YOU can hardly pick up a paper or turn on the TV these days without hearing predictions of doom and gloom for public services.
And there’s no denying that the global financial turmoil which led to the worst recession in living memory has hurt many people in our borough. We are looking to make at least £21m in savings over the next three years to keep the council tax rise under 2%.
But we believe in 2010 we can bring forward regeneration projects that will sustain our economy during the tough times ahead.
CONGESTION on our roads is a massive challenge. That’s why we recently announced plans for the Wigan Central Gateway scheme to improve the notorious Saddle Junction and link it with the final stage of the town’s inner relief road.
There are still some financial hurdles to cross but we believe this will transform getting in and out of Wigan. You can read more on p7 of this Borough Life.
Other major projects we want to get up and running in 2010 include further work on Pemberton business park and Northleigh Park in Hindley Green. The Chinese investment at Westwood Park may have stalled but this site is still a fantastic investment opportunity for the right development. Work has begun on landscaping Trencherfield Mill, while the Victorian Mayor’s Boatyard is being restored by a real Wigan success story, Lowri Beck (see p27).
And in just a few weeks the former History Shop will reopen as the fantastic Museum of Wigan Life following a lottery funded £1.9M refurbishment.
On the other side of the borough, work is now well underway on the £19M transformation of the old Bickershaw Colliery, while we have £80M available for the biggest school-building programme in a generation.
ALL this regeneration will in time create many new jobs. But to help those already suffering through the recession, we have been awarded £21M from a government fund to tackle unemployment in the borough.
The Working Neighbourhoods Fund includes help for new small businesses, grants and business advice to existing firms, 600 new jobs for young people and 100 new apprentices.
There’s no room for complacency. But if you look at the amount of construction work across our borough you would hardly describe Wigan as facing an uncertain future. We’ll be making the most of every opportunity that comes our way.
And finally, this issue of Borough Life is the last to be produced by editor David Mather, who launched the magazine in 2003 and is retiring in May. Borough Life was deservedly named the UK’s Best Council Publication in 2005, and on behalf of everyone at the council I would like to thank David for his hard work and commitment, and wish him a long and happy retirement.
