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Page 2 June 2026 AD SALES 01204 478812 No part of this publicationmay be used or reproduced without the express permission of the publisher. Every effort is made to ensure that the articles and advertisements that are carried are authentic, however the publisher accepts no responsibility for claims made. © Investors in Publishing Ltd 2026. This newspaper is publishedmonthly by Investors in Publishing, Publishing House, 3 Bridgebank Industrial Estate,Taylor Street, Horwich, Bolton BL6 7PD. 01204 478812 EDITOR Ged Henderson ged@hendersonnewsandmedia.com ADVERTISING Jayne Meadowcroft 01204 478812 or 07703 045189 jayne@independentnewspapers.co.uk CLASSIFIEDS Teresa Bond 01204 478812 teresa@independentnewspapers.co.uk CONTACT US WORK is being carried out to protect Grade II listed properties in Bolton town centre. It follows recent inspections which identified the need for immediate action to preserve No 27 Mawdsley Street. To ensure safety through- out the process structural scaffolding is being erected at both the front and rear eleva- tions to support the building. A temporary roof will also be installed to keep the site dry and protected while the repairs are carried out. Mawdsley Street is a con- servation area, containing several historic buildings of civic significance. The traditional terraced properties in question are Grade II listed due to their historical and architectural importance. The buildings range from 1800 to approx- imately 1865, and until recently, were leased to var- ious businesses, and have been offices, workshops and residences. The properties played an important role in the wider civic setting of Mawdsley Street, which includes the former county court build- ing, court chambers, technical school, and clubs. Bolton Council has revealed it is looking at option with the possibility of open the properties up to the market for ‘sensi- tive regeneration’. Mawdsley Street is just a short distance from the Crompton Place redevelop- ment site, with plans to cre- ate new spaces for business, leisure, residential and com- munity use. The demolition of Cromp- ton Place is scheduled to start later this year, paving the way for the regeneration project to get underway. A Bolton Council spokes- person said: “We are lucky to have Mawdsley Street as an area with historic charm, sit- ting at the heart of our town centre and other redevelop- ment projects. “In preserving these prop- erties, we hope to protect our proud history, while look- ing to a town centre with a bright future. “We continue to work closely with residents and businesses in Mawdsley Street to ensure the work doesn’t impact them or cause any issues.” heath practitioner, said: “By working closely with families, nurseries, schools and our public health partners, we are helping children across Bolton build healthy habits that can last a lifetime. “We are incredibly proud of the positive engagement we have seen so far through both our early assessment contacts and the supervised tooth brushing programme.” As part of a growing focus on prevention and early inter- vention, public health nursing teams and family hub local- ity practitioners now provide important advice and free toothbrushes and toothpaste to families during children’s early assessment appoint- ments to help establish healthy habits from an early age. The initiative aims to sup- port parents and carers with simple but effective steps to reduce tooth decay and pro- mote lifelong oral health. Trading Standards North West says this is an area that will continue to be monitored closely as part of wider work to protect young consumers from unsafe and illegal practices. As well as drinking rates being at an all-time low, the number of young people being illegally sold alcohol in shops has reduced. In 2023, 40 per cent of young people who drank alcohol claimed to buy it themselves, but this figure has reduced to 35 per cent in 2026. Ben Thomson, assistant director of public protection and resilience at Bury Coun- cil, said: “These results are incredibly encouraging and reflect the sustained, targeted work taking place across Bury and the wider North West to protect young people from harm. “Seeing record lows in smoking, drinking and vap- ing demonstrates the real impact of robust enforcement, effective education and strong partnership working.” HORWICH Town Council is the new official owner of the RMI Cricket Field and Pavilion in a land- mark move it says will safeguard the recrea- tional site for generations to come. The next phase of the pro- ject will see the land put into a charitable trust so it can only be used for recreation. The purchase went ahead after the council secured a £325,000 loan from Bolton Council to fund the deal. The council has now signed the deeds to the land. The charitable trust that will now be set up will ‘protect the land in perpetuity’ – ensuring its long-term use as a community green space. The ground has been the home of cricket in Horwich since 1892 as well as a hub for sporting activities and community events, including the Festival of Horwich. The council describes it as “a vital green space” and believes that bringing it into public ownership will save it from any future development – it has pointed to the loss of the Grundy Hill football ground in the 1990s when it was sold for housing. Signed, sealed and delivered! Done deal: Members of the town council mark the landmark moment (Photo credit: Horwich Town Council) The loan will be repaid through a rise in the town council’s precept for a two- year period – which will mean an extra £22.91 for a Band D property. In a statement announcing the completion of the deal, the town council said: “It was always the position of Horwich Town Council that bring- ing the ground into public ownership would protect it from potential future devel- opment and help safeguard it for generations to come.” Preserving a historic address THE number of young peo- ple drinking, smoking and vaping in Bury has fallen to a record low, according to new figures. The statistics for the bor- ough, part of the Trading Standards North West Youth Survey, show 58 per cent of young people aged 14-17 abstaining from alcohol. It also reported a fall in the percentage of young people trying vapes, down from 46 per cent in 2023 to 28 per cent in 2026. The survey is carried out by Trading Standards North West to explore the attitudes and behaviour of 14-17-year- olds in the region. It has been running since 2005 and the results are used to monitor illicit sales of age-restricted products with an overall aim of protecting young people. For the first time, the sur- vey also examined cosmetic procedures among young peo- ple to reflect emerging trends and risks. While only two per cent of respondents reported having undergone a cosmetic proce- dure – most commonly skin treatments, Botox or lip fill- ers – some reported receiving treatments in unregulated settings, including private homes and hotel rooms. Report reveals fall in underage drinking Raising a smile Supportive: Children are being helped to brush their teeth (Photo credit: BoltonNHSFT) MORE than 6,000 nursery and school children across Bolton have received sup- port with brushing their teeth and maintaining healthy mouths in a tar- geted effort to improve oral health outcomes. A supervised tooth brush- ing programme, which is delivered by Bolton NHS Foundation Trust and com- missioned by Bolton Council, has reached 80 schools and nurseries in the past year. The health initiative helps children develop positive routines in a fun and sup- portive environment, while also helping to reduce health inequalities and improve oral health outcomes in commu- nities where children may be at greater risk of tooth decay. The figures were released to mark National Smile Month, with the trust reaffirming its commitment to improv- ing oral health outcomes for children and families across the borough. Lorna Dibnah, senior oral Presentation: David Chadwick hands over the cheque for £6,000 (Photo credit: Bolton NHSFT) l Continued from page one “As my health gradually improved, I was able to be taken down to a memorial garden, which after spending so long in hospital was wonderful to feel the fresh air. Something we all take for granted – until we can’t. “The unit has been given their own piece of land and I hope the money I am giving them will ena- ble them to create a new garden, which will offer reflection and tran- quillity, and with any luck a bit of Boltonian sunshine!” Zoe Geddes, the unit’s matron, said: “We were honoured to be invited to Bolton Town Hall by the mayor for tea and biscuits following the presentation of a £6,000 cheque in support of our Critical Care Gar- den project. “It was a real privilege to meet with him and discuss the vision for the garden and the difference it will make for patients, families and staff. “The mayor shared his personal gratitude for the care he received whilst in Critical Care and spoke movingly about the positive impact that access to a garden space had on his own recovery.” Earlier this year the mayor vis- ited the hospital to thank the med- ics who save his life and declared: “I hope to be able to raise as much as possible for the hospital to be able to thank them for the exceptional care they provided me when they saved my life.” TO ADVERTISE CONTACT 01204 478812