FURIOUS council chiefs have attacked claims in an election leaflet that they were spending £100,000 employing two sculptors. They were angry that the claims were made in a Conservative Party pamphlet from candidate Ivan Cooper which has been circulating in the Horwich area. It said that the council was had allocated "£100,000 a year from the housing budget while dozens of council houses remain empty or in need of urgent repair."

But Liberal Democrat leader Mrs Barbara Ronson asked at the Bolton Council meeting whether this was correct.

An angry Labour Cllr Noel Spencer, chairman of Bolton's housing committee, explained that this money was the entire budget for a project to brighten up areas of the borough.

He accused the Tories of putting out a "scurrilous" leaflet.

He said the money was being used for 11 projects which are already underway and six which are in the pipeline.

The idea is to use art and design to improve the environment in which people live.

The schemes include landscaping a garden at Flockton Court sheltered housing development at Horwich, a mural which has been painted on a residents' association meeting cabin in Westhoughton and other community art projects.

Cllr Spencer said that the two sculptors on the project were housing officers who were doing this on a part-time basis.

He said: "The projects are to improve the self esteem of people and for them to develop a sense of pride in their communities."

But Mr Cooper today stood by his comments. He said: "Even if it is the budget of the whole project, I can still think £100,000 could be better spent. The money could be spent on projects such as tackling drugs on council estates or security measures."

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