CONSERVATIVES are mounting a bid for election to Westhoughton Town Council despite none of them living in that area.

Five Tory candidates are standing for election in Westhougton, which currently has no Conservative councillors.

But opposition candidates claim they do not possess crucial local knowledge to do the job properly.

The council is currently made up of six Liberal Democrats, five Labour members and an independent.

After 18 months of bitter rows with their counterparts, the Lib Dems last week announced they would not contest any seats in Westhoughton in next month's election.

This year there will be 18 seats up for grabs in six wards in the area. Labour is fielding 17 candidates and there is one independent.

The Tories say they are ready to challenge them.

The Tory candidates - Bolton borough councillors Bob Allen, Andy Morgan and Philip Ashcroft, along with solicitor Judith Ashcroft and party activist John Batley - have defended their ability to represent the town.

Cllr Allen, who lives in Heaton and is contesting Wingates ward, said: "We think we can do the job justice. The only advantage of living in the town is that you are that bit closer to constituents.

"We think Westhoughton deserves better than it's getting at the moment. It's becoming a bit run down and we're making a collective effort to bring it back to life."

Local government legislation requires candidates to live within three miles of the parish or to have worked, or occupied land, within it for the past twelve months.

Jim Gilfillan, the current leader of Westhoughton Town council and Labour candidate for Hoskers and Hart Common ward, said: "If you want to represent the town you should live there.

"They would lack the kind of knowledge that is necessary to represent the people of Westhoughton - to know their concerns and make decisions on their behalf."

  • There will be 53 candidates battling for election to town councils in Westhoughton, Horwich and Blackrod on May 3, the first town council elections since 2003.

Because of boundary changes, the number of seats on Westhoughton Town Council will increase from 12 to 18. On Horwich Town Council seats will increase from 12 to 14. The number of seats on Blackrod Town Council, nine, remains unchanged.