Borough Life welcomes your letters about local issues, or comments about articles in the magazine. Write
to: The Editor, Borough Life, FREEPOST NWW3502A, Wigan, WN1 1XZ, or email boroughlife@wigan.gov.uk (letters
may be edited).
French twins appeal for borough business links
Sir, French people need Borough Life readers! Each year, various ‘Angevins’ (inhabitants
of Wigan’s twin town, the city of Angers) cross the Channel to come to work, to study or to do a work
placement in your borough. During their time here they discover its culture and its history.
A lot of organisations kindly open their doors to placement students. They are also welcomed in host
families. I would like to say a really big thank you to the people who welcome our French friends.
This important experience brings a lot to the student, both professionally and personally. However,
we still need more businesses and host families to welcome people.
I appeal to the legendary English generosity, kindness and openness of spirit to help me in this task.
If you could accept a trainee in your organisation or accommodate a foreign student, please contact
me, Miss Céline Réveillard, Ambassadress from Angers on 01942 828950 or email angers@wigan.gov.uk
Céline Réveillard, Twinning Office
Make Mesnes a true people's park
Sir, – While talking to other parents and grandparents in Mesnes Park I find I am
not alone in feeling disgusted at the state of the so-called “play” areas. It is the main flagship
park for the town and great improvements have been made recently. It is good to know that more improvements
are planned using Lottery funds.
However it will never be a true “park for the people” until it gets a decent play area instead of
the pathetic two or three rusting pieces of equipment placed on filthy sand.
C Tighe (by email)
Parks regeneration manager Andrew Bond tells Borough Life: “Having funds to protect local heritage
we are now seeing a ‘snowball effect’, in that other applications for funding are being considered
with greater assurance. This has led to the BIG Lottery Fund awarding £170,000 specifically for play
within Mesnes Park.”
Mayor's thanks for kindness
Sir, – I am writing to tell you a story. In the holidays my brother my friend and
I were really bored and had nothing to do, so we came up with this idea of washing cars for your charity
‘cancer research UK’. We decided to donate to your charity because my granddad died of cancer in 2003.
We washed around ten cars in one weekend! The amount of money we raised was exactly £38.97.
Jason Naylor aged 11, Ewan Naylor aged 9, Richard Cain aged 14 (all of Shevington Moor)
This letter is typical of the wonderful support received by former mayor Cllr John O’Brien during
his year of office. His charity appeal for local breast cancer services has raised a marvellous £63,500.
Cllr O’Brien told Borough Life: “I cannot begin to express my gratitude to the generous, kind-hearted
people of our borough. Before my wife Hazel died from breast cancer just two months into our mayoral
year, she made me promise I would continue to be the borough’s first citizen. I won’t pretend it has
been easy, but the support and kindness shown by so many people I have never met has been overwhelming.
I know Hazel would have wanted me to thank each and everyone of you from the bottom of my heart.”
Education needed on recycling
Sir, – After reading an article in the Borough Life magazine of Spring, I noticed
Oxford Street, Leigh has been roped into the brown bin trials.
With only a leaflet to follow, many older people have become confused about what to use these bins
for; one elderly resident discarded his black bin in his confusion, just thinking he had a new normal
bin.
I would like to see the government working with local councils and educating people. The town halls
could put on education evenings/days on “How to Recycle” and for the elderly with house visits or elderly
centres.
Mrs Sharon Jones, Leigh (by email)
Gail Robinson, senior waste management co-ordinator for Wigan Council, says: “The 13,000 new brown
bins for cans, plastic and glass that are being piloted across Wigan borough have recycled 160 tonnes
in just two months. I'd like to thank all the residents who have taken this to heart. We're currently
consulting with them to find out what they think and if it could improve and after that we'll look
to expand it.”
