From the Evening News, December 31, 1994: FRIENDS of the Earth have slammed a multi-million pound plan to build a football stadium and shopping complex at Red Moss in Horwich.

Bolton environmental campaigner Dennis Watson says the organisation is opposed to the plan because it would encourage more people to use their cars and choke the town with exhaust pollution.

The scheme, the most ambitious in Bolton's history, would bring a 25,000 all-seater superstadium for Bolton Wanderers to Horwich as well as a retail development, leisure facilities, a hotel and 6,000 parking spaces.

BOLTON'S main telephone exchange is set to ring the changes next month when 13,000 customers get new numbers.

The exchange in Central Street will be up-graded when a £1.1 million digital system X unit is brought into service.

The switchover will affect customers whose five-figure phone numbers beginning with either two or three will change to six figures when they are prefixed with the digit five.

25 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News

December 31, 1979

BOLTON'S 18th century Swan Hotel in Churchgate is about to undergo a face-lift costing £100,000-plus.

It will be given a new "Tudor Look" and both the food and accommodation at the 39-bedroom hotel are being upgraded.

The Swan, which has changed hands several times in recent years, is starting a series of Sunday country and western and folk evenings to entertain diners.

Negotiations are also going ahead with a Liverpool entertainment agency to supply comedians and singers on two other nights of the week.

ELVIS Presley fans will be celebrating the birthday of "the King" on January 8.

The recently-formed Bolton fan club will be marking the date with a disco at the Clarence pub in Bolton town centre.

Elvis died in August, 1977.

50 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News

January 1, 1955

AT next Wednesday's meeting, Bolton Town Council will be asked to approve a decision of the Waterworks Committee to raise the level of the Wayoh Reservoir by 25 ft.

This will involve flooding about 136 acres of land, eight industrial premises and several cottages.

The biggest of the industrial premises is the Know Mill Print Works.

At present Wayoh Reservoir is used only for compensation water and has a yield equal to the amount of compensation water prescribed by Act of Parliament.

100 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News

December 31, 1904

ONE by one, the old landmarks in the village of Worsley are disappearing.

The old corn mill, situated near the entrance to the famous underground canal in the "delph", which for many years was used as the headquarters and drill room for the Duke of Lancaster's Own Yeomanry, is now being demolished.

The site is required by Lord Ellesmere for other purposes.

The foundations for a new and wider bridge over the Bridgewater Canal are now being laid so that the South Lancashire Tramways Company's trams can run over it.