Tory chair denies, then admits to, plan to change Westhoughton Town Hall facade

Bolton Council’s proposals to change the ground floor windows

The Tories have tried to deny and then admitted that they have proposals to alter the red-brick facade of Westhoughton’s historic town hall.

A plan to change the town hall’s facade was approved by a Tory cabinet member several weeks ago.

More than 1,000 people have signed a Liberal Democrat petition calling on the Tories to halt their plans to vandalise the 120-year-old building and to create more community space.

Westhoughton Tory councillor Andrea Finney, who is chairman of the Westhoughton town centre steering group, initially told her Facebook followers that it was “untrue” that there was a plan to change the ground floor windows, even though one had already been approved by one of her own leaders.

Now it seems she accepts there is a plan after all…

Just hours later, the Tory councillor’s bold claim unravelled when residents grilled her.

She told them that the public would be “informed” of changes to the building as it would require planning permission. She said: “These are proposals as it says.. any alterations of this kind would need to go to planning for approval”.

The startling obfuscating and admission will further anger residents who already feel they are being misled by the Tories.

Westhoughton town councillor Arthur Price said: “Residents are up in arms about these plans. The Tories need to listen to these concerns. It’s not too late to change course.”

A vote for the Liberal Democrats on Thursday 4 May will put more pressure on the Tories to listen to the people of Westhoughton.