Archive
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Fairer charge
WHEN I wrote my letter supporting the creation of a Food Standards Agency to help safeguard consumers against poor food hygiene, I expected a response from the Tory Candidate for Astley Bridge himself not his master. However, as Mr Walsh has opted to
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Council reject plans for shopping complex
CHORLEY is facing yet another serious threat to its town centre trade from a massive new shopping and leisure complex on its doorstep. Proposals for the next phase of a development just outside Bolton town centre were due to be rejected by Chorley planning
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New bands will 'Flood ' market
THE hotly anticipated compilation CD from Warrington-based Resolution Records, featuring six of the finest unsigned bands on the current scene, including Bolton-based Flood, hits the streets on Tuesday. And DNA (Dawn of the New Alternative) has already
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Over the moon!
Lancashire Lynx 22 Dewsbury 12 STEVE Hampson walked away from Victory Park with a big grin on his face after watching his injury-hit side dominate the second half in atrocious conditions. Hampson was over the moon with his side's dogged determination
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Town merited its two tidy awards
BARRIE Hetherington asks: Who is this Tidy Britain Group and how do they allocate their Awards? This was under the headlineTidy Britain Group should come round here! (Your views, March 5). Tidy Britain Group is an independent national charity, that works
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Locking the loos
WOULD the person who is saving £12,000 per year by closing the toilets at 6pm at the Town Hall issue a list of the public conveniences that they intend closing at 6pm because I can't find any open, even at midday. There is a toilet in Back Cheapside which
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400 laid off at mill
FOUR hundred workers will be laid off for a week at one of Bolton's biggest companies. The shut down at Chortex Ltd, Victoria Mill, Chorley New Road, Horwich, has been forced after orders dried up. The company, which makes towels for Marks and Spencer
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Campaigners say no to 1,100 homes
CAMPAIGNERS fighting plans for a new 1,100 home housing estate in Westhoughton are urging the public to turn out in force to demonstrate their opposition to the scheme. A second public meeting is being held by the Save Lee Hall Development Campaign on
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Bus corridor on the move
PLANS for a new bus priority corridor from Leigh to Manchester city centre are moving ahead, according to transport chiefs. Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority says proposals for the section of the route from Leigh to Ellenbrook would make
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111 holiday staff axed
LEADING holiday firm Sunset Holidays is leaving Bolton - with the loss of 111 jobs in the town. The operation at Manchester Road, Kearsley, is to close down by the end of the year. The shutdown is part of a major re-organisation of the company and bosses
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Lead role
COLIN Todd has called on his senior players to draw on every ounce of experience to guide Wanderers through their mental minefield. The Bolton boss, confident that his players have the ability, believes they only have to clear the psychological barrier
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Parents go back to the future
PARENTS at a Bolton secondary school are being invited back to the classroom . . . to keep up with their children. Rivington and Blackrod High School is starting computer courses for adults, in collaboration with Bolton Community Education Service. And
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Katie's incredible finish
National Schools Cross Country, Luton Performance of the week must belong to Katie Ingram. Representing Lancashire schools in the National Cross Country Championships she finished an incredible 13th out of 334 girls. Katie, who attends St Michael's CE
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Saints and city slickers
SAINTLY youngsters at the Deane School have been learning about the world of big business. As part of a national Young Enterprise scheme, pupils have been running their own business for the past year with the help of business advisors based at Bolton
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Labour is seeing the light
CHORLEY'S Labour group is beginning to see the light at last, claims a leading town Conservative. Speaking at the full council meeting last Tuesday evening, councillor and Conservative leader Eric Bell gave a guarded welcome to Labour's proposal to keep
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Top marks for village primary school
IT was top marks for one Whittle-le-Woods school following a recent Office for Standards in Education report. There was no mention that Whittle-le-Woods C.E. Primary School 'could do better' after OFSTED judged it to be "a very good school". But it was
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Harold's rambles will help charity
A CHORLEY author's nostalgic 'ramble' through his past will help the future of a local charity. Harold Taylor has just published Rambling Recollections of seven decades - a self-portrait of memories of his native Bolton and beyond. And former teacher
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Dad pays tribute after death of boy, 16
