Donal OHanlon

Councillor in Bury

I blame Vic D’Albert, local councillor and parliamentary candidate. He was out leafleting one Sunday morning on my street. We knew each other from years before when I was a ‘Young Liberal’, and he asked me outright. I’d just been inspired by reading Stupid White Men by Michael Moore, so thought “Why not?” Until then all I had done was help with my local Neighbourhood Watch.

I thought it would be a great opportunity to get more involved in local issues. I was concerned about some very poor local decisions and inaction, especially planning matters. Since being elected I feel I have helped reinvigorate a sense of community, especially in the potential redevelopment of my local town centre. I like proving to people that we CAN change the world we live in, by fulfilling the promises I made when elected.

As well as making sure there is better representation for the people of Prestwich, especially those workers commuting to local towns like Manchester which is only 4 miles away, I feel a real involvement in the community that I didn’t have before. It also helps make up for the solitariness of my day job. Getting elected and working as a team allows me to develop my ‘soft’ skills.

I have lots of outside interests, including learning to fly fish. It is a lot to juggle with a home with lots of animals and a job that has an unpredictable workload, but I am proud of being a councillor!