Demolition work begins on former Little Lever Tesco Metro for health centre and library

The new complex will be built on the site of the old Tesco store in Market Street.

The development will replace Mytham Road Health Centre and the current library in Coronation Square.

Leader of Bolton Council, Cllr David Greenhalgh said: "We’re pleased that the next chapter is about to begin for the library and health services in Little Lever.

“It’s a facility that is much needed and I’m delighted that we can now start to make it a reality.

“We made a commitment when we formed the new administration that regeneration wasn’t only about Bolton Town Centre but that our districts needed to see progress. That commitment has remained despite the challenges of covid.

“It forms part of the draft masterplan for Little Lever which is being developed by local residents, and is all part of the commitment of the council and our partners to the town centres around the borough, with £16 million available for the four main town centres other than Bolton.”

(From left to right Cllr Hilary Fairclough, Executive Cabinet Member; Cllr Hornby, Cllr Gibbon and Colin Bell, Capital Programme Officer, Bolton Council)

Building work is set to start on the new centre mid-September.

The current library, not far from the current building, was opened in 1940 and has been well used. But at just over 1200 square feet in size it has been unable to grow with demand and provide modern day library services.

Ward councillor, Rees Gibbons said: "This new facility will make a massive difference to the people of Little Lever, everything will be 21st century and the services will be improve immensely.

"Not only are we moving the doctors' surgery we are moving all the ancillary services that come with including the district nurses, which had left here and who are coming back. It is one of the best things that is going to ever happen to Little Lever."

(What the new facility could look like)

Fellow Cllr Sean Hornby added: "This is the first bit of the big jigsaw for Little Lever.

"This along with the town centre regeneration in Little Lever and Bolton at Home spending £12 million on Lever Gardens as well ­— at long last money is being spent in Little Lever.

"We are delivering for the people of Little Lever."

Bolton Council’s cabinet member with responsibility for libraries and museum, Cllr Hilary Fairclough said she was delighted a new library was being built.

She said: "It is so important to have a library in the hub of our outlying districts, over the years some of the smaller libraries have closed, but we are concentrating on making sure that places like Little Leve rare represented, they are just more than just a book lender, they are vital to our towns."

The council purchased the empty supermarket in 2017 when Tesco opened a new large store nearby. The council is working with NHS Bolton CCG, the Bolton NHS Foundation Trust and local GP practices on the design for the new facility.

The future use of the current library building will be decided in due course, but it is hoped to retain it for community use and the Little Lever war memorial will be retained and preserved.