Bolton

Government clarifies rules in Bolton and other COVID hotspots

Bolton's local leaders have emphasised "there are no local lockdowns" following confusion over COVID rules.

The Manc The Manc - 26th May 2021

The government has updated its advice for areas worst-affected by COVID following ‘confusion‘ over what people can and cannot do.

Official guidelines are now asking residents in the likes of Bolton – where the more infectious variant is spreading fastest – to ‘minimise’ travel rather than avoid it altogether.

People in COVID hotspots should also “meet outside rather than inside” according to current rules.

The guidance is not law, and health officials in Bolton have since confirmed “there are no local lockdowns”.

There had been calls for ministers to clarify rules after The Manchester Evening News broke a story on Monday evening (May 24) that revealed official guidance for high-risk areas had been quietly edited online the previous Friday.

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The new advice urged residents to avoid gatherings and only travel if ‘essential’, but was not accompanied by an announcement.

Local leaders in Bolton were unaware of the changes, with Bolton South East MP Yasmin Qureshi saying she was “angry and upset” for her constituents who were looking at cancelling holidays and returning to work from home.

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A press conference on Tuesday saw Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham emphasise that he did not want to see Bolton in regional restrictions. He also sympathised with residents who thought the situation looked like a “local lockdown by stealth”.

Bolton Council leader David Greenhalgh added: “As long as they follow the guidance I don’t believe residents in Bolton should be cancelling holidays.”

Helen Lowey, Director of Public Health, Bolton Council also issued a statement that read: “Following the national coverage of recently revised COVID – 19 guidance, we have met with national officials and confirmed there are no restrictions on travel in or out of each of our areas:  There are no local lockdowns.

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“In areas where the new COVID variant is spreading, we are all working together to boost testing, vaccinations and to support self-isolation. 

“There are sensible public health precautions that people can take as individuals in line with the advice we have all been following throughout the pandemic. 

“We will keep sharing that and working with national officials to make sure people understand what they need to think about as they go about their daily lives.”

Featured image: Wikimedia Commons

Bolton

Ian Evatt responds to negative fan chants after Bolton’s 5-0 thrashing against Stockport County

Danny Jones Danny Jones Ian Evatt responds to negative chants from Bolton fans after Stockport 5-0

Bolton manager Ian Evatt has hit back at his own club’s fans after the Trotters who travelled to Edgeley Park to witness their hefty defeat against Stockport County sang multiple negative chants.

Evatt’s men were on the receiving of a 5-0 thrashing against the Hatters in the League One fixture on Saturday, conceding four goals in the second half and with three of those coming with just 15 minutes of each other.

Wanderers‘ results have been very up and down of late, with the Greater Manchester clash now leaving them sat in 10th with five losses to their name from 14 games.

However, Evatt was defiant in one post-match interview with BBC Sport in which he tried to keep things in perspective and questioned the behaviour of the away supporters who voiced their criticism both during and after the game.

As you can hear from this brief clip alone, the 42-year-old former player-turned-coach clearly believes that the fan reaction was misjudged and unfair given what he sees as some relative success since he arrived at the club back in 2020.

Self-deprecating choruses of “you’re getting sacked in the morning”, “we’re f***ing sh**’ and even “we should have gone Christmas shopping” rang out around the crowd according to those who attended the drubbing inside Stockport’s stadium – a club which in contrast has continued to build year on year.

Bolton were knocked out of the FA Cup first round in their previous match against Walsall and were even beaten by Aston Villa’s under-21s team in the group stages of the EFL Trophy – incidentally, the last piece of silverware they won in April last year and something Evatt is keen to remind them of.

Nevertheless, his response to the away support making their feelings known hasn’t gone down particularly well either, with plenty of the opinion that it is Evatt who is in need of a reality check and that there hasn’t been enough progress in the last couple of years.

Like countless other comments, online fan page ‘Everything Bolton Wanderers’ simply wrote “Papa John’s Trophy and now 10th in L1, isn’t success to me” and while players have come out to shoulder the responsibility, the pressure continues to mount.

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Many have already made it clear that they now believe the Coventry-born coach should be sacked and that the project he began almost half a decade ago is now coming to an end.

Evatt has become an increasingly divisive figure around the club of late too – having most notably been charged with misconduct by the FA for a confrontation with a Shrewsbury player earlier this season – and it’s by no means the first time Bolton fans have aired their grievances via chants inside the ground.

There’s still a lot of football to be played yet but it seems he has some way to regain faith among much of the fan base. Find his full post-match interview HERE.

What do you think, Bolton fans – do you want to stick with him or is it time to go? You can watch the highlights for what proved to be a great day for County fans down below.

It’s not the first time they’ve put five past their local rivals.

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Bolton Wanderers (via YouTube)

Bolton

Police urgently appeal after three-car crash in Bolton leaves girl, 6, with ‘life threatening’ injuries

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

An urgent appeal has been issued following a serious collision involving several vehicles in Bolton over the weekend.

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) explained that, at 10:30pm this past Saturday night (9 November), officers were called to reports of a serious collision between three cars on the busy thoroughfare of Chorley Old Road in Bolton.

According to police, it’s believed that one of the cars involved in the incident was travelling in an easterly direction along Chorley Old Road, with the second car exiting Avenue Street onto Chorley Old Road.

The first car then crossed onto the opposing side of the carriageway, and proceeded to collide with the third car involved.

Sadly, three people from the third car were taken to hospital for further treatment, GMP confirmed, and a six-year-old girl sustained injuries that, at this time, are believed to be “life threatening”.

Following the incident, police are now urgently appealing to the public.

The junction of Avenue Street onto Chorley Old Road, where the collision occurred / Credit: Google Maps

GMP’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit are in the process of following several lines of enquiry, but in the meantime are appealing for witnesses, and anyone who may have information regarding the incident, to come forward and assist.

“This includes anyone with relevant dashcam, CCTV, mobile, or doorbell footage from the area and captures any of the incident,” GMO said in its public appeal.

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Can you help? Anyone with any information is asked to contact GMP on 0161 846 4741 or 101, quoting log 3388 of 9/11/24.

Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Featured Image – GMP

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