Issue 40 - Wigan Council

4BusinessWigan Expo5OPEN FOR BUSINESSNATASHA Marriott wants her childrento know the value of hard work. Theyoung mum-of-three has just beentaken on by Wigan Council as anapprentice. It’s the first time she’s hada full-time job since she became amother six years ago.“I don’t want my kids to think I sit at home notworking,” the 24-year old says. “I want to showthem that if you want nice things and a goodlife you’ve got to work for it.”Combining her childcare commitments witha career is quite a challenge for Natasha. Sheis up at half five each morning to get thefamily ready for the day, leaving her home inBeech Hill in Wigan at half seven to get thekids to nursery before arriving at work. “I’m inbed for eight every night. I’m so tired. But it’sa nice tired,” she says.Natasha says the effort is worth providing agood example to her three young children.She has a six-year old, a three-year old andan 18 month old. “When you have to live onbenefits, you never have enough money,”she adds.That’s why she was so delighted to getan apprenticeship at Wigan Council. Theauthority has taken on 13 young people, allfrom the Wigan Borough area, who havebeen given a year-long contract and theopportunity to work towards an NVQ LevelTwo in Business and Administration.Natasha works within the safeguarding board,helping to book people on training coursesand dealing with enquiries from council staff.“I was really nervous before I started becauseI’ve never worked with computers,” she says.“But I’m really enjoying it. I know this is onlya 12 month contract but I’m hopeful I canstay on. Working for the council is greatbecause they are very understanding aboutmy family commitments. And it means alot to have a good job and to be workingtowards a good qualification.”All the apprentices will be helped to applyfor permanent jobs within the council whenopportunities come up. They will also besupported should they want to apply forfull-time work with the council’s partnerssuch as Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust andWigan and Leigh Housing.The 13 apprentices started in October.They work in a variety of administrationand clerical roles in different departmentsacross the authority. It’s the first time since2009 the council has run an apprenticeshipscheme. Nearly 150 applications werereceived for the positions with 60 applicantsbeing interviewed.Prior to starting at the council, some ofthe apprentices had been unemployed forseveral months while some joined fromother training programmes. Each receivesfour hours of tuition a week as part of thework towards their qualifications, as well ason-the-job training and mentoring.Wigan Council is planning to recruit moreapprentices later in the year and will soon beworking with private companies and otherpublic sector organisations in the boroughto create thousands of opportunities foryoung people.Cllr David Molyneux, deputy leader ofthe council, says it wants to take a lead intackling youth unemployment. He says: “Theborough’s unemployment problems aren’t asbad as some area’s but we still have too manyyoung people out of work and in need of jobsand training.“The council wants to set an example bytaking on these apprentices and investing inour youth. Together with the Wigan ForwardBoard, we have exciting plans to work withlocal businesses and training providers tocreate more apprenticeships across theborough in the near future.”Meanwhile, Natasha and the other 12apprentices are settling into their councilcareers. “I’m really pleased with my placement,”she says. “This is a great opportunity for me toget some experience and get a qualificationbehind me.“I’ve done bartending and cleaning work inthe past but this is the first real job I’ve had. Ifeel proud to say I work for Wigan Council. Mymum is always saying how proud she is andI hope my kids are too. I want to show themyou have to work in life to get anywhere.”Hired! Cllr Molyneux welcomes the apprenticesCOMPANIES are queuing up tosecure their place at next year’s WiganBusiness Expo.It’s only a couple of months since last year’sevent, yet businesses are already keen to signup for 2013.The Expo has grown into one of the biggestbusiness events in the North West – this yearattracting a thousand people with 130 localbusinesses exhibiting.Held at the DW Stadium, some of theborough’s biggest companies attended alongwith a host of small and medium sized firms.Among them was Wigan-based DOC Solar, asolar panel and renewable energy specialists.Owner Janet Green says she will “absolutely”be signing up for a place at Expo 2013.Janet says: “There’s no other event like it in theregion. We’ve been to similar events in othertowns and this is by far the best.“It’s a great opportunity to meet otherbusinesses and find out what is going on inWigan Borough.