Age-friendly consultation sparks changes to Bolton town centre

Bolton Council is making important changes to Bolton town centre following an age-friendly consultation conducted by Age UK Bolton last year.

Following feedback from the age-friendly consultation, work has started on Great Moor Street to improve the pavements. 

The consultation, which was held in May 2024, was led by Age UK Bolton’s Ageing Well team, working with Bolton council and a team of local volunteers aged over 50.

The consultation involved a walking tour of Bolton town centre, where the volunteers pointed out concerns such as a lack of accessible parking, a lack of age-friendly toilets and not enough information boards.

Another concern raised by the group was the distance of Bolton interchange from the marketplace, as well as poor pavements along that route - which the work on Great Moor Street seeks to rectify.

A similar age-friendly consultation took place in Farnworth, where Bolton council’s public health team took a tour of Farnworth town centre with local older people and noted the barriers they faced along the way.

More work is planned to take place in the town centre as a result of the consultation, including installing more seating and places to rest.