We are very pleased to announce that our Horwich colleague Lynn Rock was elected last night in the Lever Park by-election.

Here she is pictured with Westhoughton councillor David Wilkinson, left, and her husband and fellow councillor Steve Rock, right.

The results of the election were:

Turnout 19.5%

Green: 85

Lynn Roc,  Liberal Democrat: 218

Labour:  211

Lib Dem Majority: 7

Lib Dem gain from Labour

Labour lose majority control of Horwich Town Council

The personal income tax band has been lifted thanks to Liberal Democrats in the Coalition Government.

It means 3,130 of Bolton’s poorest residents will pay no tax at all on their earnings, whilst 115,200 other people in the town will also be better off with savings of up to £200.But it doesn’t stop there.

The Coalition Government has also agreed to increase the threshold again for the next two years until it reaches £10,000.Derek Gradwell said: “There are going to be many people in Westhoughton who will benefit from this change.

“The Liberal Democrats have always wanted to make the tax system fairer and now they are finally able to do this because they are in the Coalition.”

The threshold for paying income tax will be increased by £1,000 in April to a figure of £7475.

The change is being funded with the money that would have been used to pay for the increase in Employee National Insurance thresholds proposed by the Conservatives, as well as revenues from increases in Capital Gains Tax rates for non-business assets.

They have been bought by Peel Holdings, a massive developer in the UK.

The areas are the Hulton Estate, south of the A6, land north of the A6, land around Hermon Bank at Hunger Hill, and land at Bolton Road on Snydale Hill and land at the rear of the even side of Bolton Road between Westhoughton High School and Hall Lea Brook.

Residents will be left wondering if Peel Holdings are preparing to build thousands of new houses on the sites.

For years some politicians have enjoyed comfortable seats where they do very little work but still get elected year, after year, after year.

But all that could be about the change when, on May 5th, you will have the chance to change the way the electoral system works.

You will have two choices:

• Keep the same old system, known as First Past The Post, which results in MPs enjoying their ‘safe’ seats;
• Adopt the new Alternative Voting system in which you rank the candidates, e.g. 1, 2, 3, in order of your preference.

This results in a fairer result and removes the risk of getting an MP who had less than 25% of the vote.

Westhoughton South ward campaigner Derek Gradwell said: “We will be going to the polls anyway for the Local Elections so there has never been a better opportunity to make your views known on what is a very important matter for democracy across Britain.”

The council has taken so long to do the work that the field will not be ready for the next season of football.

We have already lost another two football fields as well as the one at Chequerbent in Westhoughton and with this one out of action too, it will anger many local footie players.

Derek Gradwell said: “This is definitely an own-goal for the council – just another example of a bungled job by this Labour administration.“

The field is well-used by local people and it is disappointing that it won’t be ready in good time.”

The market went through a period of decline but determined and creative traders are coming up with more and more innovative ways of drawing in a captive audience.

The latest idea is to set up a Farmers’ Market. “What a brilliant idea” says Derek Gradwell, “This is just what our town needs.”

“Let’s all get behind our traders and show our support.”

The Farmers’ Market will boast local produce. It will complement the markets on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

The traders have also thrown their backing behind local artists with a plan to have a weekly stall where they can pitch their work.

To top it all off, the market now has permission to install a canopy outside and in summer it is expected that there will be outdoor cafe seating.

Derek added: “This will give the street a real continental cafe culture feel.”

For more information on the market visit their website at www.westhoughtonmarket.co.uk

Jackie Pearcey was not elected this time for Bolton West, but held the Liberal Democrat share of the vote well. But now Bolton West faces the prospect of years with another Labour MP.

Results for the local elections will be announced today, Friday.

JULIA SILVESTER

Labour have failed us on bins, failed us on roads, and failed us on community facilities.

The Tories have only ever propped up Labour in the town hall. The Tory candidate for Westhoughton North thinks Chew Moor is called ‘Chew Valley’ and the Tory candidate for Westhoughton South lives MILES AWAY in Astley Bridge.

Julia Silvester (South) and Derek Gradwell (North) are your local, Liberal Democrat candidates.

Julia has represented you since 2002 as your councillor, and Derek has represented you before. They are the local choice in this election.

Joining Julia and Derek is Jackie Pearcey, the woman fighting for a fresh new start for Bolton West. She wants to be an MP who really puts Westhoughton’s interests first when it comes to the national debate.

So today, Thursday 6th May, the choice is clear…

WESTHOUGHTON SOUTH – JULIA SILVESTER – X

WESTHOUGHTON NORTH & CHEW MOOR – DEREK GRADWELL – X

BOLTON WEST – JULIA SILVESTER – X

Chew Moor has now become “Chew Valley”.

We at the Liberal Democrats will be the first to admit that there’s the occasional slip-up in our Focus newsletters, but we always try to get the name of the ward right (it usually helps).

Labour criticised the move by telling the BBC: “It’s very disappointing that the Conservative Party feel the need to drop in a candidate’s spouse into the audience to ask a question while passing themselves off as a member of the public.”

The row has escalated and Tory chiefs will be fearing that it may overshadow their candidate’s performance.

Those on Twitter have been commenting on her performance. One described her as “haughty and superior” and another said “Tory candidate looks as if she can’t be a****”.

Jackie Pearcey, the Lib Dem candidate, was however described as “a lovely lady and a great local campaigner” and she was lavished praise for doing a “great job”.