“This year’s event was really buzzing. We metlots of other businesses and were able toestablish relationships with companies wewould never have met otherwise. It’s led tosome positive enquiries.“The whole event is well advertised andthere’s always a lot of excitement around it.I think businesses in Wigan now see it asreally important.”Organised by Wigan Council, this is the thirdyear the Expo has been held. It was openedby Wigan MP Lisa Nandy, who describedbusiness development as “critical” to thefuture success of the borough. A series oflectures and seminars were held throughoutthe day.Also at the Expo was the events main sponsorLeigh-based AB World Foods, one of Wigan’soldest pie-makers, Poole’s Pies, and charityJoining Jack. And there were a number ofcelebrities in attendance. Rugby legendJason Robinson, Coronation Street and WildAt Heart actress Lucy-Jo Hudson and talentshow finalist David Julien mingling withvisitors throughout the event. The 2013Rugby World Cup trophy was also on display.For more information about nextyear’s Expo contact 01942 489 191or email ero@wigan.gov.uk Alternativelyvisit www.wiganbusinessexpo.co.uk orwww.facebook.com/wiganexpo orwww.twitter.com/wiganexpo

6Money7HOW TO Get HELPTo help you understand if thesechanges affect you and what supportis available here are some of theanswers to the type of questions youmay have:Q: What difference will the proposedCouncil Tax Benefit Scheme mean tosomeone who currently doesn’t have topay anything?A: It will mean paying around £3 perweek towards the Council Tax.What changes arebenefitshappening to thesystem?BE PREPAREDPlease make sure you read anyletters or leaflets from WiganCouncil, Wigan and LeighHousing, the Department forWork and Pensions (DWP) orfrom your landlord.Q: When and how did the council consultwith residents?A: To give residents the opportunity tohave their say we had an online surveywhich ran for six weeks. We used mail,email, our Life Centres and attendedvarious forums to tell residents aboutthe consultation.Q: If someone who is claiming housingbenefit and thinks they have one or morespare bedrooms how do they know if‘under-occupancy’ changes affect them?A: One room is allowed for:-a couple-a non resident carer- a single person age 16 or above- two children of the same gender, underthe age of 16- any children under the age of ten- any remaining children.Q: How much of housing benefit willsomeone lose if they are under-occupyinga room?BITING BACKWigan Council’s Trading Standardsteam is working closely with theEngland Illegal Money LendingTeam and other local partners, towarn people against the temptationof turning to loan sharks.“It’s not unusual to learn of loan sharkscharging the equivalent of a staggering131,000 per cent interest rate,” JulieMiddlehurst, manager of Wigan Council’sTrading Standards Team. “We knowof victims borrowing a few hundredpounds from a ‘friendly’ neighbour tobuy Christmas presents, only to hand overthousands of pounds over many years,leaving the family penniless.“There’s big money in illegal moneylending, but these criminals need toknow that we are committed toidentifying them and removing themfrom our communities.”If you spot a loan shark, or have borrowedmoney from one, you can report them inconfidence to the England Illegal MoneyLending Team on 0300 555 2222 oryou can ring Trading Standards via theConsumer Helpline on 08454 040506.You can seek help and advice about payday loan companies, loan sharks and debtmanagement from:Citizens Advice Bureauwww.wigancab.orgNational Debtline0808 808 4000www.nationaldebtline.co.ukWelcome Credit Unionwww.welcomecreditunion.co.uk01942 828702 / 828611Unify Credit Unionwww.unifycu.org01942 701706 / 607002A: The cut is a fixed percentage of theeligible rent. This is set at 14 per cent(around £13 per week) for one extrabedroom and 25 per cent (£22 per week)for two or more bedrooms.Q: What does Universal Credit replace?A: This single payment will replaceIncome based Job Seekers Allowance(JSA), Income related Employmentand Support Allowance (ESA), IncomeSupport, Working Tax Credits, Child TaxCredits, Housing Benefit. Remember thisonly affects a small number of people aspart of a trial taking place in the Wiganarea from April.Your guideto welfare reformStories highlighting how thegovernment is planning to overhaulthe welfare system have been featuredregularly in the media for a long time.Now the changes are about to becomea reality.The government’s aim is to make claimingbenefits more straightforward and toencourage people to get back to work. Butwhat does this mean for people living in theborough and how might it affect you andyour family?Leader of the Council, Lord Peter Smith,highlights the issues facing people:“These reforms are being introduced bythe government and we will start to seechanges from April next year. It won’t affecteveryone living in the borough, but wewant to make sure residents know what ischanging and when.