Image supplied by Ordnance Survey Election Maps Service. Image reproduced with the permission of Ordnance Survey. © Crown Copyright 2010

You have said it yourself, and you know it’s true – Westhoughton is forgotten.

Hundreds of residents from our hard-working community have got in touch with JULIA SILVESTER – the councillor fighting for a better deal for everyone who lives in Westhoughton South ward.

Councillor Julia Silvester

Julia conducted a survey of the community and the results are still flooding in.

Julia’s work is supported by fellow councillor David Wilkinson.

Locally-based Julia says that 2010 is the time for a real change if you are fed up with our area being treated second-rate.

Julia said: “This year is our chance to make a real difference. I know our area very well and I know the issues we are all facing together. I want to do something about it.” But Julia and David are not alone in their fight for our area.

They are joined by JACKIE PEARCEY who wants to represent you in Parliament. She’s tired of greedy MPs and fed up with Labour backing bankers and not the people.

Jackie said: “This year will be crucial. If you really want to boot Labour out of their cushy halls of power for good, then a vote for the Lib Dems is needed.”

“The Lib Dems are the only party to make such a strong commitment to wiping out the dirty politics we have all seen before our eyes.”

Jackie Pearcey is our Parliamentary Candidate for Bolton West.

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.

GMPTE has issued a series of bulletins with the latest travel updates, which we have been posting on this page.

Check back to our website throughout the day for more updates or go to www.gmpte.com

LATEST TRAVEL UPDATE

GMPTE is advising passengers to expect further disruptions to bus and tram services today due to the ongoing severe weather conditions.

Passengers should allow extra time for journeys and use main roads to access bus services.

A list of current known service information is available below. Passengers are also advised to check www.stagecoachbus.com/serviceupdates.aspx, www.firstgroup.com/ukbus/northwest/manchester/service_disruptions/ and www.arrivabus.co.uk for service updates.

All Metrolink services are running to Piccadilly every 12 minutes. Passengers are advised to check www.metrolink.co.uk for the latest service information.

Rail passengers are advised to check www.nationalrail.co.uk for service updates before travelling.

For the latest advice from Greater Manchester Police, log on to www.gmp.police.uk.

Bus services across Greater Manchester are continuing to suffer disruption due to adverse weather conditions. A list of the current disruptions and changes is given below. This is subject to change as more operators report in and others try to get some services on main roads restored.

First Manchester

Oldham depot: The following services are currently operating:

6 / 7 – now operating Rochdale to Kirkholt (The Strand)

24 – Rochdale to Manchester

56 – Rochdale to Middleton North Manchester General Hospital

58 – Rochdale to Middleton and Bury

59 – Shaw Wrens Nest (currently unable to serve Rushcroft) to Manchester (via Cheetham Hill Road not Waterloo Rd)

81 – Waterhead to Manchester (currently unable to serve Derker)

82/83 – Waterhead to Manchester

83 – Sholver to Oldham mumps (minibus shuttle operating every 15 minutes to provide a connection to the 82/83 to Manchester)

180 – Uppermill to Manchester (currently unable to serve Greenfield)

181/182 – Rochdale to Manchester

184 – Uppermill to Manchester

350 – currently not servicing Delph and Carrcote Estate

409 – Rochdale to Oldham and Ashton

425 – running from Oldham Mumps to Fitton Hill the Green

451 / 452 – operating from Rochdale to New Hey (unable to serve Bentgate, Two Bridges and Hurstead Estate)

454 / 457 – operating between Rochdale and Littleborough

X84 – evening service will operate but will be unable to serve Carrcote

Wigan depot: All services operating but on main roads only and not reaching side and estate roads.

32 – Wigan to Manchester (not operating via Castle Hill)

658 – service no longer serving Higher Folds Estate

625 / 626 – running main roads only. No longer serving the estates.

621 / 628 – running main roads only. No longer serving the estates.

Manchester depot: All services operating on main roads but unable to serve side and estate roads.

