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Page 2 September 2025 AD SALES 01204 478812 BOLTON Council has been recognised for its exceptional support of the Armed Forces community. The local authority has received the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) Gold Award. Since its launch in 2014, the award has become the highest badge of honour for employ- ers that champion veterans, reservists, cadet force adult volunteers and military fam- ilies in the workplace. The scheme recognises employers who go above and beyond in supporting defence to renew the nation’s con- tract with those who serve or have served. To achieve the gold award, employers must provide at least 10 days’ additional paid leave for reservists and implement HR policies for veterans and cadet force adult volunteers. They must also advocate for defence across their networks and sectors and demonstrate “sustained commitment”. 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 Supporting those who serve Recognition: Bolton Council has received an award for its support Fake danger dolls alert TRADING Standards are warning shoppers about potentially dangerous coun- terfeit toys that have been seized from shops in Bolton. The counterfeit toys, imitations of the popular Pop Mart Labubu brand, have been found to contain loose parts such aseyes, hands and feet, that may pose a choking hazard to young children. The stitching was also found to be loose, exposing the filling which could be an additional choking hazard. The borough’s trading stand- ards team has raised concerns that fake Labubus seized in the borough failed to comply with the Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011, as have other trading standards operations around the country. A spokesperson said: “These POLICE are calling on members of the public to help them in their efforts to tackle the anti-social menace of off-road vehi- cles in the Horwich area. GMP says it has had a rise in reports about off-road vehicles including quad bikes being used in the district. In a public message PCSO Emma Small said: “If you see anything with regards to this, please report it through the normal channels. “We do have a special team that operates within GMP but they respond to the areas with the most calls/logs, so if reported when seen we can hopefully get the team over to help us. “Please note down any reg- istrations that you may see or any descriptions of riders and if there is anything distinctive about them.” Action call on off-road menace Health centre plans unveiled FREE NO OBLIGATION QUOTE AND SURVEY, WITH NO HIGH PRESSURE SALESMEN, JUST FRIENDLY, HONEST ADVICE ‘A’ Rated Products from J&S CONSERVATORIES Windows and Doors ORDER NOW AND RECEIVE ‘A’ RATED PRODUCTS We also supply and fit: Windows, Doors, Porches, Fascias, Guttering, Soffits and Dry Verge MASSIVE SALE 3’x3’ Edwardian Conservatory • Baseworks • Frames to the floor • Concrete floor finish • 2 top openers • 1 pair of French doors (2 handles) • 25mm polycarbonate roof system • Kite marked double glazed units 0161 767 8000 Visit our website for more offers!! www.jsconservatories.co.uk Mon-Thursday 9am - 4pm, Friday 9am - 2pm ALLMAJORCREDIT CARDS ACCEPTED Now fitting PAS 24 certified windows and doors as standard. Now giving the best homeowners guarantee! Backed by YALE and gives up to £6,500 in the event of a break in! Ring for details. A NEW health centre will be created on the site of the former Whitefield Library as part of regeneration plans for the town centre. Bury Council and NHS chiefs have completed the related land sale which will enable the move of health ser- vices from the current Uplands site, which is in poor condition. It will also bring back into use the old library site which, apart from being used briefly as a Covid vaccination site, has remained empty since 2017. Professor Colin Scales, deputy chief executive at NHS Greater Manchester, said: “This move will give patients in Whitefield and the surrounding area access to a much-improved health centre, in a building that’s more modern, more accessible, and better suited to delivering care today and in the future. “The current premises at Uplands have served the com- munity for many years but are no longer fit for purpose. This new site will allow staff to work in better conditions and help improve the overall experience for patients. “We’re pleased to be work- ing with Bury Council to bring this forward as part of a long- term commitment to improv- ing local health services.” With the site now secured, further work on the scheme is now progressing with the aim of starting on site later this year or early in 2026. The work is expected to be completed in mid or late 2027. Patients registered at the Uplands will continue to access services as normal throughout the transition, with no disrup- tion to appointments. The redevelopment also frees up the Uplands site for As well as establishing an internal, cross-council Armed Forces Network for veterans and facilitating events throughout the year to celebrate those who make up the community, the coun- cil continues to make sure it meets its responsibilities and actively promotes the Armed Forces Covenant. Nick Peel, council leader said: “We are all incredibly proud to receive the prestig- ious Defence Employer Rec- ognition Scheme Gold Award. “This award recognises that we deliver on our prom- ise to honour the service of our Armed Forces, and that we do what we can to help our veterans, and their families. “Bolton Council is proud to support the Armed Forces and make sure those who serve feel respected and looked after.” Ryan Bamforth, the THE first application to turn a property in Bolton into an HMO (House in Multiple Occupation) since new rules were put in place has been submitted to the council. The request for permission to turn the property on Chorley New Road into a four-bedroom HMO will now go through the council’s planning process. People have until September 1 to give their views on the plan- ning application to convert the property, which is near St Mary’s RC Church in Horwich. Bolton Council has put in place an ‘article four’ direction amid growing concern about the number of homes being converted into rental properties for multiple tenants in communities across the borough. Previously, anyone could con- vert an existing home into an HMO for up to six tenants with- out first needing planning con- sent. But areas with an article four direction in place require all HMOs, regardless of size, to have planning approval. The council says that by ensur- ing all HMO are subject to the planning process, the article four direction will give people the opportunity to object to any pro- posed conversions in their area. HMOs are properties where a number of individuals live in one house – usually renting sep- arately from a landlord - with their own room but with shared communal spaces. In 2021, the borough had 117 HMOs but by the end of last year that number had grown to 720. HMOs in the spotlight l Continued from page one “We also want to convert the cellar into a bar and party room. We like a party and we will definitely be celebrating the win, several times over I should think!” A holiday in Spain is also on the cards. Darren said: “Time abroad – just a week in Spain – will allow us all to let it fully hit us what an amazing thing has happened. “We’ll be able to make some plans and decisions about the future.” products do not carry the legally required safety labelling, such as the CE or UKCA mark, or the name and address of a sup- plier based in the UK. They are often also cheaper than the legit- imate products.” The genuine dolls retail around £13.50 but the price can be upwards of £1,000, depending on the specific doll, and its rarity. Hamid Khurram, Bolton Coun- cil’s executive cabinet member for regulatory services, said: “The consumer craze for these dolls has resulted in a lucrative counter- feit market. Children and adults are buying these, and many will be tempted by the lower price of counterfeit versions. “These products lack the nec- essary safety testing and small parts can become loose, posing a choking hazard to young children. We encourage anyone concerned about the safety of toys they’ve pur- chased to get in touch with us at trading.standards@bolton.gov.uk. ” l Shop raids seize illicit goods: page four potential future use, with fur- ther announcements expected as part of the council’s regen- eration work. Eamonn O’Brien, leader of the council, said: “This is really a win-win situation for White- field residents. Buildings which have lain empty for years will be brought back into use, and medical services will remain in the town centre in modern, high-quality premises. “This is an important site, and we feel that a new health centre, replacing poor and outdated facilities at the Uplands, is something that will be warmly welcomed by many thousands of White- field residents. “This is a key element of the Whitefield Town Plan, which will bring a range of improve- ments to the town centre and maintain Whitefield’s repu- tation as an excellent place to live.” council’s Armed Forces cham- pion, who represents the Clay- pool ward, added: “As someone with 20 years’ service in the British Army, I know how important it is that we sup- port our veterans and their families, as well as reservists and everyone involved in the cadet movement.”