2 weeks Ago
More needs to be done to promote the “rare” and “exceedingly good aquarium" in Bolton town centre, a meeting has heard. The aquarium can be found at the central library and is officially a “registered zoo” and is unusual in that it does not charge members of the public to enter. But a recent meeting of the council’s corporate and external issues scrutiny committee heard how despite its status, the aquarium has often been overlooked.
Cllr David Wilkinson, of Westhoughton South, said: “I think we forget that we actually have an aquarium which is not only a rarity in terms of public service, but which is also an exceedingly good one, in terms of being able to provide stock to other aquariums as well. “And I think we sometimes miss that out. The aquarium can be found at Bolton Central Library (Image: Newsquest) “And also, in terms of the museum, a lot of people in Bolton probably don’t even know it’s there.
” He added: “I think we’re still missing selling some of those things to the general public in Bolton to start off with. “And I think we need to look at how we can sell some of those good things to the public.” The aquarium opened to the public on January 27, 1941 and is now home to more than 70 different types of fish and has been visited by millions of townspeople over the years since then.
In January 2021, staff took part in special events to mark its 80th anniversary . ALSO READ: 80th anniversary for aquarium which is ‘part of town’s identity’ ALSO READ: Looking back at 75 years of Bolton Aquarium ALSO READ: Bolton Library reopens after multi-million-pound refurbishment Since then Bolton Central Library has undergone an extensive multi-million pound revamp and fully reopened to the public in January this year. Cllr Wilkinson asked the town hall meeting how more could be done to promote both the aquarium and museum side of the venue to the public.
In response the committee heard how the aquarium is “highly unusual” in that despite being an officially registered zoo it is not commercially run like most zoos around the country. It cannot charge people as a normal zoo would, but town hall officials said they would continue to look for funding opportunities and ways to promote the aquarium in the future..
