Your Local Independent 193

Page 2 April 2025 AD SALES 01204 478812 TO ADVERTISE CONTACT OUR TEAM 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 2025. 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 A DERELICT former school which has become a magnet for vandals is to be sold at auction. New Summerseat House in Ramsbottom has been vacant since 2016 when its former use as a Pupil Referral Unit ended. Since that time the build- ings have significantly dete- riorated and the property suffers from ongoing issues of anti-social behaviour. There have been three attempts to sell the property previously through a tender process, but each time the sale has not completed. Counc i l lor Eamonn O’Brien, leader of Bury Council, said: “The disposal of this site will bring forward the restoration of this listed building, end problems caused to local residents by the empty building attracting anti-social behaviour, and remove ongo- ing liabilities to the council for security and maintenance.” l Continued from page one They added: “This is the lat- est example of the council pur- chasing empty or underused spaces in the town centre and creating development-ready sites to attract investors. “The same approach has already delivered results at Moor Lane, Deansgate Gardens and Bark Street, with a planning application for Church Wharf expected this spring. “The transformation of Crompton Place is Bolton’s f lagship redevelopment project and work is well underway to find the right developers for the site. “The intention is to secure a development partner as soon as possible, so that plans for “meanwhile use” can be in place before demolition starts and so development can start quickly.” Developers will hold public consultation on the future for the site, including details of the scheme will benefit the wider town centre. Planning was previously granted for a mixed used development to replace Crompton Place, includ- ing leisure and hospitality venues, demonstrating the area’s potential. The demolition is only now possible following years of work to support the previous tenants of Crompton Place to relocate elsewhere in the town centre. Primark’s recent relocation was a key stage in work to consolidate the town’s shop- ping area around the Mar- ket Place. Council leader Nick Peel said: “This demolition plan marks the start of a truly transformational pro- ject in the heart of Bolton town centre. “Last year saw several regeneration projects success- fully delivered, but the start of work on Crompton Place sends a clear signal that Bol- ton means business. “We have already had signif- icant interest in the site, and we are confident that invest- ment in the site will attract even more developers to other parts of the town centre.” not only serve tourists, but also foster community pride among local people, “encour- aging them to rediscover local gems and support the local economy”. Nadeem Ayub, Bolton Council’s executive mem- ber for culture, said: “The enhanced Visit Bolton brand is a testament to our com- mitment to elevating Bolton’s reputation as a destination of choice, drawing visitors from near and far. “This new website provides an engaging and informative resource that reflects the vibrancy and welcoming spirit of our town.” To check out the new web- site, visit: www.visitbolton. com. You can also share your favourite place to visit in Bolton by using the hashtag #visitbolton Website is worth a visit Attractions: The newVisit Bolton site gives all the information (Photo credit: Bolton Council) ROYAL Bolton Hospital has been named number one in the country for its work to check the accu- racy of tests carried out in breast screening. The results recognise that the trust is able to provide ‘robust guarantees’ in terms of investigations, improv- ing the quality of care and ensuring patients receive correct treatment at the ear- liest opportunity. An annual Breast Screen- ing Pathology Audit is held to compare national perfor- mance figures. Good performance in this audit requires excellent work- ing across a number of teams and specialties, from radiol- ogy assessments and biopsies to pathology interpretation. Dr Mark Pearson, who has been a consultant at the Trust for more than 30 years, said: “I am particularly proud to be part of a team that is able to offer those guarantees to the patients who are screened pos- itive in the programme. “The results are exactly where I would want them to be and are certainly amongst the best results that I have seen throughout my career. “I want to use this oppor- tunity to shout out about how good a service this is and not only do we produce quality like this, we are sev- enth fastest in the country in terms of getting the results turned over. “Which means that we are one of the only services in Greater Manchester that is reaching the key performance indicator of turn around.” Hospital leads on breast screening Derelict school is under the hammer Auction: New Summerseat House in Ramsbottom (Photo credit: Bury Council) THE life stories of Holo- caust survivors and refu- gees fromNazi persecution can nowbe read by visitors to Bury libraries thanks to a new set of books. The ‘My Voice’ project doc- uments the entire life stories of each survivor from before, during and after the Second World War. The books are solely writ- ten in the words of survivors from across Manchester and the North West so that future generations can always hear their voice. Established by The Fed, who are based in Prestwich, the My Voice project records the actual words spoken by survivors, ensuring their stories are told in their own voices. It helps survivors over- come psychological obstacles and find a sense of purpose and validation by providing a safe space for them to share their experiences. The project has also been embedded in various educa- tional settings, including uni- versities and schools, making Giving Holocaust survivors a voice Handover: Bernie Garner, director of community services at The Fed, presents the books to Cllr Charlotte Morris and David Fielding, deputy head of libraries and archives A NEW visitor website has been launch giving all the latest information on attractions and events taking place across Bol- ton borough. The revamped ‘Visit Bol- ton’ website is packed with new features, offering seam- less access to information, including a comprehensive events calendar, an array of local attractions, dining, and shopping. There’s also a build your own itinerary option to help visitors plan their trips with ease. In line with Bolton’s recog- nition as Greater Manches- ter’s Town of Culture 2024, the website highlights major cultural events, including the famous Bolton Food and Drink Festival and the Iron- man weekend. Visit Bolton has also devel- oped a new brand that those behind the project say will Greater Manchester and the North West, now have a home in libraries throughout our borough – a place to which many of them contributed so much. “Now, more than ever, it is crucial that the history and lessons of the Holocaust - and our Survivor Storytellers’ messages of hope, resilience, kindness and tolerance - are shared widely. Having the My Voice collection available to Bury residents through the local library network plays a very important part in help- ing us achieve this.” The books were pre- sented to Bury Libraries at a special event held at Bury Art Museum and Sculp- ture Centre. The event heard first-hand testimonies from Holocaust survivors Ike Alterman and Helen Stein. Helen told of her parent’s decision to send their three children out of France to Switzerland under false identities, while Ike, who was awarded the Freedom of Bury in 2022, told of his ordeal in concentration camps including Auschwitz-Birkenau and of surviving multiple death marches. Ike also related how he was one of ‘The Boys’ who were brought initially to Winder- mere and his subsequent new life in Manchester. The collection of books can now be borrowed from any of Bury’s libraries. An exhibition of 10 contem- porary portraits of Holocaust survivors and their families is currently on show at Bury Art Museum. These survivors hail from Poland, Germany, East Prus- sia and Holland, but all of them eventually settled in England, choosing Greater Manchester as their home. All of the survivors por- trayed in the exhibition have had their life stories published by the My Voice Project. To date the project has published 45 books with another 15 in the process of production. it a valuable resource for teaching history and promot- ing understanding. The life story books serve as a lasting legacy, preserving the experiences of survivors for future generations and honouring their resilience and contributions. Raphi Bloom, director of fundraising, marketing and communications at The Fed, said: “It is immensely fitting that these critically important My Voice whole life stories of Holocaust survivors who set- tled and rebuilt their lives in Bury, and other parts of