MAY I respond to the suggestion by Cllr Baines that Bolton Council should uncover the cobbles of streets across the borough such as the Railway Terraces in Horwich.

On the face of it, this is a very laudable idea and could be a way of promoting the historical nature of an area, although the safety and practicality of such a proposal would have to be considered.

If money was no object, then this is something which may be considered.

However, we are living in times of austerity where council budgets have been decimated by Tory led Governments.

Bolton Council’s budget has been cut by some £155 million since 2010 and the vast majority of its remaining budget is now spent on adult social care and looked-after children.

The council, along with many others across the country, already does not have enough money for ordinary highways work, filling in potholes and resurfacing schemes; a not insignificant sum of money would be needed just to enable investigation work to take place and to advise on restoration of any cobbles to a useable state, prior to any work being started.

Cllr Baines has not said how such a scheme would be funded, what the costs would be and how many streets around the borough might have this work done.

While the council quite rightly invests capital funding in projects to promote investment and enhance the borough, to suggest having asphalted residential side streets returned to cobbles at this time is a pipe dream far flung from reality and, with respect, there are surely more pressing priorities to be addressed in terms of serving the residents of our borough.

Cllr Stephen Pickup

Horwich and Blackrod ward