BOLTON Council looks set to make a dramatic U-turn and keep the town's industrial heritage after a huge public outcry.

Bolton's Labour group will meet tonight and high on the agenda will be the controversial plan to loan historic textile machines - including Crompton's famous Mule - to two separate museums out of town for at least five years.

Council leader Bob Howarth said today: "Numerous members of the council have spoken to me about this matter and strong opinions have been expressed about the decision taken earlier this month. "Having given a great deal of thought to this issue, we have decided to refer the matter to the Labour group meeting for further consideration."

This latest twist in the saga surrounding Bolton Museum's collection of textile machinery could now result in a temporary home being found locally and a more permanent base being established.

It is now expected that the Labour group will vote to put the matter back into the next cycle of committee meetings for reconsideration.

Cllr Howarth said: "The museum service has argued that there's nowhere suitable for these machines to go on public display.

"Yet we ought to be able to find somewhere locally as these machines represent an important part of this town's heritage.

"In the long term I would hope to see the machines on display in the Smithills Hall and Park development.

"I understand why councillors agreed to the loan as there's obviously concern about their storage and the effect it is having on these machines but I really feel this is a corporate matter and one which seriously needs to be reconsidered."

The decision to loan the machinery, including Samuel Crompton's spinning mule, James Hargreaves' spinning jenny and parts of Richard Arkwright's water frame, was taken earlier this month.

There was an outcry among many local organisations and individuals.

Last week steeplejack Fred Dibnah, an avid collector of antiquities and engines, urged the council to reconsider its decision.

After the latest news Fred said last night:"Obviously I'm very pleased to hear about this, as many others in this town will be too.

"Surely in a town the size of Bolton a place can be found where these machines can go on public display.

"There's too much stuff gone out of this town to places up and down England. There will come a time when there's nothing left." The chairman of Bolton and District Family History Society, Bill Sheppard, today hailed the council's actions as "a victory for commonsense".

He said: "Obviously I'm delighted by this news, it is only right that all efforts should be made to find somewhere n Bolton where these machines can be properly displayed - it is after all where they belong."

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