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Borough Life Summer 2006: Newsround
- Wigan Athletic’s first season in the premiership has benefited the borough's economy by as much as £11 million pounds, according to research by local tourism chiefs. Hotels are reporting bookings up by four per cent, while the value of positive media coverage is put at a staggering £700,000! Nearly 500 journalists have visited the town in the past nine months.
- All your business needs can now be solved locally thanks to the new Wigan Business Directory 2006. This comprehensive directory provides a quick and easy reference to a wide range of borough businesses from accountants to youth centres. The directory is available in traditional hard copy, CD-Rom and through the internet at www.move2wigan.com For further information contact Keith Molloy on 01942 828988
- More action to tackle poor homes, more help for disabled residents to adapt their homes, more alleygating and environmental improvements and more affordable housing. That's what Wigan Council is promising after winning a £6M windfall from the region's housing chiefs. Renewal areas like those in Abram and Platt Bridge will also benefit from extra spending, as will elderly owner occupiers who live in homes that are in poor condition.
- The NSPCC's first national fundraising event, the Big Bike Ride, is taking place on the weekend of 30 June and 1 and 2 July 2006. Why not organise or take part in a bike ride in your area to raise money to help end child cruelty – you can even do it in the gym! To find out more, register for your free event pack by visiting www.nspcc.org.uk/bigbikeride or calling 0845 456 0001.
- A plan setting out how the borough will develop over the coming years is to be adopted by Wigan Council. Following more than three years of consultations, inquiries and modifications, Wigan's new Unitary Development Plan (UDP) has finally been agreed by the council. The plan covers every inch of the borough, from the tiniest patch of land to major development such as Leigh Sports Village and the Wigan Pier Quarter. You can check it out at www.cartoplus.co.uk/wigan/
- Neil Gabbitas from Leigh is the winner of our Three Sisters competition in the Spring issue of Borough Life. His was the first entry out of the hat to correctly identify Fernando Alonso as the current Formula 1 champion. Neil wins the chance to take a top racing car for a spin at Three Sisters race track.
- Historic Hindley has bags of character. That’s the verdict of an in-depth study of the town centre that the council hopes will unlock more than £600,000 of regeneration and heritage lottery cash to improve Hindley town centre. The money will pay for a three year programme of improvements to buildings and the town centre.
- 500 homes in Newtown and Pemberton have benefited from alley gates. Over 60 gates have been installed at some 28 blocks, and project manager John Black says they have made a real difference to residents’ quality of life, reducing burglaries and petty vandalism.