“Our main priority is to make sure residentsget the right support they need, particularlythose most affected, including a highproportion of working families who arealready suffering through low wages. Ouradvice is to plan ahead and make sure youget the right advice. Please take advantage ofthe expert advice on hand from the counciland its partners to guide and support peopleon benefits and new claimants through thesetough times.”So, what will change and when?The government is changing the currentprocess for Council Tax Benefit. From Aprilthe council will have ten to 15 per cent lessmoney to spend on helping low incomehouseholds. To make the savings, WiganCouncil have to have a new scheme in placeready for April. The council has alreadyconsulted with residents and are now lookingat the survey results ready to help inform adecision on what the new scheme will looklike. The scheme will be finalised in early 2013.Some council tenants claiming HousingBenefit may see a reduction in the amountof Housing Benefit they receive. The amountof benefit will be reduced if they are deemedto have one or more spare bedrooms. This isknown as ‘under-occupancy’.The government is also introducing a limiton the amount of benefit that people canget, known as the benefit cap. This couldmean people can receive no more than £350per week if they are single or £500 per weekfor couples.Universal Credit will be introduced in Wiganin April 2013 as part of a pilot scheme. Thiswill see benefits paid as one single paymenton a monthly basis. This will only affect asmall number of people as part of a trial.The council is involved in this scheme sothat it can monitor the impact on residentsand influence the government if it thinks thescheme needs to change.Keep checking the council’swebsite for help and guidanceat www.wigan.gov.uk

8LeisureA NEW project led by Dame Kelly Holmes isto launch in Wigan Borough to help youngpeople get on track.Wigan has been selected by GreaterSport asthe only borough in Greater Manchester toexclusively pilot the Get on Track scheme. Theproject, which launches in January 2013, willprovide stepping stones for young people aged16 - 25 years old currently not in employment,education or training to get into community sport,volunteering and even into work.Dame Kelly, Chair of DKH Legacy Trust anddouble Olympic champion, said: “I’m reallylooking forward to working with Wigan Counciland GreaterSport on my charity’s Get onTrack programme.“It’s not an easy time for young people at themoment. I’m thrilled my charity’s team ofworld-class athletes can support young people inWigan and help them to make positive changesto their lives.”A BOOTiful restoration!He has been sitting deep inthought looking out over MesnesPark since 1910.But for the last few months the statue of SirFrancis Sharp Powell has been under wrapsas the former MP for Wigan was given a muchneeded makeover as part of Mesnes Park’smulti-million pound restoration scheme.His lucky foot, rubbed by so manygenerations of Wigan folk, has beenwell and truly worn thin over the lastcentury and the weather has oxidizedhis bronze figure into a greenish-bluecolour. But soon the man honouredfor his role as a driving force behindbuilding Wigan Mining and MechanicalSchool, now the town hall, will belooking dapper once again. Local historicrestoration specialist’s Lost Art have beenbusy cleaning, repairing and re-sealingthe statue.“After a 100 years he was starting to lookvery tired and in a sorry state,” says JoanneRamdewor, Parks Activity Officer for WiganLeisure and Culture Trust. “But this restorationwill make the statue look brand new againand we can’t wait to take the wrappers off.Generation after generation of Wigan peoplehave rubbed his foot and made a wish.HOLA!Christmas is upon us and the goose isgetting fat and Borough Life has a splashof Spanish fun for you to look forward to.Courtesy of Haigh Hall, we have two tickets togiveaway for a wonderful Spanish four-coursedinner planned for Saturday 26th January.Simply answer the following question.Q: What are the two bands of colour thatmake up Spain’s national flag?Answers to Borough Life, FREEPOSTNWW3502A, Wigan, WN1 1XZboroughlife@wigan.gov.uk9There’s a connection between the peoplewho visit the park and the statue and forme that makes this part of the restorationscheme all the more special.”To mark the statue’s restoration a specialunveiling has been planned for Saturday15th December.The project will be delivered by Wigan Leisureand Culture Trust’s Sports Development Unitand supported by local businesses. Young peopleinvolved will be mentored through