NEW lampposts to "beautify" a main road into Bolton have cost £50,000.

They have been put up along Deane Road and have been funded by the 3Ds initiative to re-vitalise the Deane, Derby and Daubhill areas.

But a Tory councillor believes that the money could have been better spent. Cllr John Walsh said: "There are roads in Bolton which do not have any street lights at all.

"I do feel that money should be spent on projects which are more beneficial to a wider area."

Another £16,000 is to be spent on banners and panels which will be put on the lampposts with designs from local schoolchildren.

But Labour Cllr Jack Foster, vice chairman of Bolton's 3Ds partnership forum, said: "Cllr Walsh was on the same committee as me when the decision was made to go ahead with this, but he is now seeking to make political capital out of it.

"The work is part of our radial routes initiative to beautify the main roads into town." He explained that there was also work going on to revitalise property in the area.

A "fast-track" bus lane is also being created along Wigan Road to encourage more people to leave their cars at home.

There are also plans to put barriers across three side roads to stop traffic coming out onto Deane Road and into the new bus lane.

These will have art features on them designed by children at local primary schools.

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