Future of £20M long-term plan for Farnworth in question

Last year the government announced that Farnworth was one of more than 50 towns around the country to receive investment to regenerate its high street and tackle anti-social behaviour.

But last week a full meeting of Bolton Council heard how it was uncertain how and if this investment would continue after the change of government.

Cllr Paul Sanders, of Farnworth South said: “Prior to this year's general election, a Farnworth Town Board was put in place, a 10-year plan developed, this was on the back of several community consultation sessions, and the plan submitted to the then government.

“Projects covered really important issues across Farnworth and Kearsley, these being community safety, both youth and adult provision, green space improvement and heritage which again are really import issues that residents fed back into the consultation.

Farnworth Green is one of the town's most important ongoing projects (Image: Capital&Centric)

“The other aim of the town board was moving forward to encourage private sector investment into Farnworth, so it wasn’t just this £20M but it was also again a future plan.”

The council had announced in March this year that it had set up the towns board for Farnworth, made up of business and community leaders as well as the borough’s three MPs.

The £20M from the government was intended to be drawn over seven years and spent within ten.

But last week’s council meeting heard how this could now be in doubt after the change in government.

Cllr Sanders said: “It is now understood that the new government is reviewing Levelling Up schemes across the country.

“And I think it’s important to not despite recent, welcome multimillion pound investments by the government into Farnworth, the benefits of which will take some time to register, the town continues to see high levels of deprivation, poor health and limited opportunities.”

Cllr Sanders asked if the council leadership would confirm that they would continue lobbying the government to implement the plan.

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In response council deputy leader and cabinet member for regeneration Cllr Akhtar Zaman said that he the community had already put a “great effort” into ideas of the plan.

He said: “From the general election announcement and then outcome the officers and myself have been in multiple discussions seeking confirmation that this funding commitment will remain.

“And we have not stopped and will continue to engage with the next stage of the process which we now anticipate will be clarified during the budget announcement on October 30.

“So, we are waiting anxiously for that.”