This Town Is Coming Like A Ghost Town...

[anewman]

OK simple question what would you like the council to do?

 

realistic answers only taking into account the global financial issues and the limits of what councils can actually do?

 

Lets see what the great minds of wanderers ways can come up with.

 

evict all foreigners for a start

[frank_spencer]

evict all foreigners for a start

I said within the limits of what councils can actually do.

[miamiwhite]

governments/authorities know the levels of fish stock yet can't locate hundreds of thousands of missing immigrants.............pathetic.

 

anyway,back to the topic,i wouldn't know where to start rectifying our problems,it's beyond repair sadly

[Breightmet Boy]

my conspiracy theory is that our dumb council planners aren't as thick and backwards as we think. they're actually forward thinking and biding their time,letting parts of the town rot,forcing traders to shut up shop,hence not having tothou thousands in compensation when the bigger scheme comes into operation and our great town is once again a great place to come to.

 

i'm also thinking that the shitbags parked up at the train station isn't just a moneymaking scheme but a long term plan to make Bolton town centre mainly pedestrianised. having said that,when the rebuild starts,i wonder if the same said wankers are taking pics all day of wagons unloading in those bays etc,somehow i doubt it.

 

end of rant/theory,but on a serious note,it would be nice if our fine town was restored and overshadowed neighbouring shitholes once again

 

That's pretty similar to what I said earlier and I got negative post, how come you ain't?

[no balls]

 

 

That's pretty similar to what I said earlier and I got negative post, how come you ain't?

Because Miami was taking the piss.

[Breightmet Boy]

 

I said within the limits of what councils can actually do.

 

We can though, we could stop using taxis and fast food outlets. We could also ask in shops if the meat is Halal or not. That's what I'd do to solve Anewmans question

[frank_spencer]

We can though, we could stop using taxis and fast food outlets. We could also ask in shops if the meat is Halal or not. That's what I'd do to solve Anewmans question

 

But thats not the council though is it BB.

 

personally i couldn't give a shit if someone is a foreigner as long as they contribute positively to society.

[Breightmet Boy]

Because Miami was taking the piss.

 

I bet I'm not the only one who agrees with Miami though. The best way to get the Hare & Hounds on Bury Road demolished is loosen a few tiles on the roof (just like that big pub in Horwich) and let it piss in rain, the council walk around and let them demolish it. The same will happen on Bradshawgate.

[Breightmet Boy]

 

 

But thats not the council though is it BB.

 

personally i couldn't give a shit if someone is a

foreigner as long as they contribute positively to society.

 

I never said it was Frank, I said "We can though"

[frank_spencer]

I bet I'm not the only one who agrees with Miami though. The best way to get the Hare & Hounds on Bury Road demolished is loosen a few tiles on the roof (just like that big pub in Horwich) and let it piss in rain, the council walk around and let them demolish it. The same will happen on Bradshawgate.

 

The H&H was due to be demolished to make way for a veterinary surgery but some spod reckons its a historically significant building so all work had to stop.

[Breightmet Boy]

 

 

The H&H was due to be demolished to make way for a veterinary surgery but some spod reckons its a historically significant building so all work had to stop.

 

To be fair it's a stone building with historical values as a coaching house for the Royal Mail, it's been neglected on purpose.

[Youri McAnespie]

So what would you do?

 

Which bridge? the one on newport street built to replace the one falling down under its own weight?

 

You're in a more unique position to know the full facts Frank (and put the right 'spin' on them? ) but, wasn't the arc added to the 'Gateway to Bolton' (whoever proposed this name is either thick or very sarcastic) as a strengthening measure to the collapsing bridge? There was a slight problem though, it (the arc) was so strong, and the bridge/road so weak - it prevented it collapsing, only to start pulling it upward?

 

This resulted in the road being closed for a further X amount of months to rectify this f*ck up - thus causing further deterioration of that area. When the road was closed, and no coppers ventured through, The Clifton Pub became a law unto itself, like a wild west saloon. Under-age drinking, scrapping and selling cheap booze at cheap prices, a lot of which was simply bought from Morrisons.

 

The arc is f*cking filthy and incongruous (like most of the new buildings and features in town, the Irwell Valley apartments are another example of a newly built eyesore), but cleaning it would probably run into tens of thousands, and the road being closed - great foresight there.

 

The 'interchange' is another farce, how many bus services use it? Not many - so the council/GMPTE have a great idea, move the stop for Manchester/Stockport bound buses there. This move depriving Farnworth/Great Lever bus wankers the choice of 'hedging their bets' ( the 22, 25, 36 and 68 stopped next to the stops for the 571, 572, 575 and 501 before the move).

