The decision has been called in for further scrutiny after a large area in the south of Bolton missed out on funding
£195,800 is to be spent on improving routes in Horwich
A council is to spend £725,000 sprucing up 15 key routes including new street signs, planters benches and litter bins installed. Bolton council allocated the sum in its budget for 2025/26.
The council said the purpose of the improvement schemes was to ‘connect neighbourhoods to our town centres and help create a distinctive destination for shoppers, residents and visitors as well as a well-connected environment which generates confidence in our borough’.
At a meeting this week the council approved the locations for the works which has caused some negative feedback from from representatives of areas of the borough which have missed out on funding.
The Farnworth and Kearsley First party (F&KF) has ‘called in’ the decision on which areas were selected, as no routes will be enhanced in a large area of the south of the borough.
Coun Paul Sanders, said: “Bolton Labour council has decided that Kearsley and Farnworth will receive nothing from a £725,000 pot for making-over and improving borough ‘radial routes and smaller high streets’.
“Farnworth and Kearsley First has called in this unfair and flawed decision for wider scrutiny. “We await feedback from the chief executive of Bolton Council.
“In the cabinet member meeting, F&KF Coun Paula Connor-Bennett, was able to note the lack of any consultation, and highlighted Manchester Road and Bolton Road in Kearsley, and Egerton Street, Bradford Road and Albert Road in Farnworth for attention.
“But these routes, among others in the south of the borough, were all completely dismissed for any investment by the council.”
The decision to spend the money said that due to budget limitations, there are no arrangements in place for ongoing maintenance such as watering, feeding, weeding of all new floral features beyond initial planting.
The council said it would be looking to the local community and ward budgets to service these areas.
Here is the complete list of roads set to be enhanced, the estimated money to be spent and what will be installed:
Chorley New Road – Spring bulb planting, benches, litter bins – £10,400
Chorley Old Road – Litter bin, bench, wildflower planting – £3,300
Scholes Bank – Jet washing, spring bulb plating, litter bin – £5,500
Wigan Road – Landscaping, litter bins, bench – £3,500
Tonge Moor Road – Litter bins – £5,000
Bury Road – Jet washing, road markings, parking bays, re-surfacing, post removal, litter bins – £30,360
Manchester Road Litter bins £4,000
Blackburn Road – Street name plates, post replacement and repair, pedestrian guard rails, bollards, litter bins, resurfacing, lighting, fence replacement, landscaping – £89,550
Halliwell Road – Post removal, pedestrian guard rails, bollards, litter bins, resurfacing, coping stone replacement, jet washing, benches – £95,600
St Helens Road – Street name plates, post repair / removal, pedestrian guard rails, planters, bollards, litter bins, benches – £49,950
Deane Road Street – name plates, post removal, pedestrian guard rails, planters, bollards, litter bins, benches, replacement lighting columns – £63,750
Derby Street Street – name plates, post removal, post repair, planters, bollards, signs, removal of camera housing, bench, landscaping – £13,450
Blackrod – Street name plates, post removal / replacement / repair, pedestrian guard rails, planters’ bollards, benches, pedestrian hoops, landscaping, signage, litter bins, public notice board – £101,650
Horwich – Signage, street name plates, pedestrian guard rails, planters, bollards, benches, post replacement, landscaping, sign replacement, litter bins, knee rails, statue repairs – £195,800
Eskrick Street – Litter bin £1,000
