Latest news from Bolton Council including updates on our response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Next step out of lockdown: Bolton urged to ‘keep up the good work’
Bolton residents have been asked to follow basic precautions and keep journeys to a minimum ahead of the latest phase in the easing of lockdown restrictions.
In line with the government’s Roadmap out of Lockdown’ the following rules will apply from Monday, March 29.
- Up to six people, or two households, can meet outdoors either in public or in a private garden
- The ‘stay at home’ rule will change to ‘stay local’, but some restrictions will remain – people should work from home where possible and keep journeys to a minimum
- Foreign holidays will still not be permitted
- Outdoor sports facilities can reopen, and formally organised outdoor sports may resume
In line with the government’s plan, all children returned to school from March 8.
Further steps are planned in April and May with an eventual aim of lifting all restrictions no sooner than June 21, providing certain criteria are met.
Travel safely from March 29
Everyone should follow the Government’s guidance on how to travel safely:
- No matter how you travel, you should plan ahead, and avoid busy times and routes where possible.
- Walk or cycle where possible.
- If using public transport, you should regularly sanitise your hands, wear a face covering unless you are exempt, and keep your distance where possible.
- It is a legal requirement that, unless exempt, you must wear a face covering on public transport and inside transport hubs, e.g. train stations. You could be fined £200 minimum if you do not comply.
- If travelling by car, you should avoid sharing a car with anyone outside of your household or support bubble. If this isn’t possible, you should open the windows, wear a face covering unless exempt, and leave seats free to social distance.
Bolton News Lockdown Awards - Wednesday March 31- details of how to join the event
The awards ceremony is taking place next week, and we as a council have supported it and will be presenting the final award of the evening, the Outstanding Contribution Award. The event will be compared by TV Doctor, Dr Hillary Jones and will celebrate many fantastic local people.
Join the live event starting at 7pm.
Night of Prayer for Bolton – Monday March 29 – 7pm
Bolton Christian Community Cohesion Group is holding an online event, Night of Prayer for Bolton on Monday March 29 at 7pm via Zoom.
To join the meeting from 6.55pm on the night:
Meeting ID: 879 6364 6743
Passcode: 972221
Greater Manchester Suicide Bereavement Information Service is joining Greater Manchester Bereavement Service
From April 1 2021, Greater Manchester Suicide Bereavement Information Service is merging with Greater Manchester Bereavement Service. The joined-up service, delivered by Six Degrees Social Enterprise, will now only be known as Greater Manchester Bereavement Service.
Greater Manchester Bereavement Service offers support for people who have been bereaved or affected by a death, no matter the cause of death or how long it’s been. The Service has dedicated suicide bereavement practitioners to ensure that those bereaved or affected by suicide can speak to someone who will have a greater understanding of what they may be going through and help them access appropriate support.
The service also provides support for professionals or those seeking advice for others.
Please update your records as the old telephone number for Greater Manchester Suicide Bereavement Information Service will not be in use from April 1 2021.
Call 0161 983 0902 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm) or visit the website.
Bolton’s Fund Climate Change Promoting Sustainability - deadline extended to Wednesday March 31 2021, 5.00pm
The aim of this funding round is to support projects that will help people and communities in Bolton contribute to making the borough more resilient to climate change.
Projects funded must achieve one or more of the following priorities;
- Improved awareness around climate change issues,
- More people reducing and re-using resources, Improvements to local habitats to prevent biodiversity loss, and/or more people connecting with the environment.
- Projects that foster community action in relation to the above priorities are particularly welcome. For further information, click here.
New homes set to be built in Bolton as part of the £41m boost for Brownfield development
Town centre land once occupied by Moor Lane bus station will be transformed for housing.
Brownfield land across Greater Manchester is set to be converted into sites for more than 2,700 new homes, as part of the second phase of a £97m development fund.
At a meeting of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) next Friday 26 March, leaders will be asked to approve an allocation of £41m to develop a further 21 brownfield sites across the city-region.
Reminder to self-isolate if necessary and financial support available
Residents are reminded that they must self-isolate if they positive for the virus or have been contacted by NHS Test and Trace.
Anyone who has to self-isolate could qualify for a £500 support payment if they cannot work and face a loss of income.
Find out more about who is eligible
Bolton Food and Drink Festival set to return this summer
After going ‘viral’ with an online event in 2020, Bolton Council is to bring back its hugely successful annual food and drink festival this summer.
Have your say about enhanced cycle lanes in Bolton
There have been modifications to some cycle lanes in Bolton on some key corridors which were identified through the successful #SafeStreetsSaveLives public consultation.
Bolton Council is now reopening the conversation to give residents and businesses the opportunity to comment on the scheme.
Bolton drives forward with electric vehicle charger expansion
Bolton is making progress with improvements to green transport by installing a new ‘rapid’ electric vehicle (EV) charging point as part of Greater Manchester’s publicly owned network.
Public to shape Health Centre plans in Horwich – consultation ends this Sunday March 28
Residents are being urged to have their say in Horwich on proposed plans to bring forward the development of a new Health and Wellbeing Hub with a circa 170-space car park next to the New Leisure Centre, on Victoria Road in the Town Centre.