A cow, a cricket bat and stumps, and a greyhound will soon stand proudly in public view.
They make up new sculptures set for Cricketers Way in Westhoughton, close to the Sainsbury’s supermarket.
The artwork celebrates the town’s identity and history and forms part of a project funded through developer contributions.
Cllr John McHugh said: “There’s a sign in Westhoughton which says the town is historic and those are the three main characteristics of Westhoughton.
“We’ve had some absolutely superb cricketers past and present, the greyhounds are a memento to the stadium and also to the suffering those dogs went through, and of course the folklore around the cow.
“There is also a Civil War battlefield in Westhoughton, so perhaps that’s something for a future sculpture.”
Bolton Council’s Regeneration Team proposed the scheme and councillors granted approval.
The sculptures are intended to represent key elements of Westhoughton’s heritage.
A bronze greyhound, mounted on a white marble plinth, will honour the former Westhoughton Greyhound Stadium and the racing dogs once based there.
A second bronze piece, depicting a cricket bat, ball, and stumps, will pay tribute to the town’s cricketing legacy and its notable players.
The third, and largest, sculpture is a horned cow cast in recycled aluminium with a brushed gold finish.
It references the town’s traditional nickname, “Keawyed City,” rooted in local folklore.
The location of where the sculptures will be placed (Image: Bolton Council)
The sculptures will be installed in a linear formation along Cricketers Way.
Each piece will sit on a concrete base and be enclosed by a low post-and-chain fence.
Funding has been allocated for cleaning and maintenance for the first two years.
After this period, the sculptures will become part of the council’s ongoing highways maintenance programme.
The project is funded by Section 106 developer contributions that have been set aside specifically for public art for more than 16 years.
Planning officers confirmed that the proposal complies with local and national planning policies.
They said the sculptures would have no adverse impact on highway safety and would make a positive contribution to the character and appearance of the area.
No objections were raised by highways engineers or statutory consultees.
Cllr David Wilkinson said at the planning meeting: “Some people will like it, others will absolutely detest it – that’s the nature of public art.
“But it does have a historical connection.
“This is money that can’t be used for anything else, it’s been sitting there for 16 years, and I’m happy to second it – we’ll just have to keep them polished.”
Councillors voted to approve the application, subject to conditions.