Horwich Advertiser Issue 631

Page 12 January 2026 AD SALES 01204 478812 The road to completion goes on THE long-awaited opening of the Hor- wich Loco Works spine road may finally take place this year. Bolton West MP Phil Brickell says there “remains optimism” that 2026 will see completion of the project, which began life back in 2018. The access road, part of the major Rivington Chase development on the old Loco Works site, which will create 1,700 homes, was to have opened last spring. However, work stopped after a land agreement expired and it is not known when it will now be completed and open to traffic. The £19million road will link the 150-acre site with the Middlebrook Retail Park, Horwich Parkway railway station and the M61. And it is hoped that the 1km link road will reduce road congestion locally, particularly on the Beehive roundabout. Mr Brickell made his comments after a me e t i ng w it h Novo-Blumantle, the lead developer and Bolton Council representatives. He said: “My position remains clear. This road must move forward as quickly as possible. Con- gestion in Horwich is not acceptable, and every effort continues to be made to reduce it.” He added: “Work is continuing in close pa r tner sh ip w ith Novo-Blumantle to bring forward all council-owned land for development. “There are currently live planning applications for the creation of an open space and car park, alongside planning per- mission for additional homes by Bellway and Homes England.” Bellway has lodged plans with Bolton Coun- cil for 458 homes. Spread across two phases, the projects are the latest to come forward within the £262m, 1,700- home masterplan. The company already has consent for more than 400 homes on vari- ous sites within the Riv- ington Chase area. PIT DISASTER VICTIMS ARE REMEMBERED WESTHOUGHTON came together once again to remember the victims of the Pretoria Pit disaster, 115 years after the day that brought grief to so many fam- ilies in the area. Every year the town remem- bers the 344 men and boys who lost their lives in the underground explosion which left families across the district devastated. A number of services were held, starting with a morning gathering at the kneeling miner memorial in Ditchfield Gardens on Market Street. After a hymn and prayers, led by the Reverend Carol Pharoah, there was a poignant detonation of maroons at 7.50am, the precise time of the explosion. Around 30 people gathered in the darkness of Ditchfield Gar- dens by the memorial to mark the anniversary of the disaster on December 21, 1910. Dennis Rothwell, a former pit- man, placed a miner’s lamp and a candle in front of the memorial. The mayor of Westhoughton, Gillian Wroe, tied a black scarf around the neck of the kneeling miner and laid a wreath. Bolton West MP Phil Brickell laid a second wreath followed by the representative from the West- houghton History Society. Councillor Wroe said: “This dark day in the history of our town is commemorated each year as a reminder of the terrible loss of life that day and the repercus- sions of it down the generations of the families and communi- ties affected.” A day later a second service of remembrance was held at St Bartholomew’s Church, followed by another wreath laying cer- emony at the memorial in the church yard. Relatives of some of the victims of the explosion attended, along- side civic dignitaries, including the Lord-Lieutenant of Greater Manchester Diane Hawkins. Coun Wroe said: “The poignant and moving service included Bible readings beautifully read by Ellie and Charlie, head girl and boy from Westhoughton High School and ‘The Pretoria Pit Song’, by the Houghton Weavers, performed acapella by Jane Torrance. That was a spine-tingling moment.” Poignant: The services to remember the victims of the disaster (Photo credit: Westhoughton Town Council)