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Supermarket money 'should stay in Westhoughton'
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THE new mayor of Westhoughton says a supermarket's controversial £1 million payment to lift a land covenant should be spent on improving the area.
Cllr David Chadwick, who will be sworn in as mayor on Monday, is calling for the money Sainsbury's paid Bolton Council to lift the covenant protecting land at Westhoughton Cricket Club to be ring-fenced for the town.
Bolton Council's planning committee gave the supermarket giant permission to build a £7.5 million store on the site of the cricket club in Cricketers Way in January.
The committee also gave permission for a new cricket club to be built on land at The Hoskers, Daisy Hill, which must be up and running before work starts on the new store. The Bolton News revealed on Monday that the council had accepted £1 million from the supermarket giant to lift a covenant saying the club land should be protected for recreational use and switch it to the new site. However, the money would be spent on projects across the borough.
Cllr Chadwick, who is leader of Westhoughton Town Council and represents Westhoughton South for Labour on Bolton Council, said: "I have had numerous phone calls from local residents who are up in arms about this.
"I don't believe the covenant should have been lifted in the first place but now we are being told the money raised from it will be spent across the entire borough.
"The money should only be spent within Westhoughton. I'm very unhappy that the money is going to spent elsewhere."
He called on his fellow Westhoughton borough councillors to support him in trying to persuade the council to re-consider its position.
LibDem ward colleague David Wilkinson said: "I'm very happy to support Cllr Chadwick in trying to get the £1 million spent in Westhoughton but it is a policy of the majority Labour group.
"However, there would be pitfalls if the policy was changed because Westhoughton has benefited from funds raised from other parts of the borough in previous years."
He added that after negotiations with councillors, the supermarket had agreed to hand over £140,000 to be invested in facilities in Westhoughton. This was a condition of planning approval.
Conservative councillor for Westhoughton North and Chew Moor, Pat Allen, said this was a symptom of a much wider problem for Westhoughton.
She said: "The town has seen so much building in recent years and the council has received a lot of money from that but very little of it is going back into Westhoughton itself."
8:33am Friday 9th May 2008
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CommentPosted by: Westhoughton resident on 9:28am Fri 9 May 08
Whilst it sounds very right that the money should be spent in Westhoughton, Cllr Wilkinson is correct in saying Westhoughton has received funds from other developments in others parts of the borough, which makes the issue quite complex.
Whilst it sounds very right that the money should be spent in Westhoughton, Cllr Wilkinson is correct in saying Westhoughton has received funds from other developments in others parts of the borough, which makes the issue quite complex.
Posted by: Westhoughton resident on 9:30am Fri 9 May 08
Oh just another thought, perhaps Cllr Chadwick could have a word with his fellow Labour councillors who will quite happily take the money for other parts of Bolton.
Oh just another thought, perhaps Cllr Chadwick could have a word with his fellow Labour councillors who will quite happily take the money for other parts of Bolton.
Posted by: Andy Jones on 9:54am Fri 9 May 08
FFS The area doesn't need any more bloody supermarkets.
FFS The area doesn't need any more bloody supermarkets.
Posted by: howfenguy, westhoughton on 10:30am Fri 9 May 08
re andy jones, westhoughton doesn't have a decent supermarket to speak of unless you class the co-op as one!not everyone can travel to the middlebrook or atherton.
re andy jones, westhoughton doesn't have a decent supermarket to speak of unless you class the co-op as one!not everyone can travel to the middlebrook or atherton.
Posted by: Sunny, here and there on 10:40am Fri 9 May 08
[quote][bold]howfenguy[/bold] wrote:
re andy jones, westhoughton doesn't have a decent supermarket to speak of unless you class the co-op as one!not everyone can travel to the middlebrook or atherton.[/quote] Where did you shop in the past then?
howfenguy wrote:
re andy jones, westhoughton doesn't have a decent supermarket to speak of unless you class the co-op as one!not everyone can travel to the middlebrook or atherton.
Where did you shop in the past then?
Posted by: Howfenbornnbred, Westhoughton on 10:51am Fri 9 May 08
We;ve got a Labour Mayor and councillors for Tories & Lib Dems.
No wonder Howfen is in a state.
[bold]£140k on improvements.
That should buy a new slip road painted with yellow lines[/bold]
We;ve got a Labour Mayor and councillors for Tories & Lib Dems.
No wonder Howfen is in a state.
£140k on improvements.
