CONDEMNATION of Bury Council's cuts consultation programme has come from Liberal Democrat councillors who as a group have slammed it as "a sham and a Labour PR exercise." They say also that the published list of possible cuts is Labour's list of options and no-one else's.

Council leader John Byrne recently announced a series of meetings to discuss options in the face of budget cuts totalling £4.8 million.

But the LibDems say these meeting are just part of the normal cycle of meetings and they are all taking place at Bury Town Hall.

"Let's be clear," said LibDem leader Vic D'Albert, "the Labour leadership have not organised any special or local meetings and no special arrangements have been made."

He continued: "Labour are confirming what many people on the periphery of Bury, in Ramsbottom, Tottington, Prestwich, and Ainsworth, fear - that they don't care."

Talking about the Council's list of options Mr D'Albert said: "The list was not put together with all-party support. There are many items of expenditure that could have been disclosed for consideration in a genuine consultation exercise, but this isn't.

"They have clearly decided themselves what should be considered for cuts."

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