TOWN leaders are revealing what could be in store for residents as multi-million pound regeneration plans are put to the public.

Towns across Bolton are chasing millions of pounds to turn their regeneration ideas into reality. Westhoughton, Horwich, Farnworth and Little Lever will all receive a share of a £16m council-funded budget, each town is bidding for as much money as possible for ambitious projects.

In recent months, residents have contributed their suggestions and consultants BDP have drawn up initial plans. The steering committee chairs are sharing what residents can expect from the early renditions being unveiled this week.

Councillor Sean Hornby spoke about the suggestions for Little Lever: "We have got to to look at tackling anti-social behaviour in the town centre, we have got to look at getting footfall back into the village.

"There has been a lot of suggestions that we cannot deliver — a swimming pool, we cannot deliver.

"We have got to find a way to get shops back open again. We're also looking at the services we can provide our young people as well as our elderly. We're looking at putting some pedestrian crossings where it can be hazardous to people.

"Little Lever needs a facelift, it's looking like it did in the 1960s."

In Horwich, Cllr Marie Brady said that there is still a long way to go before plans are finalised: "This is just the first opportunity to show the public and get their views.

"This is about long term regeneration and this sum of money is the chance to do something really good.

"There are plans for pedestrianisation, we need better footpaths that people can actually walk on, at the moment they are quite narrow and it can be frightening when big lorries pass.

"These are by no means going to happen, but it's among suggestions."

Town mayor David Wilkinson is heading up the Westhoughton group. Council officers have stated that the level of funding given to any town centre will be determined by the strength of each bid, but Cllr Wilkinson says the £16m to be divided evenly across the wards: "If £4m is not delivered, then I will count it as a betrayal. That's why I want people to come along and look at the plans and tell us if there are things that are missing completely.

"There are parts that are ok, other parts that are not ok. There are several things that are missing from the proposals. I'm hoping that the consultants have listened to our concerns and some of the things that were not included have been. But I'm worried people will not come to the consultations and it will just be signed, sealed, delivered."

The public drop-in sessions will start this week.

The Horwich sessions will be at Horwich Library on January 29, from 3pm to 7pm, and February 1, from 10am to 2pm.

The Little Lever sessions will be at Little Lever Library on February 5, from 3pm to 7pm, and February 8, from 10am to 2pm.

The Westhoughton sessions will be at Westhoughton Library on February 12, from 3pm to 7pm, and February 15, from 10am to 2pm.

More information about the plans can be found at investinbolton.com.