THE new Mayor of Westhoughton has proposed a scheme to give people in the town more power.

Cllr Bernard Ramsden wants to introduce a community forum which would give residents a chance to have their say in how the town was run.

Cllr Ramsden said: "A community committee is there to achieve things for the community.

"It would be ideal for dealing with Westhoughton issues such as closing of the police station or the drugs problem."

He would like to see a committee formed with money to spend and real devolved powers to put schemes into practice.

The committee would be run by ordinary people with local councillors there only as an interested group.

Fellow town councillors backed the idea but warned it may be difficult to set up.

Cllr Linda Thomas said a similar scheme in Halliwell had been established with European funding but only because it had been declared an area of deprivation.

Cllr Brian Clare said he wanted the proposal clarified and put to the town council in writing before it could be discussed properly. Thanks Kath, you did a great job

OUT-going Westhoughton mayor Cllr Kath Dawson was thanked by councillors for her work during her year representing the town.

Cllr Dawson has raised nearly £5,500 - and expects the total to grow - for her two mayoral charities McMillan Nurses and Children With Liver Disease.

Cllr Dawson will officially hand over her title to Cllr Ramsden on Monday.

The town mayor's parade will take place on Sunday, May 17 - meeting at 2.30pm at Greenfields Private Members Club with a service at St Bartholomew's Parish Church at 3pm followed by a town centre parade.

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