Upmarket street? (From The Bolton News)

Upmarket street?

TENANTS on some of Bolton's most deprived estates could be asked whether they want to change the names of their roads.

The idea would be to rid some streets of the bad reputation they have gained over the years. Housing chiefs are currently drawing up with tenants an action plan to tackle problems on nine of Bolton's most deprived estates.

But a councillor has suggested that residents on streets which have a poor reputation could be asked whether they want a new name.

One group has already done this - the New Lane Residents Centre at Breightmet was officially renamed this week as The Bright Meadows Beacon.

Tory deputy leader Cllr John Walsh put forward the idea of giving tenants a fresh start at a housing regeneration sub committee meeting when councillors were given a presentation on "local community planning".

Tenants have been asked to draw up a list of the major problems on their estates and now council bosses will meet with residents to find solutions.

But Cllr Walsh said: "I hope that we will use this as an opportunity to try something different.

"In some of these areas over the last 20-30 years, there are roads - and I don't need to name them publicly - which have gained a reputation. We need to totally change this." Cllr Walsh said that it had worked in his Astley Bridge ward where Wilkinson Gardens had been changed to Heatherfield.

Sub committee chairman Cllr Mrs Linda Thomas said: "This has to come from the communities and not officers. If they ask for this, then we would have a look at it."

Council bosses have been meeting tenants on nine estates in the borough who have drawn up a list of their major complaints.

They are New Bury at Farnworth, New Lane, Withins and Leverhulme in the Breightmet area, Hulton Lane estate at Deane, Hall i' th'Wood, Johnson Fold, Tonge Moor and Oxford Grove.

All but Withins and Oxford Grove have roads which are officially rated among the most deprived in the country.

The community planning process is an attempt by housing bosses to give residents a greater say on how their estate is run.

Among the main concerns which has come back from the consultation process are fear of crime, drugs and anti-social behaviour. Other areas which tenants have asked housing bosses to investigate are dog fouling, litter and environmental issues, traffic calming, estate management, leisure facilities and repairs to properties and footpaths.

Mrs Joan Hearne, assistant director of housing, told councillors that residents would be actively involved in solving problems.

She explained that the solutions will come from the communities rather than imposed by council officers. She said: "We will start out with a blank piece of paper and work out local solutions."

But she stressed that children and young people would be the focus of their efforts "to break the inter-generation pattern of depravation".

Schools, leisure, health and career issues will be at the forefront of solutions.

A report presented to councillors said: "Outcomes from this will not be a significant decrease in jobless totals, but more adults involved in schools and more focused community self-help activity."

What do you think? Write to the BEN at Newspaper House, Churchgate, Bolton, or e-mail us at ben_editorial@lancashire.newsquest.co.uk

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.