NEWSROUND
Calling all dads…and grandads. Platt Bridge children’s centre is keen to recruit more male carers to help out with its activities. A weekly dads’ and children’s group on Saturday mornings gets involved with things like gardening, sport, swimming and even cookery. Coordinator Louise Bridge says: “We need more male carers of all ages from across the borough to join us.” If you can help call Louise or Alaina on 01942 487999.
In what has been described as a shot in the arm for the local construction industry, the council has been given the green light to build fourteen new homes - eight in Windsor Avenue, Astley and another six in Etherstone Street, Leigh. The £1.8m cost is being shared between the government and the council. They will be the first new homes that the council has been allowed to build for two decades.
SMALL businesses in Wigan are set to benefit from £1m worth of financial help as part of a package aimed at tackling the effects of the economic downturn. Find out more about access to finance small loans scheme and a new business start-up service by calling 01942 705655 or e-mail Finance
Want to know more about the council’s leading politicians and their work on behalf of the borough? Now the answers are available at your fingertips through a new website called Ask the Cabinet. The ten strong ruling cabinet is Wigan Council’s top policy-making body, making decisions every month on millions of pounds of public spending, and its members are just the click of a mouse away. Simply log on to Ask the Cabinet (external link)
AN event to help plan for the all-important transition to adulthood is taking place at Lowton Civic Hall on 28th January. It’s for young people aged 14-19 with learning difficulties or disabilities, their parents, carers, schools and other service providers. Information on the support available for young people leaving school will be available between 1 and 6.30pm.
An ambitious blueprint to tackle congestion at Wigan’s most notorious traffic blackspot has been drawn up by council engineers. The plan includes a new link from Pottery Road, along the side of the River Douglas, under Adam Viaduct and into the Saddle Junction. The Wallgate route into Wigan under the existing bridge will be improved to give two traffic lanes.
The plans still have two hurdles to cross in January – they need planning permission, and financial backing from the North West Development Agency.
Are you looking for a new hobby? A place to go and make new friends or a service you may need? The Older People’s Directory is now available at your fingertips. It contains news, events, groups and services which are all aimed at older people. You can find it at: Older People's Directory (external link) If you have any questions, or if you are finding it difficult to use the directory, telephone Lesley Tyrer on: 01942 404501.
The ground breaking Wigan Life Centre is a world beater! The £217 milllion project was hailed as best new public services development in the International Property Awards held in San Diego. Architectural designers AStudio and LCE Architects, who are working alongside the council and construction company Morgan Ashurst, beat off competition from 105 countries.
SAFETY improvements have been introduced by the council in Tyldesley at the junction of Manchester Road, Sale Lane and Hough Lane. New traffic management technology means that the junction should be able to safely handle around 15 per cent more traffic.
NOW you can follow Wigan Council in between Borough Lifes. Find us on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, or sign up to receive news feeds direct by visiting Wigan Council (external link) and searching for RSS.
