Horwich Advertiser Issue 640

August2026 Page5 2 IN BRIEF THE ‘Two Lads’ cairns on Winter Hill are to be taken down and rebuilt this summer to make them safer and deter further vandalism. The Woodland Trust says that after they are dismantled there will be a community archaeological dig in August, then they will be rebuilt with the help of a dry stone waller and local volunteers. A CELEBRATION was held at Bolton Wanderers’ Toughsheet Stadium in Middlebrook to mark the completion of this year’s ‘Mini Police’ initiative in the borough. A total of 90 local children took part in the Greater Manchester Police scheme, undertaking a range of activities including traffic operations. ORGANISERShave declared thisyear’s BlackrodScarecrow Festivalabighit. Theannualevent onceagainattracted ahostofentrants andvisitors. ELL RECYCLED NITURE AND RNISHINGS L AT VERY ETITIVE PRICES ATE YOUR GOODS RRANGE A FREE ECTION CALL 4 398056 Opening Times: Monday-Friday 9.00am - 5pm Saturday 10am - 4pm BARRACKS, FLETCHER STREET, BOLTON BL3 6NF mmaus-bolton.org.uk • info@emmausbolton.org.uk GARDEN CENTRE Come along for all your bedding plants and more! owards a hood plan The establishment of the working group is being led by town coun- cillorMartinTighe. Speaking after the council meeting that decided to set up the group, town councillor David Wilkinson said: “Wearegoing tocreatea neighbourhood plan for Westhoughton to help addressmanyof the local issueswearefacing. “I’m pleased to have approved this with Westhoughton Town Council colleagues,work- ing on a cross-party, non-politicalbasis. “We will be involving residents, business and community groups when theworkgetsunderway.” overnment shake-up axes councils Lancashire County Council will also dis- appear following the decision, subject to Par- liamentary approval, whichhasbeendescribed as the biggest change in localgovernment inmore than 50 years. The changes will see thesenewunitary coun- cils take responsibility for all local services in their areas. The cur- rent 15 councils in Lan- cashire will be cut to just four. The government has confirmed thatelections to thenewshadowcoun- cils will take place in May 2027. AlistairBradley, leader of Chorley Council said: “We’re really pleased that government has made this decision. It’s the right outcome for Lancashire,which iswhy we were committed to driving the ‘FourLanca- shire’ proposal forward. “We want the abso- lute best for the resi- dents of Chorley and this outcome I believe willallowus to continue to provide excellent ser- vices and see growth for the Chorley area along with our neigh- bours who will make up the newly formed South Lancashire.” In2024arequest from Horwich Town Council for a review to decide which borough it should sit in was turned down by the government. The council had sub- mitted “multipleoptions” for change – including a move which would have seen Horwich, Blackrod and Westhoughton quit Boltonandcome together withneighbouringChor- ley and South Ribble to create a new borough. Search is on for school’s ex-pupils A CALL has gone out for former pupils of Rivington and Black- rod Grammar School to get back in touch with theiroldpals. It is being made by organisers of a special 60-yearreunion forpeople who attended the school between1966and1973. The big event is planned for September 5 at Curley’s Dining Room in Horwich with people alreadysettotravel from across the UK and from as farafieldas theUSA. Nowoneoftheorganis- ers, Karen Feay, is look- ing formoreoldboysand girlstoget intouchand is askingourreaderstohelp her in thesearch. Karen,whosesurname atschoolwasYates,said: “Myselfanda friendhave been trying to contact ex pupils of Rivington and Blackrod Grammar School who attended between1966 to1973. “Considering the time frame and our ages we have done quite well managingto findaround 40 people but have now come toadeadend. “It has taken us a cou- ple of years and a lot of detectivework toget this far but we really would like to findmore. “The friendships that havebeen re-kindledare now quite special and people relatively close to Horwich, Blackrod, Westhoughton, Chorley and Cheshire meet up occasionally for lunches, walksandsocialevents.” If you are a former pupil, or if you know someone who is, get in touch with us by email- ing ged@henderson newsandmedia.com and we’ll put you in contact withKaren. Get-together:Someoftheformergrammarschool pupilsatanearliergathering (Photocredit:KarenFeay)