Calls have been made to provide locally for “looked after” children to head off the need for more expensive placements outside of Bolton.

As it stands the council does not place children in the kinds of small-scale care homes that have been created across the borough in recent months and years.

But an event held by the Bolton and District Pensioners Association heard how more local provision was needed for youngsters to avoid the need to place them outside the borough.

Cllr Debbie Newall, who addressed the meeting, said: “It’s looked after children who have to go somewhere else and usually its because they’ve got quite complex needs.”

She added: “There are moves within Greater Manchester were councils are looking at having their own provision.

The Bolton News: Calls have been made for more provision for looked after children in BoltonCalls have been made for more provision for looked after children in Bolton (Image: Newsquest)

“Bolton as well are looking at having our own provision but at the moment we’ve got this system where these children’s homes are popping up.

“Again, it's not ideal and you get a lot of objections to them, but I think there’s a stigma around these places where people think they’re for children who are going to cause trouble.

“But they’re just looked after children who fell through the cracks.”

Cllr Newall, of Kearsley, represented Labour at the session while Cllr John Walsh, of Astley Bridge, appeared for the Conservatives.

Cllr Walsh agreed that myths around small scale children’s homes needed to be dispelled but he pointed out that individual councillors often objected to them in their own areas.

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He said: “You can’t have it both ways, you can’t as a council say that we need more places for children but then, when these things come to the planning committee, induvial ward members object.”

Mr Johnson agreed but he stressed that he believed the needs of children should come before considerations about costs for the area.

The event was held ahead of the local elections to be held on Thursday, May 3.

Association vice chair Florence Hill said: “Even though we have our political differences it is appreciated by our members that local politicians take time out of their day to attend. 

“Too many organisations fail to hold politicians to account.”