Your Local Independent 192

Page 2 March 2025 AD SALES 01204 478812 WORK has started to transform a disused brownfield site inRadcliffe into 90 new family homes. Sitting in School Street, the aptly-named Scholars Park is being created by North West housebuilder Hive Homes, working in partnership with Bury Council. Council leader Eamonn O’Brien joined cabinet mem- ber Clare Cummins at a cer- emonial ‘spade in the ground’ event. The scheme, which includes 22 affordable homes, is expected to be completed during 2027. The council was success- ful in attracting Brownfield Housing Funding from the Greater Manchester Com- bined Authority to remediate the site and make a housing development viable. Ed Milner, managing direc- tor of Hive Homes, said: “We are looking forward to trans- forming this derelict site into much needed high-quality homes under a range of ten- ures that will breathe new life into the community and sup- port the wider regeneration of Radcliffe.” Cllr O’Brien added: “New housing on brownfield land is a key element of the plans to regenerate Radcliffe town centre, which also include a civic hub, the revitalisation of Market Chambers, new leisure facilities, a new high school, and improvements to transport and pedestrian way finding.” NEWS IN BRIEF HORWICH RMI cricket club has form a new girls’ section and held a free taster session for six to 11-year-olds at the town’s leisure centre. MAYOR of Horwich Ian Aldcroft’s spring charity ball was taking place on Saturday March 15 at Ridgmont House, with live music, a three- course meal and charity raffle. HORWICH First Community Litter Pickers’ volunteers have finished their project to paint bollards opposite Bowling Green in the town. 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 Family homes plan moves forward Top Quality Heavy Duty Fencing Waney Lap • Vertical Boards • Arched Tops Gates Single and Double. 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We always try our best to save our customers money, we do this by offering various quality products to best suit your needs. All our fitters work directly for Harper Fold Fencing and have over 30 years experience. ESTABLISHED 1982 HARPER FOLD FARM, LAVENDER STREET, RADCLIFFE M26 3TJ TEL: 0161 724 5827 OR 07841 869070 GREATER Manchester mayor Andy Burnhamhas demanded a ‘new deal’ for the North. Speaking at a press confer- ence at the Convention of the North he highlighted trans- port and housing as two of the major areas that had to be addressed. He told journalists: “The big message I think that needs to come out of this conven- tion is we need a new deal for the North of England, for this parliament and for the next decade. “We have had the false promises of Northern Power- house and Levelling Up, the North can’t repeatedly be given false promises. We need mayors andministers working together to get that new deal.” And he added: “If there is to be airport expansion in the south east and a new corridor between Oxford and Cam- bridge that is only justifiable if there is that new deal for the North to balance it. “We can’t carry on the model of economic growth that is only based around London and the south east.” Looking ahead to the gov- ernment’s looming spending review, Labour mayor Mr Burnham said investment in major transport infrastruc- ture projects in the North was vital if there was to be economic growth. Speaking at the press conference, alongside fel- low mayors from across the North and Aidy Riggott, Lancashire County Council’s cabinet member for economic development and growth, Mr Burnham said without that that the region would remain at a disadvantage. Earlier in the day, talk- ing on the main stage of the conference, being held at the University of Central Lanca- shire, he highlighted a public accounts committee report on the HS2 rail project. The northern leg of that high- speed rail link was scrapped by the previous Conservative government amid spiral- ling costs. Mr Burnham said the report had confirmed that the West Coast mainline would reach its capacity in the second half of the 2030s, alongside a M6 motorway that would also be “full”. He repeated his call for a new rail line to connect the North West to the West Midlands and said if that did not happen HS2 would be a “monument to inequality.” Turning towards housing, he called for a building pro- gramme across the North to deliver low carbon council houses and social housing, describing it as a “huge oppor- tunity” to create jobs and skills. The North will be the first part of England to be fully covered by devolution following Burnham calls for ‘new deal’ l Continued from page one “This funding is really important for hospices across the country and I know how much they rely on the kindness of volunteers and people who donate. This is a significant amount of money compared with hospices in some areas. “Supporting our local hos- pice is really important to me, in autumn 2023 I climbed Kilimanjaro to support their fundraising efforts. I will con- tinue to do whatever I can to support Bolton Hospice.” Minister for Care Stephen Kinnock said: “This is the largest investment in a gen- eration to help transform hos- pice facilities across England. “From upgrading patient rooms to improving gardens and outdoor spaces, this funding will make a real dif- ference to people at the end of their lives. “Hospices provide invalu- able care and support when people need it most and this funding boost will ensure they are able to continue deliver- ing exceptional care in better, modernised facilities.” recent government announce- ments, and the Northernmay- ors and leaders came together to highlight how they will work together with their devolved powers to drive economic growth and improve the lives of people across the region. Liverpool city region mayor Steve Rotheram told the press conference: “Though we speak with different accents we all speak with one voice.” Councillor Riggott said Lancashire’s new Combined County Authority marked a “step change” in the county’s devolution journey. He also highlighted its newly published growth plan, which was launched at the conference and is being pre- sented for consultation. He said: “The growth plan is a real reminder how important our economy is, it is one of the biggest in the North, and the opportunities we have.”