That should buy a new slip road painted with yellow lines Posted by: Reevsey n Philliskirk, stood ont burnden terrace (Bread Isle at ASDA now) on 12:07pm Fri 9 May 08
Howfen is getting too overcrowded the volume of traffic will be horrendous, The new Tesco thats opened on the A6 accross form the local stroe will probably kill that store thats been there since I were a kid. The monopoloes of these supermarkets are killing the local grocers and alike yet nothing is done for the local stores.
Howfen is getting too overcrowded the volume of traffic will be horrendous, The new Tesco thats opened on the A6 accross form the local stroe will probably kill that store thats been there since I were a kid. The monopoloes of these supermarkets are killing the local grocers and alike yet nothing is done for the local stores.
Posted by: IWillShareTheTruth, Cyberspace on 12:30pm Fri 9 May 08
Whatever money that has been spent in Westhoughton that has come from other parts of the town is what should be spent outside of Westhoughton.
The land should never be allowed to built on and I suspect that Westhoughton will get the worse side of the deal.
As for the new mayor of Westhoughton - what a toothless and waste of money office. Like Westhoughton Town Council have any kind of influce.
I would hope that the councillors, regardless of party, will come together for the benefit of Westhoughton, but somehow I suspect that the lion's share of this money will be spent on some tin-pot scheme in Breightmet or some other "deprived" area.
Laughable Bolton Council!!
Whatever money that has been spent in Westhoughton that has come from other parts of the town is what should be spent outside of Westhoughton.
The land should never be allowed to built on and I suspect that Westhoughton will get the worse side of the deal.
As for the new mayor of Westhoughton - what a toothless and waste of money office. Like Westhoughton Town Council have any kind of influce.
I would hope that the councillors, regardless of party, will come together for the benefit of Westhoughton, but somehow I suspect that the lion's share of this money will be spent on some tin-pot scheme in Breightmet or some other "deprived" area.
Laughable Bolton Council!!
Posted by: howfenguy, westhoughton on 1:01pm Fri 9 May 08
re Sunny: what's that got to do wi' price of fish? >>> absolutely nowt!
re Sunny: what's that got to do wi' price of fish? >>> absolutely nowt!
Posted by: howfenguy, westhoughton on 1:01pm Fri 9 May 08
re Sunny: what's that got to do wi' price of fish? >>> absolutely nowt!
re Sunny: what's that got to do wi' price of fish? >>> absolutely nowt!
Posted by: Ed Stirling, Westhoughton on 1:34pm Fri 9 May 08
[italic][bold]"Supermarket money 'should stay in Westhoughton'"[/bold][/italic] – of course it should, every single penny for the release of protected recreational land.
Good to hear consensus amongst local councillors on this, though true to form Cllr. Wilkinson had to have a political jibe at his nemesis Cllr. Chadwick. Grow up!
This is not a political issue this is a [bold]moral[/bold] issue. And don’t give me Westhoughton has benefited from the general Bolton purse. How much money has been sucked out of Westhoughton over the years? Where has all the section 106 money gone? Endless developments, council tax revenue... it’s pretty obvious that Westhoughton has long been a [italic]net contributor[/italic] to Bolton’s coffers.
Well, enough is enough. £140,000 is a joke. The full £1m must go towards schemes within Westhoughton in the short and medium term to improve infrastructure, facilities and just maybe the lives of the people, young and old, who actually live here.
"Supermarket money 'should stay in Westhoughton'" – of course it should, every single penny for the release of protected recreational land.
Good to hear consensus amongst local councillors on this, though true to form Cllr. Wilkinson had to have a political jibe at his nemesis Cllr. Chadwick. Grow up!
This is not a political issue this is a
moral issue. And don’t give me Westhoughton has benefited from the general Bolton purse. How much money has been sucked out of Westhoughton over the years? Where has all the section 106 money gone? Endless developments, council tax revenue... it’s pretty obvious that Westhoughton has long been a
net contributor to Bolton’s coffers.
Well, enough is enough. £140,000 is a joke. The full £1m must go towards schemes within Westhoughton in the short and medium term to improve infrastructure, facilities and just maybe the lives of the people, young and old, who actually live here.
Posted by: ic31420, Horwich on 7:02pm Fri 9 May 08
I'm not from Westhoughton however i totally agree witht he sentiments of this. It is only fair that this money ought to benefit the residents of Westhoughton.
I'm not from Westhoughton however i totally agree witht he sentiments of this. It is only fair that this money ought to benefit the residents of Westhoughton.
