Readers have had their say in an online poll narrowly backing a town to review its position within Bolton Council.

An online poll ran on The Bolton News website showed that 51 per cent of residents back calls by Horwich Town Council for the government to conduct a review into the town's position in Bolton Council.

This review has been asked for by the town council as they feel their voice is not being properly heard on issues such as funding or planning.

Two motions were passed by the town council earlier in January to write to Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick asking for a review firstly into Horwich’s place in Bolton Council and secondly a review into the current Horwich boundaries.

Chris Green, MP for Bolton West and Atherton, said the alternative ideas within the review, such as a new borough involving Horwich, Blackrod, Leigh, Atherton and Westhoughton, were very interesting.

He said: "For me, it’s fundamentally about community and identity, but also you have to have a population in scale that makes any local government viable.

“Local government boundaries do change every so often so, just as technology changes, ways of delivering local services change and community networks change, we should be open minded as to how we run local services.

“I do know that many people would like to leave Greater Manchester and I recognise that many of my constituents want to change our local governance here.

“If there was sufficient strength of feeling, I think it would be reasonable to have a local referendum. Let the people decide!"

A spokesman for Horwich and Blackrod First Independents, said: "As the leading party on Horwich Town council it is important that we reflect the overall sentiments of those we represent and for many years there has been a feeling of disconnect between the outlying towns and that of our authority.

"Things have improved in many ways but still situations around planning, provision of sporting and recreational facilities and healthcare still exist.

"It should be noted that Councillor Chadwick's motion does not ask for any particular outcome it is simply asking for a review of our boundary the first in 50 years which is not unreasonable. If accepted that would then open up the wider conversation which in consultation with residents and businesses would determine what the future of our town looks like.

"Horwich has seen significant over development with little infrastructure to match that level of growth and with the increasing number of homes being built on the former Loco Works will see our Town grow by 25 per cent within the next decade bringing it on par with other larger towns in the borough. This is with the backdrop of losing sporting facilities, playing fields and lack of a health centre which other similar towns seem to be afforded.

"We therefore are encouraged by the response by your readers and on the various local facebook pages which ran with it. As a community led party we will always listen to the voices of our residents and try to be the voice of those who in the past were ignored."

1,418 votes were cast on the question 'should there be a review into whether Horwich should be a part of Bolton?' in which 51 per cent of people voted 'yes'.