An introduction with Councillor Arthur Price

Councillor Arthur Price

In a new series, we are featuring introductions to your Liberal Democrat councillors and candidates in Westhoughton. Next up is Arthur Price, who is one of your candidates for Westhoughton North ward and for Wingates.

Arthur is a former town mayor of Westhoughton and is a long-standing Rotarian who has raised thousands of pounds for good causes, with the support of his wife Lynne, a well-known former district nursing sister here in Westhoughton.

How would you deal with the most pressing issues facing Westhoughton today?

I am mindful of the fact that I am one person living in a community of people from all walks of life.

The only way that I can fully understand what the most pressing concerns of  Westhoughton residents are is to listen.  I have two ears and one mouth, so I listen twice as much as I speak. What really matters is that the thoughts and feelings of Westhoughton residents are acknowledged. They deserve to have a say in what happens within their own town. 

Arthur picture at Westhoughton’s Central Park bowling club

How do you engage with the community?

I take time to speak to people to ask them directly about any issues they might have,  I also ask them if they have any ideas for improvements. I find it easy to converse with people because  I have lived in the community for 43 years. I shop locally, I have served as a Westhoughton councillor for 20 years. I have had the honour of serving as the Mayor for two terms 2005 and 2016.  My wife served along side me as mayoress. many residents know her because she also served the town by looking after and caring for the community as a Specialist Nurse / District Nursing Sister.

I try hard to serve the town well by working all year round (not just at election time ). I undertake voluntary work within the community, I am a member of two charitable organisations that help to support people in need.  I undertake case work where I try my best to help people who are in difficulty.

When needed I do help people to access services. If I am unable to help I sign post them to the relevant officers or responsible agencies. Further more I get practical and roll my sleeves up to litter pick etc in an effort to  keep our environment clean, an healthy place to live whilst protecting the heritage of our amazing town, which is steeped in history.

Arthur Price pictured with his town council colleagues Alison Jackson and Gillian Wroe

How do you plan to serve Westhoughton in the future?

I am standing in this year’s local elections for Bolton Council and Westhoughton Town Council. For me, a councillor is a servant of the community. It’s recognising and challenging wrong in its many forms. It is seeking out solutions for an individual on a multitude of issues for example housing, and doing like wise for the community as a whole on issues such as the environment, antisocial behaviour, etc., and then bringing these issues to the attention of the responsible agencies.