a five stagesport and personal development programmeby a team of Olympians and World Champions.The project will provide young peoplewith qualifications and awards, developtheir confidence and self belief, developtheir communication skills and inspire andmotivate them. For more information pleasecontact Lynsey Johnson on 01942 404 981or L.Johnson@wlct.orgMAKE SPORT HAPPEN!More than 300 volunteers have signedup to become Sport Makers across theborough. Building on the success of theOlympic and Paralympic Games Makersthey’re now volunteering within theirlocal communities to organise or helprun a sporting event.Borough Life caught up with Alex Winstanley,20 (pictured), who was crowned Volunteerof the Year at this year’s Wigan BoroughSports Awards to ask him why he’d signedup for the scheme.DameKelly HolmesQ) Why did you become involved involunteering?I first began helping out with after schoolteams whilst at high school and just got areally good feeling from helping others toachieve their potential, which then led tobecoming involved with other volunteeringopportunities.Q) What are you volunteering for as partof Sport Makers?As well as the volunteer work I do with WiganSports Development Unit, I volunteer forEmbrace Wigan & Leigh where I help youngpeople with multiple disabilities achievethe physical part of their Duke of Edinburghawards by running multi-sports sessions. Ialso currently voluntarily coach a local rugbyleague team and also volunteer at Edge HillUniversity, helping to promote the benefitsof volunteering and getting involved in sport.Q) Why recommendit to others?It’s great to just givesomething back to thecommunity. As wellas improving your CVand job opportunitiesit is an indescribablefeeling you receive when you help others.You don’t volunteer to get awards and Ipersonally don’t do what I do to get rewardsor money, but it feels good to know that thecommunity appreciates what you do andthat, hopefully, you can inspire other youngpeople to get involved.Sport Makers is organised by Wigan Leisureand Culture Trust’s Sports Development Unitin partnership with GreaterSport. For moreinformation call 01942 488 495 or emailR.Burrows@wlct.orgEnterprising LibrariesCould you be the next Alan Sugaror Richard Branson?That’s the question libraries will be posingwith a new initiative aimed at creating moreentrepreneurs in Wigan and Leigh.Open to everyone, regardless of age orexperience, libraries will be running a seriesof workshops, mentoring and coachingprogrammes specifically aimed at helping 50people a year - for the next three years - tobecome self-employed, earning their livingdoing what they love doing.Due to launch in December, the scheme hasbeen made possible following a successfulEuropean bid for £90,000 worth of fundingfor the next three years.Richard Bealing is the Head of Culture forWigan Leisure and Culture Trust, who managelibraries on behalf of Wigan Council.He says: “This is an exciting and innovativemove for libraries that will place them at theheart of helping people develop new skills tobecome entrepreneurs here in the borough.“The programme will focus on developingbusiness skills for those working inthe creative sector. This means everythingfrom music and performing arts to digitaldesigners to PR and communicationsspecialists.“If you would like more information call01942 489 791 or visit www.wlct.org

10SavingsBalancingthe books“WIGAN has seen the third biggest cuts in localgovernment spending out of Britain’s 152 localauthority areas” – not the words of Wigan Council,but an astonishing fact laid bare in a Financial Timesarticle from May this year.£78.4mTHE FIGURE THE COUNCILWILL HAVE SAVED BY2016 AS PART OF THEAUSTERITY CUTSSuper hub savingsInnovation is at the heart of thecouncil’s plans to create a super depotthat will result in significant savingsand improved services.11A deal has been agreed to bring back to lifea disused former Asda warehouse in Ince.The project will bring together teams froma range of council services into one new‘hub’ helping to improve services, reducethe council’s carbon footprint and save anestimated £1 million per year in maintenance,transport and other running costs.It may seem like a long time since the newgovernment of 2010 laid out its austerityplans, but ever since Wigan Council hasbeen working hard like households acrossthe country to keep the wolf from the door.By the start of the next financial year, in April2013, the council will have already saved£46m. But as the graph opposite shows,there is still £18.8m to find during 2013/14and an estimated £13.6m to find overthe following two years. In all by 2016 thecouncil will have saved in the region of astaggering £80m. This figure could increasedependent on future changes to localgovernment funding.