BOLTON'S Lancashire heritage could re-appear on the town's street signs — after town hall bosses performed a u-turn on the issue.

As Lancashire Day was marked with the presentation of a red rose to the town's Mayor, Bolton Council chiefs said they were now happy to recognise the borough's place in the county.

Debate has raged since the Secretary of State for Local Government Eric Pickles announced an initiative to scrap the ban on the names of traditional counties being displayed on street and road signs.

Council leader Cliff Morris has previously told campaigners to "get over it" — when calls were made for the Lancashire name to be restored.

But Labour's Cllr Nick Peel, member in charge of environmental services, said yesterday that when the law changes then the council would look at the issue again.

He said: “If the rules change next year then I’m happy to take it to a policy development group and ask whether they would have ‘Bolton, part of historic Lancashire’ on boundary road signs — that would be step one.

“If we are replacing totally inadequate signs then we can look at including a mention to Lancashire.

“I don’t think the cost of changing all road signs can be justified — but where they have to be due to general wear and tear, then we can look at it.

“We can’t say ‘Welcome to Lancashire’ but we can say that Bolton is part of the historic county of Lancashire."

Staunch Lancastrian Cllr John Walsh has brought up the bid to include Lancashire on road signs in several council meeting — but was told to “get over it” by Cllr Morris.

But after presenting a red rose to the Mayor of Bolton and reading the Lancashire proclamation in Victoria Square yesterday, he said: “I’m delighted there’s been a u-turn.

“Why there was such a negative, knee-jerk reaction from senior Labour councillors I don’t know. It is about the council listening to the will of the public.

“Cllr Morris thought I was asking to finance changing the signs but that is not the case — we want to replace them as and when they are needed.”

A petition calling for the town's "rightful place in Lancashire" to be restored has amassed more than 1,500 signatures in just two months and campaign group the Friends of Real Lancashire has also offered to cover the cost of any new signs.

Rachael Waring, publicity officer for the group, said: “It’s a matter of civic pride. Lancashire has such a rich history, and nowadays is such a diverse county, and people just want to be part of that.

“A lot of people feel that Greater Manchester is a faceless organisation, whereas there is such tradition in Lancashire — with Lancashire Day, its representatives helping form the Parliament, the War of the Roses, the county flag — Greater Manchester has none of that.

“We want to say to the council, we don’t mind if administratively they are seen as coming under a different name, but we want to see the county properly recognised and that people aren’t shouted down for saying they are Lancastrian.”

Mayor of Bolton Cllr Martin Donaghy said: “I would like to thank Cllr Walsh for bringing the issue of Bolton’s heritage, which has always been of great significance to the people in this town, to the forefront.”

 

Mr Pickles today reaffirmed the Government’s drive to encourage communities in Britain to come together and fly flags to celebrate their local and national pride and identity.

The Secretary of State called on the people of England to fly their nation’s flag with pride. Ministers have previously changed the law to make it easier to fly flags without a permit from the council.

Mr Pickles was speaking as he raised the flag of Lancashire outside his department’s headquarters to celebrate Lancashire Day, which marks the day in 1295 when Lancashire sent its first representatives to Parliament.

He said: “Whatever one’s class, colour or creed, flags like the St George’s and the Union flag are unifying symbols for our nation. We should also champion the great diversity of local flags. Let’s fly them all with pride, because this sense of shared identity is one of the things that binds communities together.

“This country has witnessed a surge in flag flying in recent years. From the Olympics and Tour de France to the Royal Wedding and Diamond Jubilee, flags have been flown with passion and pride. We changed the law so communities can fly their local flags without planning permission, and I have championed this by hoisting a spectacular range of them in the heart of Whitehall.

“Flying a flag should be a pleasure not a chore. Despite being a proud Yorkshireman, I can still take pride in seeing the red rose of Lancashire flying outside my department.”

Earlier this year, the Department launched a new initiative to support the ‘tapestry’ of traditional English counties being displayed on street and road signs.

The Government also published a new online interactive map of England’s county boundaries.

Planning rules have been changed to allow for councils to put up boundary signs marking traditional English counties – including the likes of Cumberland, Huntingdonshire, Westmorland and Middlesex.

The Government has proposed changes to highways regulations to allow traditional county names to appear on boundary road signs.