THE new chairman of Bury Racial Equality Council (BREC) has vowed to bring stability to the troubled race relations body.

The pledge has come from former Conservative councillor Sam Cohen who has taken over the hot seat from precedessor Mrs Val McGrory.

His promise comes in the wake of Mrs McGrory's shock resignation last week and the the uncertainty over future, long-term funding for BREC.

Mrs McGrory sensationally quit while stressing she could not justify the organisation's continuing existence in its present form.

She also referred to the difficulties posed by full-time director Nasrullah Khan's absence, the question of continuing funding and alleged unacceptable practices relating to affiliation.

Now Mr Cohen (59), of Ennerdale Drive, Unsworth, takes over as chairman for what could be a temporary or permanent tenure.

This depends on whether he will continue to command a seat on the executive after next month's annual meeting.

Mr Cohen was elected unopposed as new chairman at a special executive meeting on Tuesday. He has had a 14-year association with the body, initially under its previous guise of the Community Relations Council and continuing under its present name.

He was previously BREC's honorary secretary, having served two separate terms totalling almost four years.

Commenting on his new appointment, Mr Cohen said: "I was quite happy as honorary secretary - in a lot of instances the secretary has more powers than the chairman."

His major task will be to restore harmony to the organisation following the resignation of Mrs McGrory. "I took over to bring stability back to the BREC," he stressed.

"My immediate aim is to hand over the organisation to the incoming executive without, hopefully, the threat of cuts to our funding.

"I believe in this organisation and I believe we still need an organisation like this which is opposed to racism."

He stressed: "We have to realise the BREC is there to represent all minoritity groups in the borough of which there are over 60.

"We aren't here to represent just one section. If any of these have problems among themselves, surely it is up to the leaders of those communities to solve the problems and bring everyone together."

He continued: "The Asian community is one of the largest minority groups and united they would have a a lot of power and would be able to get things done. But this hasn't been possible because of divisions."

Mr Cohen was a Conservative councillor for twelve years until 1995.

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