“We have a proud history of managingour finances carefully and effectively,” sayscouncil leader Lord Peter Smith. “As soonas we became aware of the size of thebudget challenge that lay ahead we tookimmediate action, which has helped us tobalance the books, but there is still a lot ofhard work to come.”Around 50 per cent of the council’s budgetis tied into salary costs, so inevitably thesavings programme has resulted in someredundancies. There are now 500 peoplefewer people working for the council thanthere were two years ago.“No one comes into local government toreduce services or cut jobs and throughoutthe process we have worked hard to protectour key frontline services. We have reduced‘back office’ costs by 30 per cent and we haveone of the smallest management teams inthe region,” continues Lord Smith.Cumulative amount saved£80m£70m£60m£50m£40m£30m£20m£10m£011/1212/13 13/14YearsKeyachievedin progressSavings in services have been made ina variety of ways over the last few years.Examples include:• Changing bin collections and improvingrecycling that will save the council anestimated £14m by 2020.• Supporting the community to takeover the day to day running of facilities,such as libraries and swimming pools(see page 14)• And by reducing the number of officesand depots we have to maintain byinvesting now to save money in the future(see stories opposite).“I’m pleased with the progress we have madewith our budget,” says Lord Smith, “but toprotect our services we will have to workharder and harder and more innovativelythan ever. We have a duty to support thosepeople most affected by the economicdownturn. This will always be at the forefrontof our minds when we make decisions inthe future.”estimated future savings14/15 15/16£4mTHE COST OF MAINTENANCEBACKLOG HAD WE NOTTAKEN ACTION NOWTown hall repairs under wayDispelling the town hall mythHeard the news that thecouncil is spending £6m on arefurbishment of Wigan townhall? Well, it’s part of the story,but not quite the full picture.The investment from the council’scapital budget will wipe millions ofpounds of cost from the revenuebudget, which is already underextreme pressure due to governmentcutbacks (see opposite page).Chief Executive Donna Hall explainswhy the council is making significantchanges to its accommodation: “Thework to improve Wigan town hall willhelp the council to reduce the numberof bases our staff work from; downfrom 24 buildings to just four overthe next three years. Although this willmean investing some money up front,in the long run it will save the councilin the region of £1 million per year justin operational costs.The building is in dire need ofinvestment. “We already have a backlogof maintenance work that would havecost us over £4 million had we nottaken action now. It’s unacceptable tohave the borough’s main civic buildinglittered with buckets, damp walls andceilings and scaffolding permanentlyup at one side of the building.”The changes being put in place willincrease the number of staff workingacross the three town centre sitesto around 1,500, double the currentnumber of 750. The town hall,pictured above, will accomodateup to 750 staff from the current 250.Donna adds: “Not only will we havean improved public facility, we willalso see staff working closer together,making us more cost effective andefficient as an organisation.”The council and its partners currently operatethree main depots for services such as wastecollection, storage and maintenance of thevehicle fleet, highways department andLeigh Building Services. These depots arelocated at: Sovereign Road (pictured above),Wigan; Christopher Street, Ince and Town’sYard, Hindley.Terry Dunn, Director for the Environment atWigan Council says that the old sites havecome to the end of their useful lives:“This is an example of how we can workinnovatively to reduce costs and improveperformance at the same time. The currentsituation of having three separate sites that allrequire significant investment is untenable. Ifwe had chosen to retain the existing sites wewould have had to have spent in excess of£1 million per year in maintenance costs, justto keep them in their current condition.”Cllr Kevin Anderson is the council’s cabinetlead for the environment, responsible forcleansing, waste and highways. He says: “Thisproject means a disused depot facility canbe brought back to life. It is a much betteroption than spending significant sums ona brand new site. As well as saving money,the new depot will also ensure that staff havemuch more suitable working conditions andthere is real potential to use the old sites forschemes to help support the local economy.”An initial outlay of around £3m of capitalinvestment will pay for itself within four years,helping to reduce the cost to the council’srevenue budget significantly.

