THE Farnworth Christmas Tree farce is the latest in a long list of our town's citizens' dismay at the demise of our town at the hands of Bolton Council. The scraps that are thrown to Farnworth by the council is quite shameful. Even though shopkeepers pay the same rates as those in Bolton town centre, Farnworth shops do not receive the indirect subsidy via events held in Bolton aimed at attracting shoppers. The expense borne by all people across the borough is again spent in Bolton town centre. The £325,000 paid by Tesco five years ago for street furniture and development in Farnworth has quite simply been 'stolen' by Bolton Council.

It is interesting that the Bolton News is now calling our Town Hall 'Old Farnworth Town Hall'. Also interesting that Kearsley was recently referred to as 'Bolton suburb Kearsley'. Bolton Town Centre is also now simply referred to us 'the town centre'. At one time, Farnworth could make claim to have the best market in Lancashire but its town centre has now been reduced to an empty monstrous concrete mess — as a direct result of neglect. Whilst Walkden has risen from the decline (and is about to open a branch of Marks & Spencer), Farnworth sinks further and further.

Bolton Council cannot blame the demise of Farnworth on private companies — the millions of pounds spent either directly on 'capital investment' or by encouraging businesses to the Bolton town centre is simply unfair on the other towns in the borough. Local councillors even agree with the centralist approach of the council which sees the peripheral towns being neglected in favour of Bolton.

Only the turfing out of the Labour Party in Little Lever made an impact there — there is hope for Farnworth yet.

Paul Heslop

Farnworth & Kearsley First