Blooming marvellous
Appalling summer weather didn’t prevent North West in Bloom judges being impressed by the borough’s stunning floral displays.
And several communities were singled out for praise, including Town Green residents’ garden in Ashton which was voted Outstanding.
There was a Merit award for Orrell in Bloom, and Howe Bridge community group the Bridgers was runner-up in the large village category. The council overall was joint runner-up in the large metropolitan category.
Environment champion Cllr David Molyneux said: “The borough’s communities can be proud that all their hard work has been recognised in such a positive way by the judges and that residents can enjoy their displays throughout the year.”
Plan for a fair future
The council needs you to help it understand and address the different needs of people living in the borough. This will help it write a new Equality Plan.
The plan will cover lots of issues that many people care about – like whether all children are getting an equal chance of success and whether people can be themselves without fear of being bullied.
If you can help answer questions such as:
- What’s it like for you living in the borough?
- Does the council understand and meet people’s different needs?
- What needs to change to make life in the borough fairer?
Gillian Bishop
Then we’d love to hear from you. Please see Equality and Diversity (external link) or call 01942 828071. You can tell us what you think at two focus groups – Westleigh Children’s Centre, 11 December 9.30-11.30am or Douglas Valley Children’s Centre, 14 December 6-8pm.
New director appointed
Wigan Council has appointed Gillian Bishop to the position of interim director of environmental services. She succeeds Martin Kimber, who has been appointed chief executive of Rotherham Council, and starts on 1st November for 6 months. She’s a former chief executive of the Wigan-based North West Improvement and Efficiency Partnership and Allerdale Borough Council in Cumbria.
Yes minister!
“Wigan is leading the way!” That was the official verdict from a high-ranking cabinet member when he popped into a flagship Wigan school and community venue.
Council leader Peter Smith and chief executive Joyce Redfearn join John Denham with two year-old Katherine and staff member Vicky Woosey at Platt Bridge Community First.
Communities Secretary John Denham expressed his delight with the groundbreaking Platt Bridge Community First centre, hailing it as: “Exactly the sort of innovative approach we're trying to encourage across the country.”
He was joined by Chief Secretary to the Treasury Liam Byrne and Local Government Minister Barbara Follett. The £13m complex comprises a community school, children’s centre, family support centre, adult and children’s libraries, health centre including GP surgeries, pharmacy and a wide variety of health services, and a Wigan and Leigh Housing office.
Mr Denham said: “At a time of public spending restraint, Platt Bridge is already showing how local services can join together to reach out to communities.”
Santa lines up borough visit
This year the mayor Councillor Mark Aldred will be running his popular Santa campaign in a slightly different way due to his busy diary as the borough’s first citizen.
Parents are asked to book an appointment for their child to come and see Santa on 01942 886452 between 9am-5pm and 01942 894262 after 6pm.
Santa will be at several locations across the borough in the run up to Christmas and as in previous years every visitor will receive a gift.
This is your Life
We wanted to find out what you really think about Borough Life. So we asked our citizen's panel, a representative 1000 strong group of residents drawn from all parts of the borough.
And we were really encouraged by the results.
Eight out of ten residents think it's good or very good while 96% found it easy to read. 86% like the design, and three quarters of you also feel it offers good value for money.
Cllr Chris Ready, communications champion for the council, says: “These figures are very high for a council newspaper or magazine. We were particularly pleased to see that nearly eight out of ten people rely on it more than any other publication for information about the council.”
When asked what you wanted to see more of in Borough Life, information about leisure services, planning notices and jobs came top of the list. And while a majority think that four editions a year is about the right frequency, a sizeable minority – 25% – would like to see it published more often.
Last month the magazine was also named runner up in national awards sponsored by the Chartered Institute of Public Relations for council publication of the year. Cllr Ready added: “We want to communicate better and the panel’s views will help us do just that.”
Colliery site set for big regeneration
A £19.4 million redevelopment scheme is underway at the old Bickershaw colliery site.
Seventeen years after the pit wheel turned for the last time the site is set to mine a rich new seam of jobs.
Derelict land within the site is being reclaimed along with the diversion of Plank Lane, the creation of a spine road into the site and construction of a 40 berth marina on the Leeds – Liverpool Canal.
Up to 650 eco-friendly homes and 2,750 sq m of employment space will eventually be constructed at the 56-acre site.
