Horwich Advertiser Issue 641

Page 2 November 2026 AD SALES 01204 478812 IN BRIEF COME AND JOIN US ● Cont frompage one He added: “Beyond plan- ning protection, bringing these neighbourhoods into the parish provides immediate, tangible returns for residents. “Town and parish councils are the most hyper-local, cost-effective tier of governance, with over 90 per cent of their budgets going directly into frontline services, community assets, and hyper-local projects HORWICH RMI Cricket Club’s firework display will take place on Sunday November 1. Gates will open at 6pm with tickets on sale priced £5 for adults, £3 for children and family tickets available priced £12. The night is the club’s biggest fundraiser of the year. TWO of Chorley’s popular annual events have been shortlisted for prestigious Lancashire Tourism Awards, which recognise excellence across the sector. Chorley has been named a finalist in the large event award, while the town’s 10K and 2K Family Run is a finalist in the small event category. MORE than 500 vehicles were seized by Greater Manchester Police this summer as part of a crackdown on the anti-social and illegal use of off-road bikes, e-bikes, e-scooters, quad bikes and motorcycles across the region. Police say that in some cases, the anti-social and dangerous use of these vehicles resulted in serious injuries and fatal collisions. ILLEGAL vapes and drugs valued at almost £350,000 have been seized as part of continued work to tackle counterfeit goods and drug supply in Bolton. Police and trad- ing standards officers swooped on two prem- ises following intelligence they were involved in the supply of counter- feit goods. It was the latest in a number of operations aimed at taking counter- feit goods and drugs off the streets of the borough. Greater Manches- ter Police (GMP) say more than 25,000 sin- gle use vapes with a street value estimated at £12,700 were seized, along with 3,500 bottles of vape liquid. They also discovered 500 bottles of suspected cannabis oil, valued at around £25,000, along with 100kg of CBD powder, estimated to be worth £60,000. The total amount of seizures across both premises has been valued at just over £349,700. In a statement follow- ing the operation GMP said: “This joint operation resulted in the arrest of one man, aged 45, on sus- picion of being concerned in the supply of class B drugs. He has since been released on bail, pending further enquiries.” Inspector Wayne Warner, from GMP’s Bolton Neighbourhood Team, said: “This oper- ation has secured thou- sands of pounds worth of counterfeit products that cause significant harm to our vulnera- ble communities. “The supply of ille- gal drugs fuels vio- lence, exploitation and anti-social behaviour, and unregulated vapes can pose serious risks to health when in the wrong hands.” In an earlier operation, OUT OF HARM’S WAY Raids seize vapes and drugs worth £350,000 Haul: Some of the items seized during the raids (Photo credit: GMP) police and trading stand- ards officer found illegal vapes, illicit cigarettes and tobacco, along with counterfeit toys during raids on several shops in Bolton. The teams visited eight premises, includ- ing vape shops in and around the town centre. A detection dog was on hand to help find hidden compartments conceal- ing illegal commodities. In one premises a large concealment filled with illicit cigarettes was dis- covered behind a wall. ELECTRICIAN - CALL TREVOR 07851 167678 Small Works Carried Out All Works Fully Insured & Guaranteed Inspection & Testing ✉ Fuseboard Upgrades Landlord Certificates ✉ EV Chargers HEI LTD Electrical Contractors Holt Electrical Installations Ltd Local Family Business Est. 2004 CALL TODAY FOR A NO OBLIGATION QUOTE Trevor: 0785 116 7678 Mark: 0759 011 1882 10% OFF FOR NEW CUSTOMERS Quote: Advertiser info@holt-elec.com or visit www.holt-elec.com No part of this publicationmay be used or reproduced without the express permission of the publisher. Every effort is made to ensure that the articles and advertisements that are carried are authentic, however the publisher accepts no responsibility for claims made. © Investors in Publishing Ltd 2026. This newspaper is publishedmonthly by Investors in Publishing, Publishing House, 3 Bridgebank Industrial Estate,Taylor Street, Horwich, Bolton BL6 7PD. Tel. 01204 478812 EDITOR Ged Henderson: ged@hendersonnewsandmedia.com ADVERTISING Jayne Meadowcroft: 01204 478812 or 07703 045189 jayne@independentnewspapers.co.uk CLASSIFIEDS Teresa Bond: 01204 478812 teresa@independentnewspapers.co.uk CONTACT US rather than administra- tive overheads.” Supporters of the boundary extension plan say people living on the new develop- ments will gain direct access to town council grant funding for local volunteer groups, sports teams, youth initiatives, and charities. They say those residents will also benefit from enhanced local services such as targeted winter grit- ting, maintenance of community facilities and support for cleaner public spaces, as well as the protection of green spaces, along with Horwich’s “vibrant town identity.” Cllr Grant said: “Local government works best when it is truly local. Regularising this bound- ary isn’t about draw- ing lines on a map; it’s about fairness.” If Bolton Council agrees to the review there will be a public consultation exercise before any decision on boundary changes is made. No timescale has been put on the process. Cash boost for community centre BLACKROD Sports and Community Centre (BSACC) has secured £16,800 to deliver the next phase of its Economic InactivityTrailblazer Programme. This latest investment will enable the centre to continue helping local peo- ple overcome barriers to employment, education and training by building con- fidence, developing essential skills and creating newopportunities. Its first Trailblazer programme ear- lier this year supported 22 people with those taking part progressing towards volunteering, further learning and employment. The centre says the new programme will help another 14 people. It includes digital and practical life skills, confidence building and personal development. DavidHolden-Locke, chief executiveof Blackrod Sports and Community Centre, said: “Securing a further £16,800 is fan- tastic news for Blackrod and another important vote of confidence in the work we are delivering at our commu- nity centre.” PLANS to build a new cycle pump track at Old Station Park in Horwich have been given the green-light. Bolton Council has agreed funding of around £170,000 to enable the project to go ahead, with an extra £30,000 of contin- gency money. The local authority is now looking to appoint a contractor to carry out the construction work. The cycle track, which will also include covered seating and graffiti pan- els, will be built at the Chorley New Road end of Old Station Park. The planned site is a grassy area next to Drinkwater Go-ahead for cycle track Lane and the existing 34 football pitch. A report to Bolton councillors, seeking approval for the scheme, said: “The proposal would be for an open access facility designed to suit all ages, children and adults, who can ride a bike, skateboard or scooter.” The funding for the track is being made available from the coun- cil’s Section 106 money – paid by developers for works to improve areas as part of the condi- tions for certain plan- ning projects.