A NEW partnership, set up to create new investment worth more than £60 million, has opened for business.

The Little Hulton and Farnworth Partnership has got just over £11 million in Single Regeneration Budget funds from the Government's Challenge Fund and together with other public and private money could see an estimated £67 million flow into the area over the next four years.

It's the first project to involve Salford and Bolton councils and also the first to involve the two Training and Enterprise Councils from the areas, the Bolton Bury Tec and Manchester Tec.

Projects that will come under the partnership's umbrella range from community schemes needing a few hundred pounds to get off the ground to major education and housing initiatives costing up to £1 million.

A team of four, headed by Tim Warren will co-ordinate and monitor the projects from the Partnership office in the former library in George Street, New Bury.

And one of the first priorities to be tackled by the team is to get as many of the 30,000 people who live in the area involved.

The Little Hulton Community Committee and Farnworth Community Forum have already been involved in discussions about the plans and a new joint advisory group has been set up to continue that work.

Cllr Noel Spencer, joint chairman of the Partnership, urged residents to become partners in the area's future.

"This scheme is going to make a tremendous difference to these areas over the next few years with big investments in Farnworth, Kearsley, Little Hulton and some of the housing estates. But we need the input from people to ensure that we get it right for them. We want to see the money spent in line with the wishes of the people in the two communities.

"So far the priorities of the community representatives are fully reflected in the plans and that's the road we want to take for the future."

People who would like to know how they can become involved or simply want more information should contact the co-ordinating team - after October 13 - Bolton 794075, or write to them at The Little Hulton/Farnworth Partnership Office, George Street, New Bury, Farnworth, Bolton BL4 9PU.

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