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April 2026 Page 17 AD SALES 01204 478812 of a fourth quad bike to spray weeds in parks and streets across the borough. The bikes are an innovative way to get rid of weeds more quickly, allowing more places to be treated. The council has also employed a new member of staff to focus on weed spraying, alongside more resources for difficult to treat areas like cobbled back streets. Staff in Bolton’s town and dis- trict centres are removing more weeds with hand-held machinery, and better scheduling means the council is focusing on spraying in other areas when it is too windy to treat pavements and roadsides. Meanwhile, the council has also released its first ever green space strategy, which will guide action and investment in parks, playing fields and green spaces until 2041. Richard Silvester, the local authority’s executive member for environment, said: “I’m thrilled to see our grand old fountain back to looking its best, not least because I pass it almost every day. “The improvements at Queens Park over the last few years have been most welcome, and they are just one example of our efforts to enhance and protect our greenspaces. “The council firmly believes that easy access to and around high-quality green spaces for everyone in Bolton, regardless of wealth, health or where they live, is fundamental to happiness and wellbeing.” MORE than 200 repre- sentatives from local businesses heard how the redevelopment of Crompton Place marks an “exciting new phase” in Bolton’s regeneration. Given the title, ‘Crompton Place and Beyond: How Bol- ton Town Centre is Evolv- ing’, the event served as an introduction to Federated Hermes MEPC, the devel- oper partner working with Bolton Council on its flag- ship project. In February Bolton Coun- cil confirmed it had appointed Federated Hermes MEPC following a competitive selec- tion process. The developer has a proven track record which includes NOMA in Manchester, Wel- lington Place in Leeds and Paradise in Birmingham. Speakers at the town hall event explained how the transformation of Cromp- ton Place is set to act as Springing back into life Famous feature: The fountain in Queens Park (Photo credit: Bolton Council) Visions of the future An exciting Place to be Developing story: The panel at the Crompton Place event (Photo credit: Bolton Council) THE much-loved fountain in Bolton’s Queens Park is back in action following its major refurbishment. For the first time since 2019, the Victorian era centrepiece is once again looking its splendid best, thanks to a £17,000 repair project. A comprehensive upgrade including new electrics and pumps has been completed, alongside a thorough jet washing, bringing the structure back to its former glory to entertain visitors. An initial switch-on acted a test run for when the fountain returns to full time display this month, after which it will run from 9am to 4pm, seven days a week. When the park first opened in May 1866, the fountain was one of its main attractions. However, by the 1960s it had fallen into disrepair and the fountain basin was being used as a flower bed. In 2009 Bolton Council secured £4.3million funding from the Her- itage Lottery Fund and work began to repair the water feature, soon uncovering the buried remains of much of the original structure. It meant that the new stones could be carved with the same intricate design of water spirits, flowers and river plants that had decorated the original fountain. The fountain’s return to work- ing order is part of a series of pro- jects designed to make sure that Bolton’s parks, playing fields and green spaces can be enjoyed long into the future. Among them is the purchase The event was also an opportunity to celebrate several recently completed town centre develop- ment projects. The audience heard how the Wellspring Innovation Hub, Moor Lane, Deansgate Gardens and the ongoing transformation of Church Wharf have helped lay the groundwork for investment in Crompton Place. Council leader Nick Peel said: “What were once con- cepts and plans on a page are now real places delivering tangible benefits for Bolton. “Homes where families live, places of work where businesses are innovating, and public spaces we can all be proud of. “This is what we mean when we talk about the regeneration of Bolton, and today it enters an exciting new phase.” a ‘catalyst’ for even fur- ther investment into the town centre. Federated Hermes MEPC also emphasised the impor- tance of collaboration, com- munity value and ensuring the new development is the right fit for Bolton and local people. Its regional development director, Dan Hyde, said: “I think it’s very important to develop for a place, rather than just in a place. “It’s really important to look at local needs, this is going to be a residential-led mix-used scheme that’s going to provide homes, workspace and leisure. “The connectivity to the rest of Bolton is going to be so important so that it sets the stage to carry on trans- forming the town centre and fulfil the council’s ambitions. “When you take all those factors into consideration, along with the scale and the heritage that’s already in the town, you will tick a box where the people of Bol- ton will be proud of what we develop.”