Bolton Council is to spend £725,000 on improving 15 key routes, including the upgrade of dozens of street signs. The council said the purpose of the improvement schemes was to ‘connect neighbourhoods to our town centres and help create a distinctive destination for shoppers, residents and visitors as well as a well-connected environment which generates confidence in our borough’, reports the Manchester Evening News.

Last week the council approved the locations for the works which has caused some negative feedback from from representatives of areas of the borough which have missed out on funding. The Farnworth and Kearsley First party (F&KF) has ‘called in’ the decision on which areas were selected, as no routes will be enhanced in a large area of the south of the borough.

Coun Paul Sanders, said: “Bolton Labour council has decided that Kearsley and Farnworth will receive nothing from a £725,000 pot for making-over and improving borough ‘radial routes and smaller high streets’.

“Farnworth and Kearsley First has called in this unfair and flawed decision for wider scrutiny. “We await feedback from the chief executive of Bolton Council.

“In the cabinet member meeting, F&KF Coun Paula Connor-Bennett, was able to note the lack of any consultation, and highlighted Manchester Road and Bolton Road in Kearsley, and Egerton Street, Bradford Road and Albert Road in Farnworth for attention.

“But these routes, among others in the south of the borough, were all completely dismissed for any investment by the council.”

The decision to spend the money said that due to budget limitations, there are no arrangements in place for ongoing maintenance such as watering, feeding, weeding of all new floral features beyond initial planting.

(Picture: Mapillary)