In a couple of letters and articles recently in the Bury and Radcliffe Times, I have read the phrase “Bury in Bloom, Radcliffe in Gloom”.

As a lifelong resident of Radcliffe it is distressing to read these kinds of comments and makes me even angrier at the way Labour destroyed the Radcliffe I knew when I was a child.

We’ve all heard of Bury in Bloom and I am genuinely pleased that Bury has won this competition for so many years, but it has been tinged with disappointment that Radcliffe hasn’t had anything like this to get excited about.

I was very pleased then to hear that the Conservative administration have now extended this competition to Radcliffe and finally after 21 years of Labour disinterest in Radcliffe, the town is now going to be blooming!

It will start off in the town centre and as ideas take place, move into other parts of Radcliffe. There will be many opportunities for local residents to get involved which will promote a feeling of ownership and will be a deterrent against vandalism.

The council will not only be planting shrubs but the whole community will get involved to put pride back into local areas.

Oncethe improvements start to show, North West In Bloom will be invited to have a look at the area and photographs to provide a then and now situation.

I think it is now time to stop putting Radcliffe down and get behind this fantastic opportunity to brighten up the whole of Radcliffe.

Yes, Labour have sadly done a lot of damage to this town, but the Conservatives are trying to put pride back into it and with Radcliffe in Bloom coming and also the regeneration being kick started again, I don’t think Radcliffe’s future is gloomy.

Cllr Catherine Berry Radcliffe East