Alan Taylor and of course our MP Paul Rowen. We make a good team and work on some of the most crucial issues in our area. We are lucky here to have Healey Dell, an area that Rochdale is rightly proud of. We work alongside the Friends of Healey Dell to preserve this area. It is the only nature reserve in the area - a haven for wild animals, wild flowers and a great tourist centre and educational facility for our local schools. I am also a Governor at Healey Primary School which I enjoy.

Another job I do at the Council is to Chair the Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee. This Committee is involved with all aspects of environmental activity this includes Waste Management, Planning Issues, Environmental Health, Highways, Arboroculture, Trading Standards and our Cemeteries. The job of a Councillor is demanding and as Councillor Ashley Dearnley said last week a lot of Casework comes in which is the main part of the job and a pleasure to do. My Wife - Gwen is vary patient with me and glad to see me on the odd night I'm home early.

One of the great things about Rochdale is resident's generosity - we've seen it in recent appeals for victims of the Earthquake in Kashmir and the Tsunami. As Chairman of the Rochdale Fusiliers Association and Acting Chairman of the Rochdale British Legion - I'm delighted to see people contributing to the Poppy Appeal and I would like to thank them for supporting such a good cause. We will be collecting at all the major supermarkets, and the town shopping area as well as the Wheatsheaf Centre

This year's Remembrance Day on Sunday, 12th November will be more emotional than usual this year. I would like to add the name - Barrie Steele, who died a few months ago to the list of people that we will be remembering. I know that Barrie will be looking over us - he did so much for the British Legion and of course this Town as a former. I'm delighted to see Councillor Peter Clegg back on his feet after his recent illness and look forward to continuing working with him in the many organisations that we have in common.

Councillor Tom Bailey