The Greater Manchester borough fighting to plug a £35m problem

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

Bury Council has revealed how it intends to close a £35m budget ‘black hole’ over the next three years, with measures including dimmed streetlights and charges introduced at free car parks.

The council’s cabinet has approved a proposed budget for 2025/26 for public consultation. Among the measures to save or generate cash are to dim many of the borough’s streetlights by 50 per cent.

The proposal would see some lights across Bury turned down between midnight and 6am to save on energy costs. It is one of a number budget-saving measures that have been put before Bury Council as the authority looks to plug the £35m shortfall.

Another proposal is a review into whether a flat £2 charge could be brought in at some of the council’s 40 free car parks. This will look into whether fees could be brought in at sites in the towns of Prestwich, Radcliffe, Whitefield, Tottington and Ramsbottom, without affecting the “vibrancy” of each town. READ MORE: New NASA image captures incredible image of galaxy 30 million light-years away Other measures being put forward include cutting some senior roles within the authority through redundancy and early retirement It is understood the review of district car parking will only aim to introduce charges where it is ‘commercially viable’.