I know that many local people were concerned about the effect that the new store – apparently the biggest in Europe – would have on other traders and shops in Walkden town centre. Those concerns are completely legitimate, but as the new store is now built we must hope that it acts as a catalyst for the rest of the town centre, bringing in both new shoppers and new businesses. We shall see.

It is completely daft – especially in the current financial climate – to waste such a huge amount of money on a white elephant. The money would be much better spent on improving our local rail infrastructure and local bus connectivity than on an unwanted, unloved and unused guided busway.

I’m pleased that improvements to the carriageway are now being made, but it’s a real shame that Urban Vision had to waste thousands of pounds on “emergency repairs” a few weeks ago only for them to be dug straight back up again – a waste of money that has not gone unnoticed by residents.

I’m tired of hearing about examples of Urban Vision inefficiency, and we need a thorough root-and-branch review of the way in which our highways partnership operates to make sure that it does provide good value and good services for the Council taxpayer.

It’s great to see so many people – gay and straight, male and female – enjoy themselves over the Pride weekend. I’ve never actually visited Pride before and as a straight man I felt completely welcome.

I know that all the main Parties here in Salford agree that we need to make sure that our City is a friendly, open and tolerant place to live where everyone regardless of their background can reach their full potential. I think that we are well on the way to that.

So I’m pleased that today, BBC Radio 4 have picked up the baton to draw wider attention to this catastrophic example of the obscene waste of the previous Labour administration.

The regional fire control centres (RCCs) are late, over-budget, and not to specification. They were supposed to deliver savings but any savings have long since disappeared in delays and budget overruns. The new Fire Minister, Bob Neill MP, has been left with the unenviable task of cleaning up the mess left by Labour, in the knowledge that cancelling the whole white elephant might cost even more.

Our control centre staff at Fire Service HQ in Pendlebury do a fantastic job, and it is unacceptable that they have been left in such limbo by the advent of the Regional Control Centres. They continue to work with dedication despite not knowing if or when they will be expected to move to Warrington, and they have been in this state of flux for a number of years now. For that alone – before we even get to the appalling waste of money – previous Labour ministers should hang their heads in shame.

We picked up a number of issues particularly around environmental maintenance, and also parking and access. Many thanks to all the local residents who spoke to us despite the dreadful weather and hopefully the issues you raise will be rectified in due course.

One of the most interesting local results comes from the Queensland seat of Longman, where 20-year-old Liberal candidate Wyatt Roy seems to have defeated the sitting Australian Labor MP. Whenever a young candidate gets elected, so follows an inevitable debate about whether they are old enough and experienced enough for the job.

My view on this is simple. One of the great things about democracy is that the voters get to decide on these matters, not any one individual or any commentator. Local residents in Wyatt Roy’s Longman electorate had the opportunity to vote for a different candidate if they did not feel he had the experience, and they will be able to vote him out again in three years’ time if he does not do a good job.

If you are old enough to vote, you are old enough to stand – and then the electorate get to decide whether a candidate is up to the job. Arbitary age-limits (and term-limits, for that matter) are only a restriction on democracy.

The Fire Station will be open from 11am until 3.30pm – click here for more details of what will be going on. Hope to see you there!

I am told that the questions will be a mix of pre-submitted questions and contributions from the floor. You can submit your questions online here - hope to see you there!

(For those of you wondering, the flyer is now in the recycling bin!)