Your Local Independent 211

Page 12 September 2026 AD SALES 01204 478812 WHITEFIELD has welcomed Bury’s first Live Well Centre with hundreds of people attending a commu- nity celebration. Around 200 local people and members of commu- nity organisations came together for the the official opening of the centre. It is the first of a num- ber of Live Well centres and community spaces planned to be rolled out across all parts of the bor- ough by 2030. Whitefield has become the first neighbourhood to open a dedicated centre bringing together commu- nity activity, advice, sup- port and services under one roof. The centre was offi- cially opened with a rib- bon-cutting ceremony led by the mayor of Bury, Mohammed Tahir Rafiq. Visitors enjoyed a pro- gramme of free family activities throughout the day, including face painting, balloon mod- elling, virtual reality experiences, wildlife activities with Lancashire Wildlife Trust, free bike repairs and the Museum of Curiosity. The event also pro- vided an opportunity for people to meet local organisations, learn about support available in their area and explore the new facilities. The celebration also marked the opening of Our Place, a new commu- nity café based within the Albert Road centre. Helen Tomlinson, chief officer at Bury Vol- untary Community and Faith Alliance (VCFA), said: “The opening of the Whitefield Live Well Centre is an incredible achievement and the cul- mination of many months of hard work from part- ners across the public, vol- untary, community and social enterprise sectors. “Together, we have cre- ated a fantastic asset for theWhitefield community that reflects what can be achieved when organisa- tions work collaboratively around the needs and strengths of local people. “It was wonderful to see so many residents, local groups and partners come together to celebrate the opening. “This centre is much more than a building. It is a welcoming space where people can access support, build connec- tions, develop new skills and become more involved in their community.” Demolition work begins THE demolition of Crompton Place has officially started as part of the work to open up Bolton town centre and pave the way for its flagship rede- velopment project. Specialist company Rhodar has started to strip the interior of the former shopping centre, a preliminary step before the build- ing itself will be torn down. It marks a significant milestone for Crompton Place, which Bolton Council bought in 2018, and the ambitious plans for the area. The council says demolition will quickly re-establish a direct pedestrian route between Victoria Square and Bradshaw- gate and create new open space for pop-up events and activities. Once the site is fully cleared, the area will be transformed by the council’s devel- oper partner MEPC, an arm of Federated Hermes. A planned mixed used develop- ment will offer new homes, places to work, hospitality, leisure and public space. Council leader Akhtar Zaman said: “Crompton Place will be a catalyst for fur- ther town centre investment, building on the many projects we have already deliv- ered successfully.” Meanwhile, the council’s cabinet has approved new plans for the town centre which will see the expansion of the Cromp- ton Place redevelopment site. The HSBC building in Victoria Square is not currently included under the current plans for demolition and redevelopment. The cabinet has approved the purchase of the freehold interest in 1-3 Victoria Square to allow it to be included in the mixed-use redevelopment scheme. In total, the net purchase cost is esti- mated at £1.74million with funds coming from the £100m originally set aside by the council to buy town centre properties to facilitate redevelopment. Redevelopment: Crompton Place is set to be cleared (Photo credit: Bolton Council) Live Well Centre opens its doors SOGGY weather couldn’t dampen the spirits of the crowds who once again flocked to Bolton’s Food and Drink Festival. They were attracted by its colourful mix of food, drink, entertainment and family-friendly activities. The festival, the biggest of its kind in the country, celebrated its 21st birthday with a host of top names from the culi- nary world, including TV chef James Martin, a regular to the bank holi- day party. Music treats included performances by pop legends Liberty X and 70s chart toppers The Real Thing. FESTIVAL SERVES UP A TREAT (Photo credit: Bolton Food and Drink Festival)