A HEARTBROKEN dad today paid tribute to the "perfect son" who died from a rare strain of meningitis. Richard Armstrong, 16, an apprentice bricklayer with Bolton Council, died just hours after being diagnosed with the meningococcal septicaemia. The Moses
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More cash for smaller classes
CHORLEY schools are to benefit from more than £6m government cash to reduce infant class sizes. Work will go ahead at St George's CE, St Mary's RC and Withnell Fold to create an additional classroom at each school. Lancashire hopes to have no infant classes
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'One stop' help shop for town
A SPECIAL new 'one-stop' advice shop is planned for Chorley town centre. If it goes ahead, the shop could bring together the Welfare Rights Service and County Information Centre, Chorley Citizens Advice Bureau, Chorley Local Enterprise Agency - and be
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Local leader appeals for volunteers
A LOCAL St John Ambulance leader has backed a vital appeal for more volunteers to step forward as the future of the service hangs in the balance. Though Chorley is bucking the trend - its membership is on the up - Ian McKendrick, superintendent of Chorley's
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There's nowt wrong with't accents
WRITER Beryl Bainbridge stirred up controversy last week by suggesting that schoolchildren across the country should be forced to have elocution lessons to rid all traces of regional accents. Speaking at an award ceremony in London, the once-Scouse talking
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No cheap option
YOUR article on homelessness on Monday, February 22, quotes Cllr Paul Perry. Cllr Perry has an unrelenting devotion to working for the people of Bolton, particularly the most deprived and disadvantaged people as a councillor and a Salvation Army officer
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View from the house
THE Citizen Card (no relation to the newspaper!) is soon to be launched in Chorley to allow young people to prove their age. The scheme, which has been set up by a national non-profit making organisation, is available to young people who need to either
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OPINION: An inspiration
THE town should be proud of the human and canine representatives of the Bolton Guide Dogs for the Blind Training Centre who are at Cruft's this week. They are demonstrating the skills honed by the excellent training the animals receive at this regional
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New houses will mean more cars
I WISH we could have some honesty concerning the Gillibrand Link Road. This road is not about relieving traffic, its main point is to make available the land near Copperwood. The council's main point was to provide affordable houses and yet passed the
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Super slimmer's classy secrets
THREE stones lighter and Lorraine Whittle has a new career. Mum-of-one, Lorraine slimmed from 13st 6lbs to a trim 10st 6lbs ... in just seven months. Now she's sharing her slimming secrets with two Slimming World classes in Bolton. "I was asked to take
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The Daily Poem: Fluoride
They want to give us fluoride, In every cup of tea. They want to give us fluoride, To flush the lavatory. We'll have to soak in fluoride, Each time we take a bath. Or wash the clothes and dishes, They don't do things by half! Minority wishes nowadays,
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Off the street . . .
THE string quartet which entertained more than 170 guests at the recent Bolton and Bury Chamber annual dinner was plucked from the street in Manchester. Students from the Royal Northern College of Music were entertaining passers-by in Market Street when
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Model village?
By Karen Stephen THE words "24-hour- city" give a place a glamorous, urban image - sexy even. Now a new book, The 24 Hour Society, hails Bolton as the future of just that - a 24-hour city. Author Leon Kreitzman (pictured right) writes: "...five miles
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A bear charity
IT WAS encouraging to read in the BEN that local MPs are concerned about the bear baiting in Pakistan. The Bolton Libearty Group has only a few members, but we are all dedicated to the plight of ill-treated bears, wherever this is happening. Many people
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Bolton folk heading for eastern promise
BOLTONIANS are splashing out to see in the Millennium on distant shores. But while the rest of Britain is going Disney-mad and heading for Florida for January 1, Crompton Place travel agents Thomas Cook say local people are preferring to opt for the Far
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What's on in and around Bolton, Saturday, 13.3.99
NEW Rosemere AOS present Gilbert and Sullivan's Trial By Jury and HMS Pinafore, Albert Halls, 7.30pm. Tickets £8 and £6 concessions, tel: Patricia Killeen on 522048. BOLTON Strings Together Ensemble, junior strings together approximate grades 1-3, 9.30am
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Local heroes with plenty of punk
BOLTON band, the Pachinos are preparing to launch their very own brand of punk pop onto an unsuspecting public with the release on Monday of their debut double A side single, Violent Sun and Smash. Released on the More Music Manchester label, the single
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World to take the shuttle to Bolton!
