A NEWLY-FORMED community group has called on Bolton Council to help fund a new publication showcasing the struggles of an area of the borough.

The Farnworth and Kearsley First group has responded to reports in The Bolton News which revealed that the authority has spent more than £160,000 in three years producing and delivering its Bolton Scene publication, by asking for a chunk of that cash to be handed to them for an ‘alternative’ magazine.

Interim secretary of the group, Paul Heslop, has written directly to council leader Cliff Morris, lamenting the attention that he says has been paid to the Farnworth and Kearsley areas both by the council and within its publication.

He writes, “There is little to cheer about in Farnworth and Kearsley and this is confirmed by the fact that in last summer’s Bolton Scene Farnworth was mentioned seven times and Kearsley four times, while Bolton was mentioned 338 times — the mentions of Farnworth and Kearsley were merely the lines from councillor’s addresses.”

He adds: “The fact that the towns of Farnworth and Kearsley were mentioned to such a tiny extent means it is reasonable to assume that there is a void in communication, or more likely a void in services.”

The group has estimated that based on population, Farnworth and Kearsley residents may have contributed about £24,000 towards the Bolton Scene publication over the past three years. Mr Heslop added: “In the interests of democracy and fair access to freedom of speech, Farnworth and Kearsley First is now requesting that Bolton Council grants this amount to give the people of Farnworth and Kearsley a fuller understanding of the reality of services in their towns.”

The council has stated that Bolton Scene is a ‘key council publication’ which allows it to communicate important information to residents.

A spokesman added: “At approximately 45p per household per year for 96 pages of information it is a very cost-effective way of fulfilling these responsibilities.”