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This will mean that Westhoughton residents will have to wait until next week, on the 28th December, for a grey bin collection only. Recycling collections for beige and burgundy bins will commence on 4th January.

The council told us the following in an e-mail:

“Just to confirm that the majority of waste services have regrettably been suspended today 21^st December.

This was due to the heavy snowfall over the weekend and the cold conditions this morning (-5).

Before we suspended the service for the day an assessment took place around the collection zone ( mainly Westhoughton, Blackrod, Hunger Hill, Deane) and it was deemed to be unsafe to provide any collections.

The next grey residual collection will now take place on the 28^th December. If residents find it necessary we will take up-to 2 bags of excess waste on this day provided waste is presented property in sacks and tied up.

The next recycling collection (paper, glass, cans and plastic bottles) will take place on Monday  4^th January

Residents should be advised to bring in containers from the collection point and re-present them on the next scheduled pick up (as above)

An assessment shall take place in the morning on tomorrows collections.”

Remember how recycling started in Bolton with the green boxes? Councillor Julia Silvester pictured with one of the old boxes. The scheme has now expanded massively in line with Government targets.

A massive overhaul of the waste collection service will affect every home in Bolton from this month.

Now Westhoughton’s household waste bins will all be collected on the same day – Mondays. Residents are to be informed by letter and leaflets will be stuck to bins informing people of the decision which comes into effect from 21 September.

The borough has been split into 5 zones, each of which will have their waste collected on a separate day Monday to Friday. Bolton Council decided that all 35 of their waste collection vehicles will operate in the same zone as each other in a bid to be more cost-effective and environmentally friendly.

The green bin collection service has also been cut back by the Labour-run council.

The Labour Executive Member on Bolton Council for Cleaner, Greener and Safer has decided to reduce the Green Bin collection for a third of the year, instead of fortnightly collections in December, January, February and March, there will a monthly collection instead. This is to save nearly £82,000.

Bolton Council is now hoping that the 1646 tonnes which was collected in these four months in 08/09 will in future fit into the monthly green bin collections.

Cllr David Wilkinson has asked the council to investigate the idea of a scheme of cheap compost bins for residents to produce their own compost if the council is reducing the Green Bin collection.

The Labour Executive Member on Bolton Council for Cleaner, Greener and Safer has decided to reduce the Green Bin collection for a third of the year, instead of fortnightly collections in December, January, February and March, there will a monthly collection instead. This is to save nearly £82,000.

Bolton Council is now hoping that the 1646 tonnes which was collected in these four months in 08/09 will in future fit into the monthly green bin collections.

Cllr David Wilkinson has asked the council investigate the idea of a scheme of cheap compost bins for residents to produce their own compost if the council is reducing the Green Bin collection.

It’s Bolton Council’s latest idea to increase the recycling effort because research has found the average woman has 6 unused bras, perhaps because they are ill-fitting.

A family-run company is organising the ‘Bra Bank’ and will have no additional cost to the taxpayer in Bolton.

Ruth Kelly MP

Shutters on the Westhoughton offices of Bolton West MP Ruth Kelly have been pulled down in an embarassing u-turn.

The new offices sparked controversy when shutters were put up over the windows – despite the Wilbraham Street location being in a conservation area.

The shutters were removed after it was decided that enforcement action could be taken.

Ruth Kelly MP

The office of Bolton West MP Ruth Kelly is at the centre of a controversy – over new shutters that have been installed at the premises.

Kelly’s office is in Wilbraham Street, at the junction of Wigan Road and Market Street, which falls within a conservation area.

'The Bolton News' reports on the shutters

The owners of the office facilities are now having to apply for retrospective planning permission. If the plans are refused the shutters will have to be removed.

The problem shutters were discovered by ward councillor David Wilkinson. The Bolton News recently reported on the issue.

Residents of Collingwood Way have battled against developers who want to build houses on the green field site.

But developers decided to put up the huge fence which spoils the view – and for no apparent reason.

Focus editor David was in talks with the council who have forced the developer to submit a planning application for the fence.

Many of the trees on the two streets have become so overgrown that footpaths are being uprooted. Residents have also complained about the trees blocking lighting into their homes.

Despite residents’ concerns, it has taken the council months to act on a plan that was suggested last year.

The plans were supported by your Liberal Democrat councillors, but sadly Westhoughton’s Labour and Independent councillors tried to refuse the application at a town council meeting. They were not prepared to take on board the problems faced by residents.

Ward councillor David Wilkinson said:

I’m pleased to report that the council has finally got its act together and will be removing the trees shortly.

The trees that the council has permission to remove on Greenfold Lane are outside the numbers 11, 14, 22, 29, 38 and 39. The trees that the council will remove on Oxlea Grove are outside the even numbers 2, 10, 16, 20, 22 and 24. Trees outside the odd numbers 5 and 15 will also be removed. The work will commence on 29 October and replanting will start in the new year.