From the Evening News, January 30, 1977

THE cost of parking for an hour in Bolton town centre will be more than halved from Monday. The charge for up to an hour on all council-owned car parks drops from 12p to 5p. For two hours, parking is unchanged at 12p, between two and three hours 17p, and the full day charge is 40p. On Saturdays only there is a charge of 17p for any period.

WORKERS at two Bolton engineering firms were told yesterday that their factories are to close. Halliwell Engineering (Bolton) Ltd., general engineers of Mossfield Mill, Vernon Street, is going into liquidation with 21 workers losing their jobs. Staffordshire Silent Gears is closing its plant at Red Bridge, Bolton, where 11 workers are employed. The firm make industrial gears and gearboxes.

50 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News, Jan 30, 1952

WHAT is to happen to the Chadwick Museum? Will it be opened this year, next year, sometime?

Counc. Lucas and other members expressed their concern about the place at yesterday's meeting of the Bolton Libraries Committee. Estimates for next year's expenditure were being discussed, and there was no amount included for opening the Museum. "It's Bolton's Museum," protested Counc Lucas. "The exhibits are deteriorating all the time. I have been approached by dozens of people who have asked me when it will be re-opened."

"I have been approached by people, too," said Counc. Dr Monks, chairman., "and they have said it would be suicide to open it in these times." The matter will be discussed further at the next meeting.

125 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News, January 30, 1877

AN addition is being made to the list of local county magistrates, by the insertion on the coveted roll of the names of J. Pilkington, Esq., Westhoughton, and C. Ainsworth, Esq., Horwich. Little Lever and Little Hulton have desired similar favours, but they have been passed by for the present.

The deputation from the cottage owners have waited upon the General Purposes Committee of the Corporation, and stated their case in favour of expunging several clauses in the proposed Improvement Bill which affect them. The Committee listened, but were not quite so ready to comply with the wishes of the deputation as they were in the case of the shopkeepers. They have taken time to consider, and rumour says they are not much inclined to abandon the clauses.

The resignation of Mr Beech, Chief Constable, has been tendered and accepted, and the oldest police officer retires on a superannuation allowance of £200 a year.