Posted by: emma, bolton on 7:25pm Fri 9 May 08
[quote][bold]Sunny[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]howfenguy[/bold] wrote: re andy jones, westhoughton doesn't have a decent supermarket to speak of unless you class the co-op as one!not everyone can travel to the middlebrook or atherton.[/quote] Where did you shop in the past then?[/quote] Online maybe? paying 5 pound plus for delivery.
Sunny wrote:
howfenguy wrote: re andy jones, westhoughton doesn't have a decent supermarket to speak of unless you class the co-op as one!not everyone can travel to the middlebrook or atherton.
Where did you shop in the past then?
Online maybe? paying 5 pound plus for delivery.
Posted by: TimW, Westhoughton on 10:59pm Fri 9 May 08
[quote][bold]Reevsey n Philliskirk[/bold] wrote:
Howfen is getting too overcrowded the volume of traffic will be horrendous, The new Tesco thats opened on the A6 accross form the local stroe will probably kill that store thats been there since I were a kid. The monopoloes of these supermarkets are killing the local grocers and alike yet nothing is done for the local stores.[/quote] 1. that small Tesco will not contribute to additional traffic. The continued development of flats (approved by Labour) will do.
2. the [italic]"store across the road"[/italic] used to be a newsagent. Now, it sells over-priced goods. It will either reduce its prices or go under. Hopefully, the latter as it is a road hazard situation adjacent to road traffic lights..
3. The Tesco store has created 24 jobs. How many jobs has that store across the road created outside of his family?
It's like shopping with the Sopranos.
Reevsey n Philliskirk wrote:
Howfen is getting too overcrowded the volume of traffic will be horrendous, The new Tesco thats opened on the A6 accross form the local stroe will probably kill that store thats been there since I were a kid. The monopoloes of these supermarkets are killing the local grocers and alike yet nothing is done for the local stores.
1. that small Tesco will not contribute to additional traffic. The continued development of flats (approved by Labour) will do.
2. the
"store across the road" used to be a newsagent. Now, it sells over-priced goods. It will either reduce its prices or go under. Hopefully, the latter as it is a road hazard situation adjacent to road traffic lights..
3. The Tesco store has created 24 jobs. How many jobs has that store across the road created outside of his family?
It's like shopping with the Sopranos.
Posted by: Sunny, here and there on 9:59am Sat 10 May 08
[quote][bold]howfenguy[/bold] wrote:
re Sunny: what's that got to do wi' price of fish? >>> absolutely nowt![/quote] You chose to live in Westhoughton as it was, then complain of its lack of a supermarket. Why did you decide to live there in the first place? I live where there are no facilities, and I understand that a car is a lifeline for me with no regular public transport.If I thought for one minute I was going to be isolated or be unable to shop I wouldnt have chosen to live here. Stop whinging or move near a supermarket.
howfenguy wrote:
re Sunny: what's that got to do wi' price of fish? >>> absolutely nowt!
You chose to live in Westhoughton as it was, then complain of its lack of a supermarket. Why did you decide to live there in the first place? I live where there are no facilities, and I understand that a car is a lifeline for me with no regular public transport.If I thought for one minute I was going to be isolated or be unable to shop I wouldnt have chosen to live here. Stop whinging or move near a supermarket.
Posted by: Dave, Westhoughton on 5:53pm Mon 12 May 08
[quote][bold]Reevsey n Philliskirk[/bold] wrote:
Howfen is getting too overcrowded the volume of traffic will be horrendous, The new Tesco thats opened on the A6 accross form the local stroe will probably kill that store thats been there since I were a kid. The monopoloes of these supermarkets are killing the local grocers and alike yet nothing is done for the local stores.[/quote] I dont think so, that particular brand of 'Tesco' doesnt cater for the budget end of the market and there isnt much to be saved by shopping there...
Reevsey n Philliskirk wrote:
Howfen is getting too overcrowded the volume of traffic will be horrendous, The new Tesco thats opened on the A6 accross form the local stroe will probably kill that store thats been there since I were a kid. The monopoloes of these supermarkets are killing the local grocers and alike yet nothing is done for the local stores.
I dont think so, that particular brand of 'Tesco' doesnt cater for the budget end of the market and there isnt much to be saved by shopping there...
Posted by: Con1_uk, Westhoughton on 9:17pm Tue 13 May 08
Get as much money as we can and fix the freakin roads before I disappear down one of the pot holes!!!!!
Also a proper astro turf pitch would be nice as in Horwich it seems to keep the kids of the streets.
Get as much money as we can and fix the freakin roads before I disappear down one of the pot holes!!!!!
Also a proper astro turf pitch would be nice as in Horwich it seems to keep the kids of the streets.
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