COMPETITORS from all over the world will travel to Bolton for the 2002 Commonwealth Games. As revealed in yesterday's BEN, the badminton event will be held at the new £14.8 million complex which is being built at Middlebrook. Today, Mr John Havers, chairman
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Rangers' match abandoned after ref injury
ADLINGTON Rangers had no luck with the weather on Saturday as the A Team's home match was cancelled. The First Team were away at Leigh Harriers. Although the pitch wasn't good and soon cut up during play, both teams threw the ball about well and Rangers
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Anxious wait after big cash aid appeal
BOLTON faces an agonising wait to see if the town will keep vital cash aid to create jobs. A delegation went to see Michael Wills, parliamentary under secretary in the Department of Trade and Industry in London yesterday to plead for Bolton to keep its
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Son's death 'could have been prevented'
THE mother of a psychiatric patient, found dead on an embankment a day before he was due in court, claims hospital staff could have done more to prevent his death. Kathleen Holmes quizzed witnesses at an inquest into the death of her son, David Holmes
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Teeth are getting better
IT'S all smiles after a report that shows the dental health of Chorley's 12 year-olds is getting better. Following a survey of 95,000 children, the North West Dental Public Health Resource Centre says that levels of tooth decay have fallen by over a third
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Top award for Speedy Hire boss
THE Managing Director of Speedy Hire Centres Ltd, Mr John Brown, has won a top industry award. Mr Brown, aged 54, from Heath Charnock, Chorley, was named Plant Hire Person of the Year by the Hire Association Europe for his contribution to a 10-fold increase
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Trailer firm jobs boom
A SUCCESSFUL Bolton company is recruiting against the national trend of increasing job losses. Gloom in the manufacturing industry is not shared by the management and staff at Indespension Ltd in Belmont Road. Managing Director Heidi Riley said: "In the
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Falklands visit by local politician
LINDSAY Hoyle MP set off on a parliamentary visit to the Falkland Islands last month eager to learn more about the country. Mr Hoyle, along with colleagues Ben Chapman MP and Paul Keetch MP, set off from RAF Brize Norton on Thursday February 25 and finally
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Quit smoking now plea
TAKE the plunge and quit smoking - that's the plea from Chorley's health workers in the wake of this week's No Smoking Day. Taking The Plunge was the theme for this year's No Smoking Day on Wednesday and the focus was centred on encouraging smokers to
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Glory for trim trail
THE glory trail . . . North West Water's popular fitness and fun 'trim trail' has picked up a special local award. The trail, at Rivington's Lever Park, has been recognised by Chorley Civic Society which is to present NWW with a special commendation.
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Warm thanks from fire officer
ON April 12, 1999, I shall be leaving Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service and taking up a new appointment as Her Majesty's Inspector of Fire Services. I would like to take this opportunity of thanking you for giving me, as Chief Fire Officer, your support
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Results of public poll out soon
FINDINGS from one of the biggest public opinion surveys in Chorley is due to be launched next week by community group leaders. Clayton Brook Community Group is launching the results of a survey this coming Monday which questioned around one third of the
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Police helicopter is a great success
LANCASHIRE Police's helicopter is a soaraway success. It has just celebrated its 1,000th arrest since being launched in November, 1994. Police chiefs said the 170 mph Twin Squirrel chopper has been especially effective against car thieves who account
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Lent what does it mean?
A NOW infrequent question this time of the year is 'what have you given up for Lent?' The category includes the young and old, rich and poor, female and male etc, but with some movement away from older, simpler forms of self-denial - smoking, football
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Martin's show beat
TRYING to keep your head through a fun-filled romp can't be that easy, especially when you're in charge. But music student, Martin Fitzharris, from Horwich, is taking it all in his stride. Martin, pictured in action on the left, is in his second year
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SOCCER: Bury face ban threats
BURY go into tomorrow's home game against Barnsley walking a disciplinary tightrope. Six players are one booking away from suspension, leaving manager Neil Warnock facing more player shortage problems. The Shakers are currently without Mark Patterson,
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OPINION: Sporting coup for the town
IT'S certainly smashing news for Bolton that the town will host the badminton competition for the 2002 Commonwealth Games. The new £14.8 million tennis centre at Middlebrook, currently being built, will stage the prestigious event. This is a great boost
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Rat of the Week
I WOULD like to nominate as Rat of the Week, the low life scum who broke into my 86-year-old father's house while he lay in hospital after emergency surgery. What I want to say to them is - there are a lot of people very angry and upset at what has happened
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50 textile jobs to go
FIFTY jobs are to be axed at a Bolton textile mill. Today bosses at Swan Mill in Higher Swan Lane blamed the redundancies on vigorous competition from abroad. Management at the Oldham head office of parent company Shiloh plc said the job losses were "
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From the BEN files
25 YEARS AGO THE Royal opening of Parliament today went back to wartime austerity. There was none of the usual pageantry and colour, and the Queen went to Westminster from Buckingham Palace by car instead of horse-drawn carriage. She wore a day dress,
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Rumble in the jungle
By Irma Heger BORNEO looks set to be the exotic location of a Rivington and Blackrod High school trip next year. And Canon Slade School has arranged for pupils to go on exchange visits to Japan. These longhaul destinations mean that skiing trips to France
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Gigs . . .
TONIGHT (Friday, 12.3.99): Bottom Bull, Bury Road, Bolton (Cold Flame). Moses Gate Hotel, Farnworth (Mother's Ruin). Gypsy's Tent, Spa Road, Bolton (Final Demand). Band on the Wall, Manchester (Lunar Room Special). Roadhouse, Manchester (Element, Confusion
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Time of turmoil
AT a time of turmoil in the world's economy, it is good to see that the International Monetary Fund has backed Gordon Brown's economic policies. In its annual health check on the economy, the IMF praised the Chancellor's"skilful management", which had
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Sokrates Greek Taverna, Winter Hey Lane, Horwich.
IF it were not for the view of the local supermarket through the window, you could almost believe you were on a remote Greek island. The decor, the atmosphere and even the grape vines on the ceiling at Sokrates on Winter Hey Lane, Horwich, are as authentic
