Rolling back the years on wheels in Bolton (From The Bolton News)

Rolling back the years on wheels in Bolton

10:50am Wednesday 25th March 2009

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BOLTON is undergoing a roller disco revival, with new clubs opening up across the town.

And youngsters are rolling back the years to the heyday of the 1960s and 1970s, when hundreds of skaters would head to the Navada skating rink, in Spa Road, in the town centre.

The Pink Pig Roller Disco, at Kearsley Leisure Centre, is proving so popular with children that organisers are opening two new clubs in Smithills and Bromley Cross.

The success of the disco follows hot on the wheels of a similar scheme in Little Lever, while Westhoughton Town Council last month agreed to fund a new roller skating club to help improve fitness in youngsters.

Alison Power, Pink Pig Roller Disco organiser, said: “It’s good fun, it’s great exercise and it keeps kids off the streets.

“It is a real throwback to the good old days at the Navada.”

The “roller-renaissance” has been welcomed by Bolton Council’s health spokesman, Cllr Andy Morgan.

He said: “It means youngsters are taking some fun exercise and this obviously supports the council’s efforts to tackle childhood obesity.

“It also means our children are being occupied and kept off the streets, which helps alleviate some negative perceptions of kids.”

The new Navada Roller Rink, at Little Lever Sports Centre, opened in March last year and regularly attracts more than 100 skaters.

Organisers also say the scheme has helped reduce anti-social behaviour in the area.

The Pink Pig Roller Disco takes place every Thursday, from 5.30pm to 7.15pm, at Kearsley Leisure Centre, Springfield Road, and youngsters can skate for free at the first session at Smithills Leisure Centre, Smithills Dean Road, this Saturday, between 1pm and 3pm.

A third disco, at Turton Leisure Centre, Chapeltown Road, Bromley Cross, will run on Tuesdays between 5pm to 6.30pm, from April 14.

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