 

I buy into the wilful neglect to rebuild, I mean who used the Market Hall? And look at it now, it's heaving every day, people can't get enough fish pedicures and freshly squeezed fruit juice. That coffee shop on the 'first floor' is doing so well they've dropped their prices to a £1 a drink, and kept a bohemian vibe by printing their own signs promoting this offer on A4 paper (coloured mind) all done on a PC. And to add to the 'high end' traders they've attracted, like; Zara, H+M and Starbucks - I believe there's also now a Greggs? The whole enterprise must be thriving, as they can afford to give over a couple of units over to Bolton School for an art exhibition.

 

Bolton council have a 'mill owner' mentality, the difference being, at least mill owners provided mass employment, not 'hanging around' venues for the unemployed masses.

Edited July 9, 2012 by Youri McAnespie

[Sweep]

 

 

You're in a more unique position to know the full facts Frank (and put the right 'spin' on them? ) but, wasn't the arc added to the 'Gateway to Bolton' (whoever proposed this name is either thick or very sarcastic) as a strengthening measure to the collapsing bridge? There was a slight problem though, it (the arc) was so strong, and the bridge/road so weak - it prevented it collapsing, only to start pulling it upward?

 

Surely that's just an urban myth, I can't see that being true surely

[frank_spencer]

It was a completely new bridge to replace the old one which was crumbling. due to current network rail rules there needed to be a certain amount of clearance above the rails (to allow for electrification) which meant the support for the bridge needed to be above the bridge deck rather than below.

Other than an unsightly cage bridge a single arch bridge was chosen as the cheapest (cheapest not the best IMO)

if you look at the google maps aerial photo you can see the bridge in construction.

The name came from some numpty from the Marketing department. once the new bus station opens newport street will be 2 way IIRC

 

The problem was with one of the bearing plates for the new bridge it was only a matter of millimeters so the bridge was opened but work still needed doing and the corner with the issue had weight added whilst the argued it out..

The contractors said the bearing must've been manufactured incorrectly or designed wrong

the designers said it must've been manufactured incorrectly or installed wrong

the manufacturers said it must've been installed incorrectly or designed wrong

No idea how it got sorted.

 

As a bury dweller i would like to say the new Rock development whilst nice is half empty, and most of the units that are taken have resulted in empty units in the rest of the town. meaning the Millgate has given the old superdrug unit to Holy Cross College (i think if not its bury college) for their art exhibition.

[Youri McAnespie]

As a bury dweller i would like to say the new Rock development whilst nice is half empty, and most of the units that are taken have resulted in empty units in the rest of the town. meaning the Millgate has given the old superdrug unit to Holy Cross College (i think if not its bury college) for their art exhibition.

 

Difference being, I can imagine Bury council doing something to rectify this (Millgate). How long has The Water Place been demolished now? The Odeon? The Tanning Salon/Golf Shop building on Bradshawgate? Clarendon Street School? How long will the old Bolton College be a bombsite?

 

That covers the council's incompetence and dithering, now for the venality and nepotism - how many youngsters, who get taken on by the council for jobs and apprenticeships, don't have a family member already working there? Not many...

 

I've an acquaintance who's 'daddy' works in the housing department (not as an underling either) - whenever one of ******'s friends have a need for a council house, he/she* has a word and, as if by magic, they suddenly seem to move up the priority list.

 

It stinks, and as I said earlier in the thread - even corrupt/incompetent f*ckers in other local governance regard Bolton's as piss-takers.

 

 

* To preserve anonymity, they're not a ladyboy

Edited July 8, 2012 by Youri McAnespie

[frank_spencer]

the thing is there are plans in place the problem is finding the private sector funding for them.

 

Morrisons are buying the old waterplace site it was set aside for the courts service to build a new magistrates court but they're now not building it.

Cliff morris didnt want to sell to morrisons but he's finally been persuaded to do it.

 

the Odeon is owned by a developer who demolished the old cinema, started work and then dissapeared into the ether, the council is currently going through legal wranglings to get it back for use as part of a strategy for improving the market once the bus station moves.

 

The old college site is huge and is earmarked for housing development.

 

No idea whats going on with the old prontaprint site now it's part of the regeneration of Shiffnall street area which was mothballed when a big wedge of government and EU funding was withdrawn by the coalition.

 

Bolton's housing department isn't part of the council it's a private company.

[Youri McAnespie]

...Bolton's housing department isn't part of the council it's a private company.

 

They all p*ss in the same pot...I do know the man in question (the father of the person who, after a word with Dad, got a home for many a mate) is a Councillor.

 

And to point to the private sector is a cop-out. The council are in a unique position to influence any private developments. How many small businesses (Cattle Market being the latest to go) have shut-up shop, with huge rates levels often cited as being a major factor. They probably give massive chains, like Zara or Starbucks, incentives.

