Every town across Bolton has a landmark that local residents are passionate about, Blackrod has it’s Church Tower, Horwich has it’s Railway Heritage and Westhoughton has it’s iconic Town Hall.

Built in 1903, using terracotta bricks which were said to withstand the effects of smoke and grime from local industries, Westhoughton Town Hall’s magnificent structure has been the home of local democracy for over a hundred years and has become the symbol of a proud town built on honest hard work.

Westhoughton Town Hall is now home to dozens of community services and organisations but sadly their existence could be in the balance as part of the striking building which has its impressive front entrance situated on Market Street and houses the offices and Council Chamber could be sold off as part of the Regeneration Plans for Westhoughton as put on the table by local Tories and their coalition partners the Liberal Democrats on Bolton Council (which is Tory-led with the support and collaboration of Westhoughton Lib Dem councillors) and is giving mixed messages around the future of the iconic Town Hall, which could lead to the sell off Westhougton’s historic local hub.

Rumours are already gathering and concerned residents are speaking out on Social Media asking for clarity and that Bolton Council, “Leave the Town Hall for the people of Westhougton it is ours not Bolton’s. This should not be allowed.”

Mike Jarvis, Labour’s candidate for Westhoughton South in next May’s local elections is launching a campaign to Save Westhoughton Town Hall, said, “So many groups and organisations use the Town Hall and it is crucial that those in charge give clarity and assurance over the future of the building.

I am therefore launching a community-led campaign to save the Town Hall and protect what is not only a historic hub of Westhoughton but a building which allows local people to access such a range of vital services.

As a NHS worker, I know that this period of COVID-19 is not the time to sell off the family silver and that vital services need to be protected for when we can return to a normal state of affairs. If you value this building please join me in signing the petition and supporting the campaign.”

Westhoughton’s Labour team has launched a petition to save the local Town Hall and is calling on the council to halt any plans to sell the building off.

Sign up here to support Westhoughton Labour’s petition to prevent the Town Hall being sold. The petition can be signed by clicking on the following link: https://www.boltonlabour.org.uk/save-westhoughton-town-hall/