1 / 3 Metroshuttle – now operating normal service

2 Metroshuttle – (not serving Oxford Road Station)

27 – Manchester to Swinton (unable to serve Barton Road)

67 – Manchester to Cadishead (unable to serve Cadishead Estate)

67L – unable to serve Higher Irlam Estate

88 / 89 – Manchester to Whitemoss Circular (unable to serve Bankhouse Estate)

123/124 – terminating at Middleton and not operating around Langley

167 – not operating at present

Bury depot: All services running along main roads only.

163 – Bury to Manchester currently not serving Langley and Darnhill

93 – now operating normal service (unable to serve Carr Clough)

Bolton depot: The following services are operating

8 / 12 / 22 / 26 / 37 / 68 / 571 / 582 – all operating via normal routes

36 – currently not serving Madams Wood / Kenyon Way estates

501 – operating Bolton to Farnworth approx every 10 mins and Bolton to Moss Bank Way hourly

510 – Bury to Bolton not running

519 – Moss Bank Way roundabout to Bolton only (currently unable to service Johnson Fold)

533 – now running Bolton to Egerton

575 – Horwich Crown to Bolton

Dukinfield depot: The following services are now operating

38 / 39 – service currently suspended

183 – operating normal service

331 – operating out of Ashton via back of old Fire Station to Henrietta St

333 – normal route

332 – operating via Broadoak Road (instead of Hartshead Estate)

346 – operating normal service

348 – Ashton to Carrbrook (Buckton Vale Road)

350 – Ashton to Oldham operating via Bottom Mossley, Manchester Road to Royal George, then normal route to Oldham

350 – operating normal route with the exception of Carrcote and Delph

387 – operating from Hyde via Mottram Road (omitting Clarendon Rd, Sheffield Rd and Hattersley Estate omitting Ridge Hill)

389 – running normal route but not serving Yew Tree Lane / Lyne Edge

393 – operating via Old Fire Station, Henrietta St, Canterbury St to Broadoak Road and returning via 333 route (not serving Hartshead Estate

408 – running normal route to Crompton Way / Rochdale Road then directly to Shaw Wrens Nest only (not serving Buckstones)

419 – now operating Ashton to Middleton (normal route both directions)

Rossendale

11 – not serving Oakley

12 – not serving Hall Carr or Balladen

B4 – unable to operate due to parked cars on Thorn Bank

167 – unable to serve Norden – buses terminating at Woodyard Garage

244 – omitting Belthorn Village

273 – operating as normal

434 – not serving Hilltop Drive

440 – operating evening route to Syke Chapel

442 – omitting Medway and Marland Fold – Buses terminating at Bolton Road North

444 – terminating at Woodyard garage

446 – running evening 466 route through Shawclough – omitting estate roads

461 – main roads only (no Back ‘O’th’ Moss, Bury old Road, Elmsfield estate)

464 – operating as normal

475 – running Bury – Heywood only, omitting Topping Fold and Fairfield Hospital Grounds

476 – not serving Hunstanton Drive / Woodhill Rd, Fairfield Hospital Grounds, Terminating at Woodyard Garage

477 – not serving Nangreaves, Chesham, Summerseat or Nuttall Lane

480 – not serving Affetside, 273 route between Walves & Bradshaw

482 – operating but omitting Booth Crescent and part of Booth road

483 – not serving Fairfield Hospital Grounds, turning at Jericho

485 – not serving Tanners Brow or Peel Estate

Arriva

Bolton depot: All services running normally apart from the following

541 – terminating at Bromley Cross library

534/8 – terminating at Astley Bridge Pineapple

Wythenshawe depot: All services running normally apart from the following

13 – operating from Altrincham to Malton Road / Seamons Road

380/381/386 (Stockport) – Underhill, Goyt Valley, Ridgeway and Cherry Lane Estates not being served.

