Halliwell Community Alliance launches with anti-litter week

The Halliwell Community Alliance was founded as part of the roll out of similar groups all over Bolton, replacing the old Area Forums.

The group has now brought people across age groups together to collect a huge amount of litter around Eskrick Street, Whitchurch Gardens and Nottingham Gardens.

Cllr Kevin Morris, of Halliwell said: “As ward councillors myself, Cllr Rabiya Jiva and Cllr Safwaan Patel have been overwhelmed with the response and support shown to the Halliwell Community Alliance over the past few weeks.

“So many volunteers, litter picking groups, local community groups, youth clubs, Churches and Mosques have taken a very positive interest in joining up, coming up with ideas and taking part at the meetings held and have shown real enthusiasm in shaping our communities for the better.

Volunteers helped take part in litter picks (Image: Public)

“Our Week of Action has been a great success so far, young and old and from all backgrounds have rolled their sleeves up and taken part in various events across the ward.”

Litter picks were organised over the “week of action”, from Monday 22, December  by children from St Thomas's Primary as well as Bolton at Home and the Litter Pickers of Bolton West.

The events were organised by the Halliwell Community Alliance (Image: Public)

They were all brought together under the Halliwell Community Alliance, chaired by Gwyneth Bailey. 

Halliwell was one of several areas to be chosen by Bolton Council for the new “Community Alliances” scheme.

This was introduced after complaints that the Area Forums, many of which still had thousands of pounds left to spend, had not met since before the pandemic in early 2020.  

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The council now aims to roll out Community Alliances across the rest of the borough as well.

Cllr Morris said: “It's been great to see school children in Halliwell engaging and taking part in litter picks and looking after green spaces and caring for our environment too.

“Transforming parts of the ward that may have felt neglected in the past is crucial to this Alliance taking shape and momentum with likeminded people who genuinely care for our town.

“We as councillors certainly want to see our Community Alliance grow and flourish in our ward and see even more people take an active part in the coming weeks and months ahead.”