TWO of the borough’s towns could ‘go it alone’ and break away from the borough after what they see as years of neglect.

The prospect of ‘Fexit’ and ‘Kexit’ moved a step closer after dozens of disillusioned Farnworth and Kearsley residents signalled they were ready to take up the fight to get a fair deal from Bolton Council.

More than 70 people packed out the hall at Trinity Church, in Farnworth, for the inaugural meeting of Farnworth and Kearsley First.

The group’s ultimate aim is to create a party that can win council seats and potentially break away from the borough all together.

The meeting was called by interim secretary, Paul Heslop, in a bid to gauge to appetite for a new political party to stand up for the two towns.

And there was a unanimous show of hands when Mr Heslop asked how many people were interested in forming a ‘political entity’ to take on the ‘mainstream parties.

The ruling Labour Party came in for particular criticism for taking votes for granted and favouring investment in central Bolton.

Mr Heslop said that when it came to spending the council’s money there was ‘one rule for Bolton and another for Farnworth and Kearsley’.

He told the meeting: “I have had councillors tell me personally in the Bolton-centric approach – that success will ‘emanate from the centre’, we don’t believe that when we look at our towns now“If they’re doing another series of Shameless they may as well do it on the St Modwen’s site – that’s what it looks like now.”

But Councillor Cliff Morris, leader of Bolton Council, said decisions about investment were ‘carefully and thoroughly’ made and took into account both need and fairness.

He said: “Over the past few years we have really worked to promote the proud heritage of Farnworth and Kearsley this included the extensive redevelopment of of Farnworth Town Hall.” He also gave the examples of £800,000 spent on improvements to Longcauseway and £20,000 on Broad Green Gardens play area and Doe Hey Park play area.