Soul on the Square 2026

Small steps, big changes

Hi, my name is Diane Ireland and I’ve been on the council just over six months. I’m on two committees on the council, the land and open spaces and the drainage committee

I was born in Bolton, and at the age of 18 I went to university in Liverpool where I attained first class honours degree in Geology and Environmental Science.

I moved to Kirkham when I got married in 1993 and later moved to Newton with Scales.

I worked as project manager for United Utilities for 37 years and retired from the role last year. I covered the Preston area as well as the Lake District, Carlisle area and North Yorkshire for many years investigating sewage treatment works and the problems. I volunteered at a couple of local food banks and now I’ve started my own food bank two years ago to provide fresh food for our vulnerable working working families. This involves working with local farmers to provide the dairy and the meat and also local wholesaler for fruit and vegetables as I feel these items are important to help children grow and nourish families well.

Seeing the issues people have struggling to feed their families, provide a roof over their heads and heat the houses has made me aware of the difficulties a lot of our residents face in silence. I’ve joined the council in the hope that I can raise these issues so people realise just what vulnerable families are facing and maybe help those in need.

I also feel I can bring my knowledge of the sewer network to the role of counsellor and help with the flooding issues.

Outside of running the Food Bank and council business, I enjoy walking my dog Gina, reading, swimming when possible and I’m a long suffering Bolton Wanderers season ticket holder. One of my favourite spots to walk, the dog is down Thames Street in Newton, up Parrox Lane towards Kirkham, along Remembrance Way and back via New Hey Lane. One of my favourite places to eat is Scotts Bistro and my favourite takeaway has got to be Jononi Balti.

I want to serve this community of Kirkham, because I feel the people of Kirkham deserve the best, whether it be representation or just a swimming facility. The community spirit within Kirkham is fantastic as I found out when asked to raise £200,000 for a young girl with cancer. The entire community came together to support the events I led and enough money was raised to send the child to America to receive groundbreaking treatment, and put her in remission and well again.

I’ve been involved with the development of a new play area near the close and this should come to fruition in April this year and the play area will be all inclusive and hopefully a happy place for the children to be.

‘ alone we can do so little, together we can do so much’ and I am a great believer in those words of Helen Keller, together we are stronger.

Diane Ireland B.Sc.(Hons), MIWEM, APMp