246 – operating to Bowden via Dunham Road and Park Road – then normal route to Altrincham (note: one-way only on Langham Road and Ashley Road so passengers from Altrincham will have to do full route)

247 – omitting Partington, Wood Lane Estate

ML1 – operating between Stretford Arndale and Manchester

Manchester depot: All services running normally apart from the following

10 – running but cannot serve Brookhouse

69/70/71/73 – Eccles services running (main roads only)

Skelmersdale depot: Currently operating no services

St Helens depot: is operating services to Wigan (but severely delayed)

156 – operating normal route but not serving Ashtons Green Estate

320 – operating normal service

352 – operating normal service

620 – operating normal service

34 – now operating full service

Stagecoach

Hyde Road depot:

42 – usual Route

42A – no service to Millgate Lane, otherwise as usual

50 – terminating at Albert Square

x57 – usual route

74 – usual route except not serving Woodhouses Estate

76 – usual route except not serving Limeside

142/143/145 – usual route

168 – not serving Longsight entre & North Moor Road/Stovell Avenue or Clockhouse Estate

169 – normal route except operating via Oldham Roadinstead of Taunton Road into Centre of Ashton

171 – service operating between Chatsworth Road and Withington. Operating direct along Mount Road. No service to Millgate lane or Ryder Brow

191 – terminating at Albert Square

192 – usual route

197 – terminating at Albert Square

201 – using Mottram Road to Stockport Road instead of Hattersley estate

203 – usual route

204 – operating Manchester to Haughton Green only

205 – usual route

206 – usual route except not serving Haughton Green

216 – usual route

219 – usual route

220 – usual route

221 – not serving Yew Tree Lane or Tennyson Avenue Estates.

231 – operating normal route between Manchester, Littlemoss and New Market Road. Then direct via Oldham Road into Ashton and Tameside Hospital. Not serving Broadoak, Hartshead or Hurst

Princess Road depot:

256 – now running normal route

255 – now operating through to the Greyhound at Partington (but not serving estates)

104 – now running normal route

105 – now running as 43 service from Sharston to Wythenshawe Bus Station then normal route to airport

109 – now running normal route

43 – normal to Airport

101 – now running normal route

143/142 – normal

X50/250 – normal

111 – running but not serving Moss Lane East, Claremont Road, Yew Tree Road, Burton Road & Barlow Moor Road

15 – running normal route but not serving Broadway

84 – running normal route but not serving Arrowfield Road

85/86 – now running normal route

41 – normal

46/47 – not serving Burton Rd

Stockport depot:

179 – now running normal route

317 – operating but not servicing St Petersgate, High Street, Wellington Street, Half Moon Lane and Crosswaite Road Offerton – subject to delays

All other services operating normally.

Ashton depot:

7 – normal route

216 – Normal route

217/218 – terminating Stalybridge/Tameside Hospital not serving Brushes estate or Mossley

236 – normal route

237 – running as 236 to Henry St not serving Royal oak Tintwhistle or Hadfield

330 – normal

345 – normal

346 – service now running between Ashton and Hyde – not serving Gee Cross

347 – normal

375 – terminating at Mellor, Devonshire Arms, not serving Shiloh Road

389 – suspended

390 – now operating normal service

JP Travel

All services are running with the following exceptions:

13/129 – suspended

156 – operating as normal but not serving Langley

406 – expected to start 0930 and not serve Park Estate

486 – suspended

South Lancs Travel

126 – normal service

132 – normal service

300 – running normal service but with delays

514 – will not serve Ladybridge and terminate at Parklands (not operating via Middlebrook)

516 – will not serve Washacre or Middlebrook and will terminate at Horwich Crown (all journeys will run as 516 – no 517s)

521 – running from A6 / M61 roundabout to Farnworth

592 – running normally but not serving Shakerley or Hag Fold

614 – operate direct via main road to Cale Lane

624 – operate to Worsley Hall only – turning at Sherwood Drive

630 – Wigan – Platt Bridge only – but not serving the estates

635 – operating normally Wigan to Randalls Corner (Booths Oil Depot)

638 / 639 – operating Wigan to Standish Pepper Lane

640 / 641 – operating Wigan to Standish Pepper Lane

654 – operating from Leigh to Walkden only, and will not serve Garrett Hall Estate

664/674 – operating Wigan-Worsley Hall only

685 – operating normally but not serving Shakerley and will not operate around Garrett Hall estate

686 – will terminate at Atherton (not serving Hag Fold)

Bluebird

72 – service running part route from Chadderton – Manchester

77 – running full route

78 – running as normal (with delays) but may terminate at Day drive

112 – running partial route Middleton – Manchester (via main roads only)

151 – running partial route from Newton Heath to Monsall

159 – running partial route Middleton – Oldham

181/182 – running partial route Manchester – Chadderton

188 – running partial route Whitemoss – Manchester

Maytree Travel

505 – Horwich running but not serving Markland Hill, Brazley and Pennine Rd. The 505 – to Markland Hill only will not operate.

