Budget plans, new stars and a Family Hub
Earlier this month we confirmed our financial plans for the upcoming year as part of our 2026/27 budget.
It includes investment in key areas, such as social care, waste and recycling and providing affordable homes.
I’m also pleased to confirm that the free weekend parking scheme for council car parks in Leigh (and Wigan) town centre has also been extended for another year.
We are proud to deliver a balanced budget that protects essential services and continues to deliver on our priorities as set out in our Progress with Unity plans.
Again, our council tax rates are one of the lowest around, if not the lowest, and we are looking forward to another successful year for our borough.
At the budget-setting meeting, our Believe Star recipients were revealed; chart-topping bands Lottery Winners and The Lathums plus charity fund-raiser Mike Sharkey.
I would also like to highlight that earlier this year we reaffirmed our strong opposition to fracking.
The process of hydraulic fracturing (fracking) involves injecting high-pressure fluid into underground rock to release oil and gas.
You may recall the issues caused by tests up in Lancashire during the last decade in relation to this.
We believe it poses a direct threat to our environment and our communities and risks contaminating our water supply.
Exploratory licences have been granted all over the country, but it’s a short-term gamble with long-term consequences.
I should emphasise that there are no current or existing plans for fracking in our borough, but we wanted to set out our position, clearly and in advance, because it’s an important issue.
The future for our borough is cleaner, greener, safer energy, not dangerous drilling in our former fragile coalfields.
Major improvement works are set to get underway at Leigh’s Family Hub on Walmsley Road.
Family Hubs are designed as one stop shops for the whole family, providing everything from pregnancy and early years support to help with housing, finances, mental health, and wider wellbeing with activities and events for all ages.
Leigh’s hub, the sixth one in the borough, will be opening its doors in the summer.
For further details about family hubs across Wigan Borough please visit Family Hubs.
Posted on Tuesday 24th March 2026