Reclamation plan for Cutacre site

THE face of Bolton could be transformed if proposals contained in the area's new Borough Plan are carried out over the next 15 years. Bolton is the only one of Greater Manchester's 10 districts to have undertaken its own "blueprint". It forecasts a population increase of about 23,000 over the decade and a half, which will mean finding 2,000 acres of land for housing. However, two controversial sites which were to have been included, Rumworth Lodge and a 30-acre site at Eagley, between Turton Road and the main Blackburn-Bolton railway line, have been dropped.

The plan also places great emphasis on the environment. By 1991, provided current work schedules are maintained, the area's 1,200 acres of derelict land will have been reclaimed - including the Cutacre tip at Westhoughton, which is the biggest coal tip in Britain.

50 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News,

July 4, 1951

MANY Boltonians travel out of the town each day to work in the pits, but because they do not return home with black clothing and pit-soiled clothing, they are not always recognised as miners.

The sight of a black-faced miner may be even rarer when the National Coal Board's scheme for pit-head baths at all collieries is completed.

Today was the scheduled day for starting the erection of the new pit-head baths at the Wheatsheaf Colliery, Pendlebury. A start will be made in October to the baths at Deane Colliery, and work is proceeding steadily on the new baths at Brackley Colliery.

125 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News,

July 4, 1876

AT the Borough Court on Saturday, Walter Hilton and Sarah Hilton, his wife, of 11 Back Rothwell-street, were charged with assaulting their daughter, Alice Ann Hilton, on Monday week. The child will be ten years of age next month, and has been working some time at the mill. On Monday last she missed attending at the mill, and did not reach home until half-past ten o'clock. The mother used the strap pretty freely on the child for this conduct, and the father shortly afterwards returning home repeated the dose.

Several of the neighbours proved that the female defendant was in the constant habit of severely beating the child, and that extraordinary severity was used on Monday night. The cries of the child aroused the whole neighbourhood, and a breach of the peace was caused.

The child stated that a strap was kept in the corner to beat her with, and bared her arm, which had black marks on it. The defendants maintained that no undue severity had been used, and attributed the charge to malice on the part of their neighbours.

The Bench strongly commented on the conduct of the defendants, and imposed a fine of 5s and costs on the male defendant, and 10s and costs on the other defendant. The defendants were also charged with a breach of the peace, but this was withdrawn.