553/559 – missing Willows Lane/Deane Church Lane

526/544/550/557 – suspended

525/527 – running but not serving Smithills or Hall I’th Wood Estate

512/513 – operating but not serving Farnworth Train Station, Hulme Rd, Folds Rd and Park Lane

Speedwell

S50 – normal route

341 – not serving Gamesly

342 – suspended

343 – suspended

344 – suspended

Checkmate

220 – now operating

345 – suspended

418 – not serving Cooper Street

Belle Vue Coaches

277 – not operating

Jim Stones

587 – service operating normally but not serving Hurst Street

590 – service operating normally but not serving Kings Avenue

682 – service operating normally not serving Oxford Road Loop

All other services running normally.

Bu-Val

All services running via main roads only.

Goodwins

285 / 286 – services suspended

Strawberry Bus

1 – not serving Orrell and Upholland

Stotts

41 – serving main roads only

337 – not serving Tennyson Avenue

364 – not serving Bosden farm

407 – serving main Ripponden Road only

First West Yorkshire

590 – Halifax to Rochdale running normal service

Wigan Bus

All services operating (main roads only)

New Year fireworks

Whether you were a New Year party reveller or had an early night, Westhoughton residents have seen it through to 2010.

Westhoughton Liberal Democrats would like to wish everyone in the town a heartfelt ‘Happy New Year’… here’s to hoping 2010 will be a prosperous year.

Councillor David Wilkinson, who represents Westhoughton South ward alongside Cllr Julia Silvester, has posted his New Year message on his blog, here.

As ever, our team is on hand to help you through 2010. If you have something you’d like to bring to our attention please feel free to complete our online contact form here, e-mail us at focus@westhoughton-libdems.org.uk, call us on (01942) 819456, or write to us at Westhoughton Liberal Democrats, 12 The Crescent, Westhoughton, Bolton, BL5 2AE.

We look forward to representing you once again in 2010.

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.”

Parochial... 200-years of history

A debate has started has to whether to Westhoughton’s Parochial Primary School should change its name as part of modernisation plans.

The school’s headmaster, Gareth Robertshaw, has announced radical plans to change the 200-year old school name to St Bartholomew’s CE Primary School. They say that the word ‘parochial’ means narrow-minded – and it is too hard to spell.

Students of by-gone years have questioned the decision, saying that the word ‘parochial’ also means ‘pertaining to a parish’, highlighting its link to the town’s church. But the school says that changing the name will create greater links with the church.

One former student of the school told us: “People who went to the Parochial knew it as a good place, with good teachers, and changing the name will do nothing but lose 200 years of history. If the headteacher wants to modernise he can do this in other ways, but they should leave the name alone.”

Angered former students have submitted their objections to Mr Robertshaw, and the school’s governors. A recent poll on this website also showed that more people objected to the proposals than were in favour.

Westhoughton South ward councillor David Wilkinson, who was actively involved with the school for many years as a governor, said: “Changing the name of the school is merely cosmetic. The real change must come through good quality teaching, effective leadership, and modernising the school facilities. It would be a shame not to see the Parochial’s name live on through the next 200 years.”

The school’s position was defended by Adam Seddon, who said: “The school was founded by the church, funded for many years by the church and more recently heavily funded by the St Bartholomew’s for the re-development of the class rooms. The name change is about bringing the name of the school in line with the other CofE schools in Westhoughton.”

The Parochial was in “special” measures until a recent Ofsted report said the school was now “good” again.

