It follows an announcement by Labour chiefs at Bolton Town Hall that the road is not a priority and will not be resurfaced.

Councillor Julia Silvester and the Liberal Democrat team have been battling for the road to be repaired before it gets even worse.

Julia said: “I have been a strong campaigner for improving the neglected roads in Westhoughton, and Allenby Grove is no exception.”

Fellow councillor David Wilkinson added: “We visit Allenby Grove just last week and we can already see that it has deteriorated once again.”

Julia’s team has asked the council to reconsider its original verdict for a second time.

Since our last Focus some residents have been in touch to say how much they appreciate our efforts.

Julia said: “I know it must be very frustrating for residents when they see the council just doesn’t care about their road.”

“But they are not alone. We recently uncovered a £50million backlog of repairs across the borough.”

The massive waiting list is blamed on Labour’s neglect of our roads and footpaths.

It was only the Liberal Democrat team who wanted to invest extra money into repair work.

Tory councillors refused to support the idea, because it was suggested by the Lib Dems.

We will keep you informed.

Councillor Julia Silvester had complained about the drain after residents contacted her and the Lib Dem team about the problem.

It is being blamed on a blocked sewer in Leigh Road, which when it rains heavy is forcing water out of the gully grid – rather than in!

Julia said: “It’s about time United Utilities sorted this out. The water runs all the way down Leigh Road to the Hartford Road roundabout.”

“Some residents have told me how they have been soaked by passing vehicles going through the dirty water.”

The repair work will be carried out from the 9th March.

Manchester Road... on a quiet day

Calls for new islands along Manchester Road to help pedestrians cross have been turned down.

Derek Gradwell’s Liberal Democrat team asked the council to consider new pedestrian refuges after some residents contacted us to say how dangerous the road can be.

The section of road in question is from Chequerbent roundabout to the White Horse traffic lights.

The council refused the request because they say there are few recorded accidents along this stretch, and none have involved pedestrians.

Derek said: “The council’s response will do little to allay the fears of residents. That’s why I will be continuing to campaign for improvements.”

Derek’s team has since put forward another request, this time for central hatchings and the council said that it will look into the idea.

Hatchings are zig-zagged white lines painted in the centre of the road, which means cars must not drive through that area, allowing a small refuge for those wishing to cross the road.

A chicane along Tempest Road, Chew Moor

Safety concerns have been raised over the chicanes that run through Chew Moor.

Derek Gradwell’s Liberal Democrat team has received a number of concerned calls from Chew Moor residents who question the safety of the chicanes.

The traffic calming measures were put in place quite some time ago to deter speeding cars. Humps were also installed, along with a 20mph zone.

But some residents now say that they actually encourage speeding, when drivers attempt to beat the oncoming traffic.

Our picture was taken of a smashed bollard at one of the chicanes and people say it is evidence that accidents are occuring in these locations.

Residents are particularly concerned about the chicane closest to St John’s church.

Updates will be posted to this website when we get them, and to our Twitter and Facebook. You can also discuss the bin collections on the discussion board in Facebook.

The council has issued the following statement: “Bolton Council services for today (6 January) and tomorrow (7 January) during the severe weather. Further heavy snow is expected to fall during the evening and overnight, according to the Met Office, which may affect council services.

Bin collections

Bin collections have been suspended in Bolton today due to the weather. Staff are in work and are gritting and clearing town centre footpaths.

Gritting

Council staff have been gritting and ploughing continually all night and all day today. Due to the volume and depth of snow, the council is concentrating on the main arterial and ring roads, in order to concentrate resources where they will have the most impact. This means that some of the minor roads on the approved gritting routes will not be receiving any attention in the short term. The roads being prioritised are:

All of the A6
Blackburn Rd
St Peters Way
Belmont Rd
Chorley Old Rd
Crompton Way
Scout Rd
Chorley New Rd
Bury Rd
Newbrook Rd
Wigan Rd
St Helens Rd
De Havilland Way
Snydle Way
Leigh Rd
Cricketers Way
Watergate Ln
Smethurst Ln
Bradford Rd
Manchester Rd A666
Church St, Little Lever
Market S,t Little Lever
Stopes Rd, Little Lever
Tonge Moor Road
Hall Lane, Little Lever

Staff will continue gritting around the clock on the main arterial and ring roads until it is safe to reduce the service to its optimal level and address the other roads on the gritting routes. Ploughs will be deployed where snow is two inches deep or greater. All available streetscene and waste management staff have also been out clearing footpaths in the town centres all day.