 

I notice no comment regarding the nepotism shown in recruitment/apprenticeships - which brings a whole new meaning to the term 'The Bolton Family'. A mate of my nephew, a very bright lad, yet does the bare minimum at school. My sister enquired why he was so 'laid back' regarding his GCSEs etc. and he was quite open about it - he only did the minimum as it was a foregone conclusion, he was joining the 'family business' (obviously he didn't use this term, but his mum, dad, uncle and elder sister all work for the council).

Edited July 8, 2012 by Youri McAnespie

[Guest]

They all p*ss in the same pot...I do know the man in question (the father of the person who, after a word with Dad, got a home for many a mate) is a Councillor.

 

And to point to the private sector is a cop-out. The council are in a unique position to influence any private developments. How many small businesses (Cattle Market being the latest to go) have shut-up shop, with huge rates levels often cited as being a major factor. They probably give massive chains like Zara or Starbucks incentives.

 

I notice no comment regarding the nepotism shown in recruitment/apprenticeships - which brings a whole new meaning to the term 'The Bolton Family'. A mate of my nephew, a very bright lad, yet does the bare minimum at school. My sister enquired why he was so 'laid back' regarding his GCSEs etc. and he was quite open about it - he only did the minimum as it was a foregone conclusion, he was joining the 'family business' (obviously he didn't use this term, but his mum, dad, uncle and elder sister all work for the council).

 

 

How very sad that our education system instills such little ambition.

 

Well done, Ann Taylor

[THunter]

How very sad that our education system instills such little ambition.

 

Well done, Ann Taylor

Thumbs up to Peter Thurnham too.

[Guest]

Thumbs up to Peter Thurnham too.

 

 

How was he responsible?

[no balls]

Thumbs up to Peter Thurnham too.

And Len Fairclough!

 

 

 

 

 

Sorry but it was there for the taking.

[jayjayoghani]

the thing is there are plans in place the problem is finding the private sector funding for them.

 

Morrisons are buying the old waterplace site it was set aside for the courts service to build a new magistrates court but they're now not building it.

Cliff morris didnt want to sell to morrisons but he's finally been persuaded to do it.

 

the Odeon is owned by a developer who demolished the old cinema, started work and then dissapeared into the ether, the council is currently going through legal wranglings to get it back for use as part of a strategy for improving the market once the bus station moves.

 

The old college site is huge and is earmarked for housing development.

 

No idea whats going on with the old prontaprint site now it's part of the regeneration of Shiffnall street area which was mothballed when a big wedge of government and EU funding was withdrawn by the coalition.

 

Bolton's housing department isn't part of the council it's a private company.

 

might be why the odeon site is up for sale atm

 

http://www.simply-residential.co.uk/propertydet.asp?id=lemans&propind=S

[Youri McAnespie]

And Len Fairclough!

 

I've often wondered how he got that gig...

 

'Baths' Manager: "So you're a successful actor in the most popular programme on television"

 

Len: "Yes, I suppose that's true..."

 

'Baths' Manager: "But you want to make room in your busy filming schedule, to help teach young girls how to swim?"

 

Len: "That's correct."

 

'Baths' Manager: "May I enquire... Why?"

 

Len: "Ermmm....I was in the Navy."

 

'Baths' Manager: "Welcome Aboard! When can you start? This Friday?"

Edited July 8, 2012 by Youri McAnespie

[Ghana White]

Being councillor is a right jobs for the boys money making scheme.. there's posts on committees that only they can apeopley for and they come with a sizeable wage and f all responsibility.. join enough of these committees and get enough back handers and your doing very nicely.. in Westhoughton there use to be three Co-ops and no supermarket worthy of the name. Rumour has it Co-ops monopoly was due to back handers.. allegedly.. obviously there are people who do a decent job and work hard but I know a couple of councillors who I wouldn't let decide what I have dinner yet have made a nice living out of running a town down... allegedly

[miamiwhite]

Being councillor is a right jobs for the boys money making scheme.. there's posts on committees that only they can apeopley for and they come with a sizeable wage and f all responsibility.. join enough of these committees and get enough back handers and your doing very nicely.. in Westhoughton there use to be three Co-ops and no supermarket worthy of the name. Rumour has it Co-ops monopoly was due to back handers.. allegedly.. obviously there are people who do a decent job and work hard but I know a couple of councillors who I wouldn't let decide what I have dinner yet have made a nice living out of running a town down... allegedly

 

there's more backhanders going on than in a Bruce Lee film.

 

always has and always will be a 'job for the boys'

 

i know a few builders who've 'won' big contracts with the council,not on their ability and reputation,but just for being ITK and paying the appropriate 'bung'