Your Local Independent 196

Page 2 July 2025 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 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 HORWICH Town Council has held three question and answer sessions as part of the public con- sultation on its proposed purchase of the RMI Rec- reation Ground. The meetings, which included a presentation of the plans, took place at Horwich RMI Social Club, the town’s community centre and the Beehive pub. They were held so people could learn more about the proposal, ask questions and have their say directly. The council is looking to fund the purchase through a loan fromBolton Council. The project would cost £325,000. Following any deal the ground would remain the home of Horwich Cricket under lease. The town council says it will also look to use the site for other events and fixtures. The ground has been the home of cricket in Horwich since 1892 as well as a hub for recreational and sporting activities and community events, including the Festival of Horwich. MOTORISTS have been warned to be vigilant after fake QR codes have been found on parking pay and display machines around Bolton town centre. Fake stickers placed on the machine were removed by Bolton Council and civil enforcement officers have been alerted. Regular checks are being carried out at all locations. While the council machines only take payment by cash or through RingGo, the codes direct users via the QR codes to a fraudulent website to take a payment. A Bolton Council spokesper- son said: “Our civil enforce- ment officers and machine engineers will continue to respond quickly when alerted to these fake stickers, and they have all been removed as far as we know. “We urge members of the public to inform civil enforce- ment officers or our engineers on 01204 336354 if they spot any QR stickers and advise anyone who thinks they have used the QR codes to contact their bank. “This warning only applies to car parking payment machines managed by Bol- ton Council as some privately managed car parks within the town may have other payment methods in use.” BOLTONWanderers have been recognised for their work to ‘Show Racism the Red Card’. Club chairman Sharon Brittan travelled to London as the club, in conjunction with Bolton Wanderers in the Community (BWitC), was inducted into the campaign’s Hall of Fame. The event was hosted by Prime Minister Keir Starmer at No.10 Downing Street. He told guests: “Let’s show rac- ism the red card and use foot- ball to help deliver the change this country needs.” Wanderers received the recognition for their contin- ued commitment to ensuring the football club and its Mid- dlebrook stadium is a place for all. That commitment was emphasised in April when BWitC joined forces with Show Racism the Red Card to welcome 900 youngsters from across Bolton in the l Continued from page one Previously, anyone could convert an existing home into an HMO for up to six tenants without first needing planning consent. But areas with an article four direction in place require all HMOs, regardless of size, to have planning approval. Anyone undertaking an HMO conversion without con- sent could now be ordered to carry out restorative work at their own cost. The council says that by ensuring all HMO are sub- ject to the planning process, the article four direction will give people the opportunity to object to any proposed conver- sions in their area. Akhtar Zaman, Bolton Council’s deputy leader, said: “Uncontrolled HMOs have caused some concerns within local communities, and the new planning rules have the overwhelming support of council members. “Multiple occupation house- hold have their place in our society and are welcomed as controlled developments, provided they have plan- ning approval which assess the suitability and potential impacts of the accommodation in the local areas. “Anyone considering estab- lishing an HMO should first check out the requirements. “The planning service also offers pre-application advice to establish whether applications are likely to be acceptable or not, and planning applications can be submitted online here.” Anyone wishing to register their views about this policy can submit it to the council before the closing date on Friday, July 25. More than 1,000 people signed a peti- tion launched earlier this year calling for the end of the “overdevelopment” of HMOs in Horwich. It was set up following local concerns about the rapid increase in HMOs in the community. Organisers said: “This is not a campaign against the people who live in HMOs, but against a pol- icy that allows uncontrolled development at the expense of our existing community. “We believe that local families deserve a chance to remain in the area, and that housing policies should priori- tise a balanced and sustaina- ble approach.” The issue was also raised in the Commons by Bolton West MP Phil Brickell. He said: “I have been contacted by a number of concerned res- idents about the development of HMOs in Horwich. “The concerns raised range from the number of occupants in those properties, the lack of space surrounding it, the concern about the potential of noise and attracting anti-so- cial behaviour. “There is also a wider issue with HMOs not helping to foster a strong local com- munity, as the residents are often those who move on rel- atively quickly.” Warning over parking scam Rec ground questions answered Showing racism the red card largest event of its type involving a football club and the organisation. First team stars from both Wanderers’ men’s and women’s first team squads, as well as Sharon herself, made appearances at the week-long workshop, engag- ing in conversations in a fun and interactive way to help tackle racism, stereotypes and hate-crimes. Founded in January 1996, Show Racism the Red Card held the first Hall of Fame event over two decades ago – created to honour and thank the patrons who have supported their mission and helped establish SRtRC as the UK’s leading anti-racism education charity. Sharon said: “It was a priv- ilege to receive, on behalf of Bolton Wanderers, our induc- tion into Show Racism the Red Card’s Hall of Fame. “This acknowledgement reflects the deep commit- ment to our ‘One Club, One Community, One Town’ ethos, which is driven with such passion by Bolton Wanderers in the Community. “Seeing our charity’s edu- cational programmes equip hundreds of local youngsters with understanding each year, and knowing this positive influence spreads through our town, is immensely rewarding. “We believe football has a significant part to play in building a more inclusive society, and we remain wholly dedicated to our collabora- tion with Show Racism the Red Card, ensuring these vital messages create last- ing change.” Ged Grebby, chief executive of Show Racism the Red Card, said: “The Hall of Fame is a way of thanking the clubs who have made an outstanding contribution to our work.” A deep purple commitment Celebration: Bury town centre is flying the Purple Flag for the 10th year BURY is celebrating after receiving the prestigious Purple Flag accredita- tion for a tenth year. The award is a recogni- tion of its commitment to creating a dynamic, secure, and vibrant evening and night-time economy. Purple Flag - similar to the Blue Flag for beaches – aims to raise the standard and broaden the appeal of town and city centres between the hours of 5pm to 5am. The award highlights Bury’s blend of entertain- ment, dining, and culture, all while ensuring the safety and well-being of residents and visitors in the evening and night-time economy. This year’s application highlighted the investment in the town centre which will see Bury Market Flexi- Hall and the proposals for Mill Gate shopping centre, plus the growing number of events which will bring an enhanced offer to the town centre. Key successes in Bury’s submission included the strong partnership with Greater Manchester Police, public health, transport and the private sector. The latest project to be introduced is the Business Crime Reporting (BCR) sys- tem. Led by Bury BID, this new app enables businesses to report and share incidents of crime and anti-social behaviour directly, providing real-time data to partners including Greater Manches- ter Police and Bury Council. The system aims to improve incident tracking, increase reporting, and support a more co-ordi- nated response across the town centre. Bury BID also plans to introduce a team of dedi- cated town centre wardens who will support businesses on the ground, report issues, and promote safer, cleaner streets. Nigel Shields, town cen- tre director of Bury BID, said: “Retaining Purple Flag status for a tenth year is a fantastic achievement and reflects the strong part- nership work taking place in Bury. “We’re working closely with local businesses and partners to create an envi- ronment where our evening and night-time economy can continue to thrive.”