LONG-awaited plans to set-up mini-parliaments to rule the regions of England were announced yesterday.

If the Government's plans become reality many of the issues affecting people in Bolton could be decided in one of the new assemblies.

Jane Field asks if we would benefit from the shift in power away from London.

ALTHOUGH it is three hours away on the train and differs from Bolton in many ways, London is still the place where most of the decisions which affect our everyday lives are made.

However, town halls are stirring with the news that a new "Geordieland" government will be the first test bed regional assembly in the country, with Durham being the home of the new assembly.

This could be followed by six more across the country, with the North-west parliament being second in line to be established.

But how would a regional assembly, with decisions being made closer to home, perhaps in Manchester, affect me and you?

Would new laws reflect the needs of people in the area, bringing jobs and prosperity, or would the change be unnecessary and expensive? A White Paper, launched by Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, offers each region the choice of its own assembly in a referendum before the next election.

Mr Prescott has said devolving power has been his decades-long "political dream" and will end a "democratic deficit'' in England.

Announcing the proposals in Parliament, he said: "Our vision of regional governance is an opportunity for change and giving people the choice to make that change."

The assembly would operate like the Welsh Assembly with powers handed down from the Government. At the moment there is a North-west pilot, the Regional Assembly, which is more of a talking shop.

But there are risks in making the changes. There are estimates that setting up similar bodies in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland has already cost £600 million. It could also spell the end of county councils, including Lancashire.

There are also fears that it could see major decisions ripped from Bolton councillors and given to strangers who know or care little about the town. Plans to move the work of the magistrates court to Bury caused uproar recently.

Leading Conservatives say English voters would end up paying higher taxes and the first vote would be on multi-million pound new buildings for their meetings, possibly for the North-west in Manchester.

Deputy Conservative leader at Bolton Council, Cllr John Walsh, warns decisions would no longer be democratically made by locally elected representatives but by people who will not recognise the differences in need between Crewe and Carlisle.

He says: "It is more politicians and more cost and could spell the end of Bolton as an education authority, possibly an end to even social services and housing. Some planning decisions could also be taken away.

"I do not believe it is good for democracy."

The reorganisation to regional tier government is seen by Labour and the Liberal Democrats as a move towards better representation for the North-west.

Council leader Bob Howarth, who attends the current pilot North-west Regional Assembly, says it is a few years off and he is reserving judgement until he has seen the full plans.

He adds: "It's an interesting and attractive proposition.

"Tony Blair has always said the proposal would have a referendum first and I would support that.

"I think it would also require new legislation which is not yet in place and is some years away."

Liberal Democrat leader Barbara Ronson believes a regional assembly would be a valuable force of local government as long as it had enough power and was fairly represented with a minority voice.

She said: "It is about bringing powers down, big decisions made in London would be made in the region.

"In a way it is also taking powers up but only where it is sensible."

Nationally and locally the shake-up has been met with some degree of apathy but the Government is pinning hopes on it encouraging better voter turn-outs.

One Bolton woman, Christine Cole, aged 45, is not keen on the proposals.

She says: "I can't see the benefit. The existing system of smaller councils is more in tune with what is best for towns and cities."

Meanwhile, Marion Lord, aged 65, from Farnworth, thought regional assemblies would be a move in the right direction.

She says: "Regional assemblies are a good idea in principal but a lot depends on who's running them.

"I think too many of our interests are looked after by people in London and it would be preferable if we had a greater say about our own affairs."