14Community15Pelicansat the poolNatalia, BusinessManager atTyldesley PoolNo trouble at t’millAn historic industrial mill in the heart of Wigan might seeman unlikely location for a drama school yet that’s exactlywhere the Academy of Live and Recorded Arts (ALRA) haschosen to set-up its first northern base.It’s taken over three floors in Trencherfield Mill after first moving toWigan two years ago. The prestigious academy is renowned in theacting world for producing top talent and among its former studentsare comedienne Miranda Hart and TV actress Sarah Parish. In thesummer it moved to the mill at the former Wigan Pier site where it isconverting three floors into performance, rehearsal and studio space.ALRA currently has 150 students in Wigan taking a mix of qualificationsin drama. It also works with Winstanley College on a series offoundation programmes. Director Adrian Hall says the students aresettling into their new home. He says: “There’s still quite a lot of workto be done but we have a fantastic space inside the mill. And it’s areally brilliant location. The building has real character.“We came to Wigan because it didn’t have a drama school and thereare so many acting opportunities in the north for actors. Some of thebest theatre is produced in the north in Manchester and Liverpool andover into Yorkshire. There are a lot of agents and casting directors uphere too and now the BBC has a big presence in MediaCity. All thatappeals to our students.”Wigan Council own Trencherfield Mill and have leased space to theacademy as part of a plan to create a “cultural quarter” in that part ofthe borough. “The council have been incredibly helpful,” says Adrian.“It’s their space and they have been very open to us using it creatively.”Cllr David Molyneux, deputy leader of the council, says: “It has longbeen an aspiration for the Wigan Pier quarter to become the culturaland heritage hub of the borough.“ALRA has an excellent reputation nationally within the creativeindustry, and the directors were keen to find an iconic location whichthey could expand into and use as a performance venue, communityresource and specialist educational centre.”To find out more visit: www.alra.co.ukEnter the ZoneIt’s the Friday morning session atthe Pelican Centre in Tyldesley and asteady flow of swimmers arrive for abathe. Later a party of school childrenwill be given lessons in the water andafter that it’s Friday Fun Night.This busy centre is clearly at the heart of lifein this community - and that’s how it shouldbe. After all, it is the community who run it.The Pelican Centre is what used to be calledTyldesley Baths. For years, it was run by WiganLeisure and Culture Trust on behalf of thecouncil. But when budget cuts were needed,it was clear changes would have to happenif the pool was to stay open. The councilsought an outside body to run the pool ontheir behalf. The Pelican Group came forward,a coalition of local residents, communityactivists and keen swimmers all determinedto make sure swimming stayed in Tyldesley.The group took over day-to-day running ofthe pool in April this year and renamed it thePelican Centre.Now, several months on, it’s hard toimagination the future of this facility wasever in doubt. Attendance figures havedoubled. The number of children havingswimming lessons has also doubled.Significant improvement work has beenmade to the building. It’s still home to theTyldesley Swimming and Water Polo Club andis attracting new groups as well. Next year itwill accommodate a canoe club.“It’s gone remarkably well,” says Trevor Barton,chairman of the Pelican Group. “We’ve hadtotal buy-in from the community. It really hasworked tremendously well.”The centre is run by a mix of qualified staffand trained volunteers. They work closelywith Wigan Council, who have given them a25 year lease at a discounted rent. The dealwas struck to keep the pool open.“The council have been very supportive,” saysTrevor. “Nobody wanted to see it shut. It’staken a lot of hard work to get to this stageand we’ve had to prove we are able to run itproperly and professionally. But it has beenworth it.”And that’s good news for those hoping thismodel can be replicated elsewhere. It’s justbeen announced Hindley Pool is to be run bya community-based group too. The PhoenixGroup will take-over the facility in February.“We’ve been talking to people there andoffering a lot of advice on many differentissues,” says Trevor. “I think the model workswell. It’s the best way to keep these placesopen and that’s clearly what people want.”THE cuts to local government funding mean creativity andimagination are sometimes needed to keep communityservices running – and often that means the communityrunning services.Tyldesley pool stayed open because a local group were unwilling tosee their baths close. It’s a model about to be repeated in Hindley.And it’s not just pools: in Aspull and Hope, community groupsvolunteered to help run the libraries when the alternative was closure.Cllr Chris Ready, cabinet member for leisure, says: “We all know thenational cuts have had a profound effect on local services. The councilhas been forced to make some difficult decisions in order to makenecessary savings. What’s been so inspiring is the way the people ofthis borough have risen to the challenge. Rather than just acceptingthe closure of important facilities and services, they’ve taken onresponsibility for them themselves.“The council will always be happy to do whatever it can to help andsupport local people take ownership of these kinds of communityassets if they cannot be kept open in any other way.”Working with outside organisations has meant Wigan Council hasbeen able to secure the future of several community assets and it isusing that model to bring new facilities to the borough too.The new Wigan Youth Zone is being funded by local businessmenDave Whelan, Martin and Bill Ainscough and youth charity OnSide.The council is providing the land and will contribute to the annualrunning costs of the facility. This means the borough gets a newcommunity asset that will benefiting thousands of young people,without the council having to pick up all the costs.“We’ve had to change the way we do certain things and how wethink about providing services,” adds Cllr Ready. “But, together withour residents, I think we’ ve more than met that challenge.”

