AN AMBITIOUS initiative aims to boost the business community in an area known as East Bolton.

The plan is to help small and medium-sized enterprises in Breightmet, Tonge, Hall i'th' Wood and parts of Burnden, Darcy Lever and the Haulgh.

It is part of the Government's £20 million SRB 6 (Single Regeneration Budget) investment programme which will unfold over the next six years.

The East Bolton Regeneration SRB6 Partnership is a venture between the local community, Bolton Council, health and other public agencies, voluntary organisations and local businesses.

A launch at the Watermillock in Crompton Way outlined details of the business element of the scheme and formed a Business Forum to help implement it.

Project Manager Bill Singleton, Senior Business Advisor with Bolton Enterprise Services, said £326,000 was available to encourage growth and competitiveness between now and March 31, 2003. The cash was made up of £175,000 from SRB, £30,000 from Bolton Council, £63,000 from the European Regional Development Fund and £58,000 from private contributions. A cornerstone of the project is the recent appointment of Ted Martin as Business Liaison Officer.

The meeting heard that letters were sent out to 729 businesses in the area and that 168 completed survey returns.

The Business Forum was launched by Andrew Ratcliff, Chief Executive of Bolton and Bury Chamber. He said it was an "umbrella" organisation which would allow businesses to discover and influence what was going on around them, but added: "It is only going to work if the businesses support it."

The meeting was chaired by Pat Rattigan, Assistant Director of Bolton Council's Economic and Physical Development Unit.

Anybody interested can contact Bill Singleton at the Bolton Enterprise Centre in Washington Street on 01204 336153. EAST IS BEST: (From left) Mr Singleton; Mr Rattigan; Dorothy Kay, Dot's Chippy, Tonge Fold; Cllr Frank White, SRB6 Partnership chairman; Mr Ratcliff; Mr Martin; and Mr Morton