They've both always been punting deserts it's true, at least for as far as I can remember. A couple of bog-standard parlours in each, if you're lucky.
Bolton and Preston are a bit bigger, and so you'd expect a bit better quality, but over the years they've always been way out in front compared to East Lancs, out of proportion to the respective populations.
Perhaps the local rag outs all decent parlours making a go of it, like they did when Angels set up in Blackburn town centre?