HORWICH Town Council held its AGM on April 10, at which the Mayor gave an account of the activities of the council for the past year.

As I expected Richard Silvester, the Labour candidate for the forthcoming Church by-election was present.

None of his opponents in the election were. I wasn't surprised by this, as a review of their campaign literature indicates a surprising lack of interest in Horwich Town Council.

The other parties in the election seem to think they are fighting a Bolton borough election. I think it is important for them to realise that Horwich Town Council is a distinct local authority with its own competences and tax raising powers. It is not subservient to Bolton Council nor is it a sub-division of Bolton Council. Their fixation on a controversial business grant would be an appropriate election issue for a borough election but it is irrelevant to a Horwich Town Council election.

It is also untrue to imply, as a number of leaflets do, that the leader of Bolton Council has control over the Labour Horwich Town councillors. He has no more control over Horwich Town Council than he has over Wigan or Bury councils.

It would be unconstitutional for a leader of Bolton Council to try to exercise control over another local authority and has never happened. The issue in the by-election is quite simple; who has the experience and qualities to serve as an effective town councillor. My answer to that question is quite simple, Richard Silvester. I am confident that the electors of Church Ward in Horwich will come to the same conclusion.

Cllr Kevin McKeon

Horwich Town Council