You can submit your own views by e-mailing Gareth Robertshaw at RobertshawG@westp.bolton.sch.uk or write to Gareth Robertshaw, Head Teacher, Westhoughton Parochial CE Primary School, The Fairways, Westhoughton, Bolton, BL5 3NZ.

You can also submit your comments using the form below.

For those wishing to object, you can sign this petition (below):

Has your bin been emptied?

Labour chiefs faced a grilling by angry residents and binmen as the bins fiasco rumbled on.

Top man Councillor Cliff Morris – Leader  of the Council – and Cllr Sufrana Bashir-Ismail, his Executive Member for Cleaner, Greener, Safer were sat on a panel organised by The Bolton News, where residents were invited along to ask the difficult questions.

It comes as residents across Westhoughton have not had their bins emptied over the past six weeks, and there is little sign of improvement. An internet poll on this website found that 71% of people said they were fed up with the currently problems.

It has been a deeply embarrassing few weeks for the Labour party in Bolton, and it all came to a head when the meeting was convened this week. Even the binmen spoke up – one even challenging the panel members to come and do his job for a week, promising to give a day’s wage to charity if they could complete the job successfully.

Cllr Bashir-Ismail was heckled noisily by the audience when she claimed the meeting was becoming ‘political’.

Westhoughton South ward councillor David Wilkinson said: “The most simple of question on everyone’s lips has become the most difficult question for Labour’s bosses. Everyone in Westhoughton is asking me, ‘When is my bin going to be emptied?’ and they just can’t give a straight answer.”

“We have been inundated with frustrated people who have been left without a bin collection for weeks. We are continuing to pressure the Labour-run council for answers, and above all, some action,” he added.

At the Council Meeting on 21st October Liberal Democrat Councillors strongly criticised the chaotic situation around bin collections and the many bins that are missed each week. We asked a number of critical questions of the Executive Member responsible for the service (Councillor Sulfrana Bashir-Ismail).

The questions we asked covered:

• Did the Executive Member stand by her decision to implement the changes to the bin collections, and would she give her full and public support?
• Did the Executive Member agree that the current failure to collect grey bins for several weeks at a time was a breach of Labour’s election promise?
• Could the Executive Member confirm whether there was now a policy not to issue green bins to terraced houses (even those with small gerdens back and front) and if so, was there any intention to remove green bins from those properties?
• What actions were being taken to ensure that refuse crews knew the location of bins where there should be an ‘assisted collection’ and to ensure that bins were returned to the correct position afetr emptying?
• What was the cost of additional crews, additional journeys and other measures to remedy mistakes of non collection of bins?
• Would there be any help for the ‘hard to reach’ areas of the Borough where there is no recycling available, and missed bins can cause additional problems?
• Has there been any change to the service standard where missed bins should be collected within 3 working days?

Apart from confirming that no policies had changed, we got little in the way of answers.

It was to be expected that Labour Councillors would not wish to raise questions publicly about probably the worst current problem in provision of services. What was surprising was that the Conservatives also were totally silent.

We later moved an amendment “That the Executive Member be urged to take a higher public profile in support of her policy and the officers that are carrying out that policy”. Most Conservatives supported that, but it was defeated because they were again split – several Conservatives voting with Labour and others abstaining.

More than 300 plants were found in a house after firefighters tackled a blaze at the Townsfield Road location.

Richard Shackleton, aged 38, of Winscar Road, Hindley, pleaded guilty to production of cannabis in relation to the Westhoughton farm. He was also found guilty after a trial in relation to seperate cannabis farm in Wigan, according to The Bolton News.

Darren Valentine, aged 38, of Grundy Street, Westhoughton, pleaded guilty to production of cannabis and possession with intent to supply cannabis in relation to the farm in Wigan and has been sentenced to 16 months in prison.

“With some of the plants said to be over 9ft tall, these were big operations,” said ward councillor David Wilkinson. “The fall out from this case has shown that despite some people’s beliefs, not all cannabis farms are run by ‘foreigners’”.

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.

Police newsletter

The latest Police newsletter for the Westhoughton area has now been made available on our website. Click here to view the August 2009 report in PDF format.