The battle for control of Bolton town hall is well underway.
A total of 246 candidates are standing for 60 seats in the borough with each of the 20 wards set to elect three councillors on May 4.
The council has been Conservative led since 2019, their group having the largest number of seats without an overall majority. The town of Horwich, which has two wards, is typical of the complex political make up of the council.
As things stand there are two Horwich and Blackrod First Independent councillors, two Conservative members and two Labour council members. Each of those parties will be hoping to make gains in the two wards of Horwich North and Horwich South and Blackrod but obviously not all can so the results from the town could be crucial in deciding who runs the authority.
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A total of 29 candidates will be on the ballot papers in a fortnight with Horwich and Blackrod First Independents, Conservatives, Labour and Liberal Democrats fielding a full slate of six candidates each. They will face a challenge from both the Green Party who are fielding three challengers and Reform/Bolton For Change who will have two names on the ballot papers.
In recent years among the complaints from residents about the way the area is going has been over development, with huge new build housing estates approved at the former Loco works site, which formed the backbone of the town's industrial past and on green land at the town's former golf course. Other issues have been street cleanliness, the state of roads and pavements and investment in green space.
Recent investment in Horwich has seen a new leisure centre opened with projects to create a health centre, improvements to the town centre and new flood defences ongoing.
The MEN visited Horwich this week to ask shoppers what they thought the issues and priorities for the town are and which way they intended to vote on May 4.
On a sunny Thursday afternoon Winter Hey Lane in Horwich is relatively busy with shoppers popping into the array of independent shops, cafés and salons along with workers picking up their lunches from sandwich shops and takeaways. Out shopping are Gareth and Lisa Hughes, who moved to the Lord Street area of the town a few years ago after living in other areas of Greater Manchester.
Gareth, 42, said: "It's a pleasant place to live close to the moors and open space, we like it here. I think there are issues for the council on house building but everyone can't be nimbys.
"New homes are essential and everywhere needs to contribute but I think there's a balance to be struck between that and protecting green land. I would like to see more investment in improving the condition of the roads and pavements. I've seen the current councillors saying Horwich has been allocated funds but that doesn't seem to have translated into real improvements.
"I will be voting next month but I've not decided who for yet." Lisa, 36, said: "I've noticed that the Horwich independents organise litter pick ups and volunteer clean ups and that helps keep the area nicer and more pleasant which is good.
"Bit I think there should be more responsibility on the council to keep the area clean rather than rely on volunteers. "I've not decided which way I'll be voting but it's not likely to be Conservative."
Margaret Walker, 64, has lived all her life in the town. She said: "The town needs more investment and the leaders at Bolton Town Hall need to remember that just because Horwich is on the outskirts of the borough we're just as important as everywhere else.
"I don't trust Labour to run the council. They were in charge for decades without achieving much. I'll likely be voting Conservative."
John Jenkinson, 38, who lives lives on the Stocks Park Avenue estate, says he will be supporting Horwich and Blackrod First on May 4.
He said: "At this level of politics we need councillors who are not part of the tired old party system. Horwich needs its own voice. "I think the independent councillors have worked hard for the town and they will be getting my vote again."
Sid Knight, 62, who was taking a stroll through the town centre has lived in Horwich for 12 years. He said his vote would be based on his national political views and he would be supporting Labour.
"The Conservatives have been in government for 13 years and it's now a shambles," he said. "There needs to be investment at the bottom of society to see things improve.
"To build a solid pyramid you need a strong base and we're not seeing that base being built in towns like Horwich." Enjoying a break on Lee Lane were Rivington and Blackrod School sixth formers Drew Marsden and Jake Siddall, who are both 18 and so eligible to vote for for the first time next month.
Drew said he did not intend to vote as 'I don't know enough about the issues and the different parties to make a decision'. Jake, said: "One thing that concerns me is property prices that seem to go up and up.
"We seem to be building a lot of new houses but the prices never get lower. I worry that in a few years when I might want to get on the property ladder I'll never be able to afford it.
"I think I will be voting in the election. My views are normally quite conservative but if i was was voting today it would probably be Labour."
Below is a list of all the candidates standing on May 4 in the two Horwich wards:
Horwich North
ALOM, Kubbar (GRN)
BAINES, Michael (CON)
BAMFORTH, Ryan (HOR & BLACKROD INDS)
CARR, Eddie (REFORM)
ELLIOTT, Richard (CON)
FAIRHURST, Geoffrey Alan (LIB)
JARVIS, Mike (LAB)
KYLE, Matthew (CON)
MCKEON, Kevin (LAB)
RIESCO, Rod (GRN)
RIGBY, Vicioria Elise (HOR & BLACKROD INDS)
ROTHERAM, Craig (HOR & BLACKROD INDS)
TURNER-ALLEN, Matt (LIB)
TURNER-PREECE, Caroline Anne (LIB)
WATKIN, Samantha (LAB)
Horwich South & Blackrod
ALKER, Helen (GRN)
BAINES, Susan Mary (CON)
BUTLER, George (LAB)
FAIRHURST, Sylvia Mary (LIB)
GRANT, David James (HOR & BLACKROD INDS)
KHAN, Fazeelah (LAB)
MOHAMMAD, Nadir (LAB)
NORRIS, Paul (CON)
RICHARDS, Loren Jo-Ann (REFORM)
TURNER-PREECE, Scott James (LIB)
WILLIAMSON, Samantha Louise Angela (HOR & BLACKROD INDS)
WRIGHT, Hannah (CON)
WRIGHT, Peter (HOR & BLACKROD INDS)
YOUNGE, Ollie (LIB)
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