PEDESTRIANS in Westhoughton will see upgrades as work begins on new pavement links.

The changes, which will take up to three months, will improve the paving and lighting facilities along both Library Steet and Marsden Street, where Bolton Council’s highways team will install high quality buff paving, which will make them safer and more usable.

Marsden Street is also set to benefit from repairs to tegula setts, which is a popular type of paving which already exists there.

The money has been secured from Bolton Council’s £16m fund to help regenerate town centres in the borough, which is being shared between Westhoughton, Farnworth, Horwich and Little Lever.

Council leader, Cllr Martyn Cox, said: “The repaving and renewed lighting for Westhoughton is just one part of the story to revitalise the town centre and make it a place where people want to live, work, invest and visit.

“Every effort will be made to keep disruption to a minimum and complete the project as quickly as possible. We thank local businesses and the public for their patience while works are carried out.”

Businesses affected will be consulted by the council's highways team and customers will have full access to their properties for the duration of the works.

The project will come in two phases, firstly making immediate ‘quick win’ projects, such as this one, with the second phase concentrating on longer term projects, and will be subject to public consultation.

Other projects earmarked in Westhoughton include a car parking strategy, an assessment of future requirements for remodelling Market Street, continued improvement works to Central Park, securing the future use of the Civic buildings and bringing forward proposals for key development sites.

Upon the announcement of the project, former Westhoughton Steering Group chairman, Cllr David Wilkinson, said of the investment project: “We’re hopeful that the addition money for Westhoughton will allow us to make physical improvement and to make the town centre and Central Park a more attractive place for residents to visit.

“It will be an opportunity to encourage businesses to also invest in our thriving town centre.”