A GUIDANCE document aimed at deciding the future role of Bolton's 102 mills is urging more local people to get involved.

Three days remain until an online questionnaire, which allows Bolton resident's to rate and review any of the town's 102 mills, is deactivated.

The Bolton Mills Action Framework online questionnaire, part of the overall advisory document which has been compiled by Bolton Council to identify which mills are making a positive contribution to the town, closes on Friday (FEB 29).

The online input will be collated into a table and will form the final assessment of the evidence gathering stage, which hopes to recognise the value, distinctiveness, diversity and employment value of each mill.

Other evidence gathering methods used so far include the creation of focus groups and public meetings.

Focus group member Harvey Scowcroft, 59, of Dowson Street, Bolton, has so far attended two of the 10 Framework meetings.

He said: "I have always had a strong interest in the industrial heritage of Bolton and I believe the remaining mills hold a lot of relevance and history to the town. It is now important to identify how best to use and restore them."

Mr Scowcroft, who lives near to Merchants Place Mill, fully supports any decision to demolish or develop the town's mill buildings into residential accommodation or a leisure facility, two possibilities if the Framework document deems it necessary.

Bolton's Executive member for Development, Councillor Ebrahim Adia, said: "The mills are an important part of Bolton's industrial heritage and we want them to play a part in the town's future.

"This consultation is all about giving members of the public the chance to have a say on how we can use the mills in the future. I'd urge anyone who hasn't done so to take part in the online consultation."

Bolton welcomed it's first mill in 1777, St Helena Mill, and in the early 1900s over 58,000 people were working in the town's mills.

Mr Scowcroft said: "A saying once said, Britain's wealth hung by Lancashire's thread'."

Many mills are now being used in a variety of ways - including a dental workshop in Halliwell Mill, Wapping Street, Halliwell; storage in Nortex Mill, Chorley Old Road; and the Harmony Project in Wordsworth Mill, Halliwell.

The 102 mills are due to be assessed by March 31, at which time the Council will address future investment, relocation and start-up plans.

To rate a mill visit www.bolton.gov.uk/boltonmills before February 29.