Schools

Schools which have already planned to close tomorrow can be found on the council website.

Social care

Social care support is being maintained for the most vulnerable people. Those who receive home care services are being contacted individually to receive support.

The ‘meals on wheels’ (community meals) service will be limited but emergency arrangements are in place if needed.

Day care services are expected to be closed for the rest of the week, depending upon the weather.

Social services helpdesk and advice line will be open.

The child protection service will be working.

The council is also asking for anybody who has a vulnerable neighbour to check on them and make sure they are alright and if there is anything they might need.

Libraries and museum

All libraries due to to be open today are open as normal. Highfield Library will be closed tomorrow. Bolton Museum will remain closed today.

Planning Committee meeting

Due to the weather we have had to cancel this weeks Planning Committee meeting tomorrow. It has been rearranged for Thursday 14 January.

Our recent Focus for Andrews Terrace

Despite drivers ignoring the white line at the entrance to Andrews Terrace, the council has dimissed calls for a ‘keep clear’ sign.

Residents of the street are fed up with cars blocking access to their homes and the Lib Dem has asked for the ‘keep clear’ sign.

But the council says it’s not such a big problem and don’t want to spend the £200 needed.

So Liberal Democrats were able to secure funding for it instead through the Westhoughton Area Forum. We will let you know when the work will be done.

Andrews Terrace

Despite drivers ignoring the white line at the entrance to Andrews Terrace, the council has dimissed calls for a ‘keep clear’ sign.

Residents of the street are fed up with cars blocking access to their homes and the Lib Dem has asked for the ‘keep clear’ sign.

But the council says it’s not such a big problem and don’t want to spend the £200 needed.

So Liberal Democrats were able to secure funding for it instead through the Westhoughton Area Forum. We will let you know when the work will be done.

LATEST:

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.”

The dangerous bend at the Wigan Road and Southfield Drive junction

Liberal Democrat councillors are calling for safety improvements to be made to Wigan Road.

Councillors Julia Silvester and David Wilkinson are both pressuring the council.

Julia said: “Residents have often complained to us about how dangerous the road is for motorists and pedestrians alike.”

An improvement scheme for Wigan Road from Wearish Lane to Cricketers Way has been set up but will need to be consulted upon first.

We are calling for:

- Improved crossing facilities at the Wearish Lane junction;

- Refuges to assist pedestrians crossing near Dobb Brow;

- A crossing at the junction with Broadwalk and Coverdale Road

- Traffic lights on the bend at the Southfield Drive junction.

Councillor Julia Silvester at the Wearish Lane junction

The council have informed us that they would be willing to put in a new right turn lane for people entering Southfield Drive as well as a refuge island for pedestrians.

But they refused Lib Dem calls for traffic lights because the accident rate is too low.

Cllr Wilkinson said: “It seems you have to have a serious accident or be killed before they will consider traffic lights.”

Lib Dems made similar calls for traffic lights at the Leigh Road and Washacre junction many years ago. After persisting, the council finally agreed to the lights, which were eventually installed at the danger spot.

Julia Silvester’s Liberal Democrat team has already had a number of road safety improvements made along Wigan Road at Hart Common including pedestrian islands.

We will keep you informed of progress with the plans through this website.

Jackie Pearcey, our Parliamentary Candidate for Bolton West, with Lib Dem campaigner Derek Gradwell

It will take four weeks for traffic management works to be completed on Park Road, after the plans were given the go-ahead recently.

Bolton Council has now agreed the improvements that are to be made to the busy road, starting on 16th November.

Liberal Democrat campaigner Derek Gradwell said: “This is good news that the work is finally being carried out but we have been warned that there may be problems while the work is undertaken over the four weeks.”

The scheme, which residents were consulted on, was delayed by EIGHT MONTHS after Labour-run Westhoughton Town Council initially said NO to the idea, later to change their mind.

Derek added: “What kind of town council do we have when it can’t make a decision properly?”

The works will include improved pedestrian refuges, anti-skid surfaces at the Platt Lane junction and by the doctor’s surgery, and built-out pavements to stop speedng traffic.

It comes after there have been 14 accidents, including a death.