Borough Life Autum 2006: Buildings for the future
New schools built by Wigan Council are harnessing the latest ‘green’ technology.
The state-of-the-art Westfield School on Montrose Avenue in Pemberton is bursting with hi-tech features.
It even has its own solar panels and water reclamation features, so if it’s a wet playtime at least the water is put to good use.
Meanwhile, the new Woodfield School in Wigan Lane also has a revolutionary rainwater harvesting system that reuses the wet stuff for flushing toilets. It also boasts sound-field systems in all classrooms to improve the acoustics and allow children to learn more effectively. The £2.9 million school, replacing a crumbling building, was actually built alongside the old school because the site was so restricted. It was ‘officially’ opened recently by the mayor, to the enthusiastic acclaim of pupils.
In the past three years, the council has spent £48 million on modernising the borough’s schools. Cllr Brian Wilson said: “We are aiming to give our pupils and school staff the modern facilities they deserve.”