Key Points
- Formal Agreement: Westhoughton Town Council has officially agreed to establish a dedicated working group to draft a comprehensive neighbourhood plan.
- Working Group Membership: The newly formed committee consists of three town councillors: Cllr Martin Tighe (who originally proposed the initiative), Cllr Jack Speight, and Cllr Martin Cox.
- Legal Teeth for Local Community: The initiative aims to provide the local community with a statutory framework and leverage to influence future housing and infrastructure developments in the area.
- Quorum Clarification: Following initial uncertainty over the minimum attendance required, the council confirmed via advisory bodies that working groups do not require a fixed quorate figure to proceed.
- Planning Authority Dynamic: While full statutory planning authority remains with Bolton Council, a completed neighbourhood plan will form part of Bolton’s wider local plan, giving residents formal standing during future planning determinations.
Westhoughton (Bolton Today) August 17, 2026 – Westhoughton Town Council has officially agreed to form a dedicated working group tasked with developing a neighbourhood plan aimed at shaping future development across the township.
The decision marks a strategic shift for the local authority as it seeks to gain statutory influence over planning decisions and combat speculative overdevelopment within the area.
What is the Primary Objective of the New Neighbourhood Plan Working Group?
As reported by Dan Dougherty of The Bolton News, Westhoughton Town Council has established a working group to begin the initial structure and formulation of a neighbourhood plan. A neighbourhood plan operates as a formal planning framework designed to guide the scale, density, and character of future developments in a specific locality. Once formally adopted, the document must be legally consulted whenever developers submit new planning applications for the area.
The working group comprises three local elected members: Councillor Martin Tighe, who initially proposed the motion, alongside Councillor Jack Speight and Councillor Martin Cox.
How Did the Council Resolve Standing Orders and Quorum Requirements?
Prior to establishing the committee, the town council had faced administrative uncertainty regarding the minimum number of members needed to make the working group quorate and constitutionally sound.
Addressing the procedural clarification, Town Clerk Lindsay Pollard stated:
"The Lancashire Association of Local Councils have confirmed that working groups do not have a quorate figure."
Pollard further added:
"The neighbourhood plan working group can go ahead with three councillors as discussed in the Town Council meeting on July 27, 2026."
Why is a Neighbourhood Plan Being Proposed for Westhoughton Now?
The initiative was first formally introduced to the chamber during a town council meeting in July 2026 by Councillor Martin Tighe, who argued that local residents needed stronger mechanisms to resist unsuitable development proposals.
Explaining the legal weight of the document, as reported by Dan Dougherty of The Bolton News, Cllr Martin Tighe stated that
"a neighbourhood plan gives us legal teeth."
Cllr Tighe acknowledged his own standing on planning matters while emphasizing the importance of utilizing all legislative options available to local governance. As reported by Dan Dougherty of The Bolton News, Cllr Martin Tighe stated:
"I'm not the foremost authority of planning on this council. Those who have a lot more experience of planning on this council would be those on the planning committee."
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What Authority Does the Town Council Hold Compared to Bolton Council?
Under local government jurisdiction in Greater Manchester, principal planning authority rests with Bolton Council rather than hyper-local town councils. A neighbourhood plan bridges this administrative gap by inserting locally drafted policies directly into the borough’s strategic framework.
Highlighting this jurisdictional boundary, as reported by Dan Dougherty of The Bolton News, Cllr Martin Tighe stated:
"The chair of the Bolton Planning committee any groups - working groups, committees, sub groups - are all fantastic and give great information and feedback, but at the end of the day full planning authority lands with Bolton Council."
He emphasized that establishing a tailored plan is the single effective vehicle for local residents to shape land allocation:
"The only way we can have a dog in the fight as a local community, would be via a neighbourhood plan as part of the Bolton Council local plan."
What Challenges Lie Ahead in Establishing the Neighbourhood Plan?
While the town council has formally launched the working group, the process of drafting, consulting, and formally adopting a neighbourhood plan requires significant resources, technical assessments, and public referendums.
Outlining the reality of the process ahead, as reported by Dan Dougherty of The Bolton News, Cllr Martin Tighe stated:
"But they aren't easy to set up, they are hard, they do take time, and they are expensive."
Despite the financial and administrative hurdles, Tighe expressed confidence in the long-term benefit for the people of Westhoughton, concluding that
"it's a good thing to do when you finally get the fruits of the harvest."