IT'S time for a better deal for the borough. Are are you with us?

Town Hall bosses are asking residents to support them in their campaign for more money for local services.

Members of all three political parties are behind the rally to rescue Bury from the bottom of the funding league.

The borough has joined up with SIGOMA, a group of councils outside London, and fellow Greater Manchester authorities to press its case.

Councillor John Byrne, council leader, said the evidence was clear:

Bury gets less money per pupil than any of the 150 local education authorities. Its £823 per pupil is 35 per cent less than schools in London.

If Bury received the same Standard Spending Assessment as the London average, its Band D council tax for this year would be £459, £511 less than it is.

Bury is the second worst funded of Greater Manchester councils, and 35th worst out of the 36 metropolitan districts, or £241 per person less than the met average.

Bury gets £430 per person less than London councils, or £80 million every year.

Bury's funding has gone up by 59 per cent in 11 years, while London's has risen by 76 per cent.

"We are not a wasteful council, exactly the opposite," said Coun Byrne.

"Despite pitifully poor levels of funding, our schools achieve some of the best academic results in the country thanks to hard work and high quality.

"What could they do if they were given the same kind of funding as others?"

However, Coun Byrne said it was not enough for politicians to shout. Local people had to add their voices to the campaign.

"I would love to head for London carrying a letter of support from every resident in the borough to show the strength of feeling over this issue," he said.

"Bury does deserve better. What do you say?"