Warning on noise
When it comes to annoying sounds of summer, there’s little to beat the noise of a constantly ringing burglar or car alarm.
As a last resort, the council does have the power of forced entry to turn off house alarms when the householder is away and out of contact. But it needn’t come to that.
The council’s public health team is urging anyone going way on holiday to leave a key with a trusted family member or friend and notify the contact details to the council.
Then if your alarm does malfunction while you’re away, you don’t return to stony looks and broken locks.
Council public health team manager Caroline Maffia said: “Burglar alarms are frequently triggered by a power cut or other electrical faults.
“It doesn’t take long before neighbours are at their wit’s end and we have to step in.
“To avoid this, we have a secure register of key holders and if your alarm rings we can simply contact the key holder and ensure it is switched off.”
To register, contact 01942 827110 (Wigan area) or 733349 (Leigh). You can also use these numbers to notify the council of ringing alarms.
Twin town host appeal
Twin town ambassador Aline Domeau is appealing for families to host visitors from Angers.
From 21 to 26 August, 50 people from our French twin town will be visiting the borough as part of an exchange.
Says Aline: “It’s a great chance to meet new people and build new friendships.“ If you’re interested, contact her on 01942 828950 or email Twin Town Ambassador
Caring team backs parents
Agape, a family support group named after the Greek word for love and care, provides support and advice for everyone from pre-school children to grandparents who live on the Higher Folds estate.
The future of a pre-school group run every afternoon for two and a half to four year olds, was thrown into doubt when the regular source of funding ceased.
Wigan Council stepped in with a grant of around £13,000 so the group could continue to provide child care that helps many parents to either go out to work or to access training.
Viv Howarth, a co-ordinator for Agape, which includes parenting skills, confidence building and child psychology courses among its many family support services, said: “It gave us the opportunity to re-organise funding so that we can continue.”
For more information about Agape phone 01942 261799.
Panda helps new mothers
Panda Chair Director Vicki Jones with her children baby Katelyn, 10 months, Molly, 10, Lauren, seven, and Jessica, five.
Panda is a support group formed four years ago for mothers in the borough experiencing post-natal depression.
It was started by Vicki Jones, Julie Bramhall and Mandy Harris who had all suffered from the condition after the birth of their second children.
Grants from four different funds from the council and its partners helped get the group up and running with toys, mats, other equipment and crèche facilities at St Luke’s Church, Ashton-in-Makerfield. So far more than 200 women have been helped. Chair Director Vicki said: “We offer both group and one-to-one sessions in a friendly and discreet atmosphere. They deal with women who have all been there and so far we have had a one hundred per cent success rate.”
For more information about Panda contact 07941 482466.
