The Leader of Bolton Council, Cllr David Greenhalgh, alongside Deputy Leader and Westhoughton North & Chew Moor councillor, Cllr Martyn Cox, and Chris Green MP have welcomed Cllr Bernadette Eckersley-Fallon to the Conservative Group on Bolton Council.
Cllr Eckersley-Fallon is well-known in Westhoughton North & Chew Moor and much respected for her community involvement and belief in making the area a better place to live for all residents. Upon ditching the Lib Dems and joining the Conservatives, Cllr Eckersley-Fallon will remain a councillor and committed to her ward.
Cllr Eckersley-Fallon described what happened:
I hope residents have experienced my work ethic during the time I have been a councillor, and my total commitment to Westhoughton, and they will appreciate that I have not taken a decision of this nature lightly.
During my time as a councillor, I have worked alongside all parties both in Westhoughton and on Council committees, and observed a wider picture, and it is no longer tenable for me to stay within the Liberal Democrat group.
I do feel I can work within a Conservative Group led by Cllr David Greenhalgh and I also know I can work alongside Cllr Martyn Cox, and genuinely believe that working as part of a Conservative administration, whose direction and progress over the last couple of years I have appreciated from the opposition benches, will genuinely benefit the residents of Westhoughton.
There will be issues on which we will have differences of opinion but I believe these exist within all parties. I believe we share many of the same values, so this is not a massive leap for me.
My commitment to Westhoughton remains the same, the hours I put in to being a councillor remains the same, and I believe Conservatives, with Martyn and myself leading the way in Westhoughton North and Chew Moor, can deliver for our area in a more positive and productive way than any other party.
Leader of Bolton Council, Cllr David Greenhalgh, added:
I am pleased to welcome Bernadette to our Group. These are never easy decisions for any councillor to make. She has the reputation of a very hard-working councillor, committed to the community she represents, and I believe her and Cllr Martyn Cox working as Conservatives alongside each other for the residents of Westhoughton North and Chew Moor will be hugely positive for their residents and for Westhoughton as a whole.
Fellow Westhoughton North & Chew Moor councillor, Cllr Martyn Cox, said:
I’m delighted to welcome Bernadette Eckersley Fallon to the Conservative group, Bernadette is a real champion for the town of Westhoughton and passionate about making a difference for the people of Westhoughton and we will do all we can to support her in that role.
Member of Parliament for Bolton West, Chris Green MP, summarised:
I am delighted to welcome Bernadette to the local conservative team in Westhoughton North and Chew Moor. Bernadette has always had a fantastic reputation for being a great champion for the local community and serving people in so many positive ways.
