From the Evening News, August 22, 1992 - A FORMER Westhoughton councillor has hit out at the borough and town council's opposition to plans for major new

housing developments. Terry Riley, who is now the town's representative on the Civic Trust, made his attack in the light of a town council decision to object to plans submitted by Hulton Estates for a 40-home development on land off Park Road. He said the councillors were backward-looking, and that new housing developments were essential in order for the town to grow.

25 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News,

August 22, 1977

THE disillusioned people of Farnworth should soon be witnessing the dawn of a new era which will give new life to their battered town. Farnworth, which has to live with nametags like "shanty town" and "ghost town" is receiving the devoted attention of planners who aim to give it back its pride. Mr Rodney Brackley, deputy director of planning, said: "If all goes well, there could be dramatic changes in the town centre within two or three years."

50 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News,

August 21, 1952

BELMONT and Horwich are part of an area marked out for an oil search. The area covers 173 square miles, is bounded by Preston, Longridge, Hodder Bridge, Blackburn, and then goes across to Feniscowles and along to Withnell, Belmont and Horwich, and away to Hindley and Wigan. It may be some time before oil prospectors reach Horwich or Belmont, for activity is expected to concentrate first of all on another large area which stretches from Great Crosby and through Aintree and Knowsley.

100 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News,

August 20, 1902

MONDAY was a quiet day in Farnworth, owing to the holidays, and like many other tradesmen Mr W. Entwistle, jeweller, of Market-st., closed his premises and made his way to the seaside to spend a few hours with his family.

He had a rather unexpected and warm reception on his return, soon after nine o'clock, for when he reached his shop he found a crowd of about 400 persons outside, waiting the capture of burglars. Some young men who had been passing had noticed a light moving about the premises and gave an alarm.

Mr Entwistle could not credit the tale, for there were no signs of anyone's entrance, the doors being locked and the windows screwed up. The police were admitted by the proper entrance and instituted a minute search of the shop and various rooms without finding the least trace of a burglar. The only way in which the moving lights could be accounted for was that they were the reflection of the lamps upon passing tramcars.