WITH talk of separating from Bolton, ongoing rivalry with a neighbouring town and one of the biggest planning applications in decades — 2014 has certainly been an eventful year for the residents of Horwich.

One of the first high-profile news stories in the area arrived in March, when Chorley Council were accused of “hijacking” the famous Rivington Pike landmark as part of a publicity stunt.

The Pike, which lies on the border of Horwich and Chorley was illuminated in a red glow for the “Choose Chorley” campaign, aimed at attracting more businesses to the Lancashire town.

Cllr Christine Root, who was the Town Mayor of Horwich at the time, said she believed Horwich residents would be “absolutely outraged” by the move.

Tensions rose further when Horwich-based sports business ServiceSport UK chose to up sticks and move across the border, setting up shop in Chorley.

The firm fired a parting shot at Bolton Council, which they claimed had offered them little support compared to Chorley Council.

It then appeared that some Horwich residents believed they could also get a better deal by cutting ties with Bolton and potentially joining forces with Chorley, which is already considering leaving the governance of Lancashire County Council next year.

Resident Mick Stevens, a member of the community action group Horwich First, made the suggestion at a meeting of the town council and after his comments appeared in The Bolton News, Chorley Council leader Alistair Bradley couldn’t resist getting involved, stating that he was “flattered” that Horwich residents wanted to join up with his town.

In September, the Horwich First group ran an online poll, firstly asking Horwich residents if they believed they would be better off cutting ties with Bolton Council while also questioning whether residents would like to see Bolton Council leader Cliff Morris come to the town to explain the benefits that come with being part of the borough.

Both polls pulled in resounding yes votes and Cllr Morris then agreed to meet with members of Horwich First to discuss their issues, with a date scheduled for early in the New year.

As if this wasn’t enough news for Horwich this year, it was all going on against a backdrop of the biggest planning application seen in the town for a generation.

The application, submitted by developers Horwich Vision, announced plans to create 1700 homes on the site of the former Horwich Loco Works in Chorley New Road.

The plans raised a host of concerns for many residents, worried about issues such as contamination on the site, the potential strain on the town’s road network as well as provision for health, education and sport.

Hundreds of residents packed into two specially arranged meetings to discuss the application, with tempers flaring and councillors battling to be heard.

Despite the concerns of the residents, the outline plans were eventually passed by Bolton Council’s planning committee in September.

The first applications to start demolishing buildings on the site are currently awaiting approval from the committee.

Finally, Horwich nearly ended the year without a twin town after councillors in Crowborough in East Sussex suggested that a 25-year-old association between the town town’s was not worth continuing.

However, other members of Crowborough Town Council disagreed and a vote eventually passed to retain the relationship.

Since then, Horwich Town Mayor Richard Silvester has made plans to welcome Crowborough’s Mayor to the railway town and plans are being put in place to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the twinning relationship.