Your Local Independent 190

January 2025 Page 7 AD SALES 01204 478812 • Glass to specification • Toughened & laminated glass • Mirrors & float glass ST.GEORGE GLASS 1-7 Brideoake Street, Leigh, WN7 2AG 01942 674331 108 Halliwell Road, Bolton, BL1 3QN 01204 383811 www.stgeorgeglass.co.uk stgeorgeglass S T . G E O R G E G L A S S BESPOKE GLASSWORK • SANDBLASTING • BRILLIANT CUTTING • SHAPED BEVELLING • SPLASHBACKS • Trade & domestic retail • Greenhouse glass & picture glass • Full glazing services on all our products • Family business established over 60 years • Double glazed unit manufacturers • Replacement windows & doors • Commercial - domestic CHORLEY Council’s strategy for 2025 has been approved, map- ping out its plans and key projects. It includes commitments to transform the town centre, to improve housing standards and tackle homelessness. The strategy aims to support residents with their wellbeing and the cost-of-living challenges, and drive economic growth in the borough. Alongside this, it also details how the council will continue to work towards a ‘Net Zero’ borough by 2030. Council leader Alistair Bradley said: “Developing the corporate strategy is a critical piece of work for us each year as it allows us to set in place our plans to be able to support the borough and help our communities continue to thrive. “The strategy shows peo- ple what we’re aiming to achieve, and what we’ll do to make it happen. We also make it clear how we will measure our progress. “We know that the needs of the borough and our community are complex, and we need to have a strat- egy in place which is varied and flexible to allow us to support as many people as we can while driving Chor- ley forward.” Some of the key strategy projects which will be pro- gressed in 2025 include the transformation of Chorley’s centre following significant government funding which will see a new town square, business and residen- tial areas Councillor Bradley said: “We’ve got a lot of exciting things ahead, alongside delivering our excellent day- to-day services and I have no doubt that we can continue make a real difference for the people of Chorley.” EMERGENCYworkwas needed to re-install and test high-volt- age power cable that was stolen by thieves ahead of a major rail project milestone. Engineers discovered cable val- ued at £100,0000 missing when they arrived to carry out work in Lostock over the Christmas period. Since 2022, Network Rail has been working to electrify the line between Wigan and Bolton. The £100million upgrade will enable the route to host longer and greener electric trains, with more capacity for passengers from stations including Westhoughton. The cable that was stolen provides power to the overhead line equip- ment, which in turn powers electric trains across the tracks. The crime was carried out just one week before the line was due to be energised for the first time, on New Year’s Day. The theft meant major disrup- tion for services on the line on the Sunday before New Year’s Day with the stretch between Chorley and Bol- ton closed for the majority of the day. Christian Irwin, Network Rail’s Capital Delivery director, said: “It is extremely frustrating for this crime to take place so close to the energi- sation of the line. Our teams have been working very hard to deliver this upgrade for passengers over several years including over this Christmas period. “We are working closely with the British Transport Police to provide additional security meas- ures and to find and prosecute those accountable.” Following the theft British Trans- port Police said drone patrols would be in operation at the site. Chief inspector Adam Swallow said: “Since being made aware of the theft of this high-value equip- ment from the engineering project at Lostock, we are working at pace to investigate the incident. “We are appealing to anybody who NEWS IN BRIEF THE Salvation Army provided ‘gift bags of happiness’ to elderly people across Bolton in the run up to Christmas. The packages were packed and delivered by staff and volunteers from Farnworth Salvation Army. A COUPLE who will celebrate their golden wedding anniversary in March won £5,000 in Derian House’s Christmas raffle. Bill and Julie Draper from Appley Bridge bought tickets the day before the raffle, which raises money for the Chorley children’s hospice, closed. SECONDARY school students brought festive cheer to Buckshaw Retirement Village in Chorley. The residents of The Grange enjoyed a special Christmas carol performance from pupils at Holy Cross Catholic High School. WESTHOUGHTON Town Council’s civic awards are open for nominations. They must be sent to the town clerk by January 17. Visit the council’s website for more details including award categories. THE Rotary Club of Horwich’s annual Christmas sleigh tour raised more than £10,000 for a range of charities. BOLTON Council has installed cameras across the A579, the A676, Hulton Lane and University Way to capture details of persistent speeders who police will visit. Hunt for cable thieves after railway raid Upgrade: Electri!cation work on theWigan and Bolton rail line witnessed the incident or any events leading up to the incident to get in touch as soon as possible.” The power on the line between Wigan and Bolton has now been turned on as part of the next phase in the electrification project. Network Rail is asking passengers to take extra care ahead of this phase as electrified routes have a deadly 25,000 volts running along them. Straying onto the railway and getting too close to overhead wires is extremely dangerous and can be fatal. BOROUGH MAPS OUT ROAD AHEAD