Council Leader Peter Smith said: “The Bickershaw project is an example of some of the fantastic regeneration work taking place in our borough at the moment.
“We are really pleased that work is about to start on the first phase of the project which will create a vibrant new economic zone on the site. In the current economic climate it couldn’t have come at a better time.”
Regular drop in mornings will be held on site where residents can view plans and ask questions directly of the site team.
The work is set to finish in summer 2011.
The site is owned by North West Development Agency, which has agreed a package of infrastructure works totalling almost £12 million being funded by the Homes and Communities Agency.
Credit union ethos can be a ‘lifesaver’
Una Townsend is passionate about credit unions. And as Welcome Credit Union’s new development officer she’s anxious to dispel a few myths.
“A lot of people seem to think credit unions are poor people’s banks,” said Una, who has returned to Wigan to expand the organisation she helped set up over a decade ago.
“In fact they are for everyone and we have members across the borough, including many in the more affluent areas of Wigan. It would be more accurate to describe them as financial co-operatives that are beneficial to all people in the community.”
As ethical, not for profit organisations, credit unions are attractive to those who care about such values and they offer the chance to save and borrow at affordable interest rates.
As an alternative to profiteering loan sharks they can literally be a life saver. A loan attracts a 12.68% APR – or 1% per month – no matter how small.
And as Una points out: “We pay into the Financial Services Authority’s compensation scheme which means savings are guaranteed up to £50,000. We are also authorised and regulated by the FSA.”
Find out more about Welcome on 01942 828702 or email: Welcome Credit Union
Website: Welcome Credit Union (external link)
There is also another excellent credit union in the borough, Unify, which can be contacted on 01942 701706.
Plain sailing for windmill revamp
Wind in their sails... children from Aspull Church School celebrate the news.
The only windmill in Greater Manchester is set to be restored. Haigh Windmill on Copperas Lane was renovated in the 1980s but recently its wooden sails have been damaged by high winds and it’s been looking much the worse for wear.
Now the council has won a £50,000 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund to bring the grade 2 listed building back to its former glory.
Built in 1845, the windmill was used to pump water from two ponds to the reservoir at Haigh Brewery.
It has been disused for decades but is an iconic building that adds much to the rural scene in Haigh and the news has been welcomed by campaigners.
Work is set to start in the new year and will include repairs to the sails, repointing the brickwork and some interpretation boards.
Village named a county gem
Community spirit has put a Wigan village firmly on the map. Crooke Village, near Shevington, has been named 2009 county winner in the Calor Village of the Year competition.
And it’s easy to see why the judges were impressed with this hidden gem.
From Wigan Lower Road drivers can easily miss the turn off – but approach from the Leeds and Liverpool Canal and you come across a tranquil, picturesque haven.
An old Methodist chapel, allotments, marina and comfortable family pub are part of another world far removed from the busy main road just yards away.
Crooke may only have just over 150 residents in total but it’s now a thriving place where old and young alike play their part in community life.
In the last two years the residents have worked with the council to improve the appearance of their village, planting trees, shrubs and bulbs and removing litter and overgrown weed strewn patches of land.
Exhibition helps cinema-lovers relive the reely good times
An undated photo of staff at the Regal Cinema in Leigh. (pic courtesy of the Archives Service) Do you know anyone in this picture? Write to Borough Life, FREEPOST NWW3502A, Wigan WN1 1XZ.
Once upon a time cinema-goers in Wigan and Leigh were spoilt for choice. Going to the flicks to watch the latest Hollywood heartthrob or catch up with the news was a popular pastime in the borough’s many cinemas.
Now the Turnpike Gallery in Leigh is hoping people will delve into their past to bring the cinemas of old back to life.
The gallery has recently been awarded a grant from North West Vision and Media to create an exciting new exhibition to be held next year and is keen to hear from anyone with a story to share.
Did you work as an usherette or a projectionist in one of these cinemas? Maybe you went on a special first date, or attended the Saturday morning Gaumont British Junior Club at the Palace.
Or perhaps you saw the Clark Gable film “Command Decision” when it had its European premiere in Leigh?
Whatever the memory the Turnpike Gallery would love to hear from you.
The gallery is also interested to hear from anyone who is willing to lend cinema memorabilia such as posters, photographs, tickets and programmes.
For more information, please contact the Turnpike Gallery on 01942 404469.
Reel Times runs at the Turnpike Gallery from 1 May to 3 July 2010.