16RugbyJoining JackHE’S the little boy whose sad plighthas inspired a huge fundraisingcampaign and moved many to tears.Now hundreds of people will be ableto show they are “Joining Jack” byrunning around the streets of Wigan.The town will host a 10K road race next year,organised by the charity set up in the nameof Jack Johnson, the four-year old schoolboywho has a rare muscle wasting condition.The event will take place next September andup to 2,000 runners will be encouraged toenter and raise vital funds for Joining Jack.The charity was launched by former WiganWarriors player Andy Johnson and his wifeAlex. The couple were devastated in October2011 when their eldest son was diagnosedwith Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD),a rare and incurable condition, which willeventually end Jack’s life prematurely. Theystarted the charity to raise awareness of thecondition and fund research to find a cure.Joining Jack has already captured theimagination of the people of Wigan Boroughand it’s hoped hundreds of runners will takepart in the 10K road race in aid of the charity.It will be held on Sunday 8th September. Therun will start and end in Wigan town centre.Anyone over the age of 15 will be eligibleto take part. Runners will be able to registeronline and more details about the run will bereleased in the New Year.Matt Johnson, Jack’s uncle, says he hopes itwill be a fun day for everyone. He says: “Wereally want to create a great day in Wigan.We’d like people to come down with theirkids and grandparents.“The race will be open to serious runnersbut anyone of any standard is welcometo enter too. We want this to be a realcommunity event.“Obviously we’d like people to raise moneyfor Joining Jack but we’re quite happy if theywant to run for other causes.”He says the run will be based on similarevents in neighbouring towns. It’s hoped itcould become an annual fixture in Wigan.“We only launched the charity in May bytaking a few friends to the Manchester 10Krun. It seems quite fitting that we are nowlooking to organise a run ourselves,” says Matt.He says the response to the charity from thepeople of Wigan Borough has been “fantastic”.Thousands have got behind Joining Jackand a host of local celebrities have lent theirsupport, including cyclist Bradley Wigginsand rugby star Sam Tomkins.“Already it has grown so much. I’d reallylike to thank the people of Wigan for all theirsupport. They really have backed the charityin a big way and it means so much to allthe family,” says Matt.While the run takes place, roads aroundWigan town centre will have to be closed.Joining Jack is working with WiganCouncil to ensure disruption is kept toa minimum.Donna Hall, chief executive of WiganCouncil, says: “We’re delighted to helpwith the Joining Jack 10K Run in anyway we can. It’s a great cause and Jack’sordeal, and the bravery of his parentsAndy and Alex, has captured the heartsof so many people in the borough.“The charity is doing a great job of raisingawareness of this terrible condition andgenerating much-needed funds to payfor research.”Matt says Jack, who has just started hisfirst year at school, is a normal little boy inmany ways. “He’s coping really well withthe condition at the moment. But we knowthings will change one day. Three and a halfthousand boys are diagnosedwith Duchenne musculardystrophy each year yet littleis known about it and thereis no cure. Events like the10K will raise money thatwill make a real difference.”Four-year old Jack Johnson hasDuchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD).The progressive muscle wasting conditionmeans he will no longer be able to walkby the time he reaches adolescence andwill eventually lose the use of every singlemuscle. Most boys with DMD only live to 25.Jack’s parents, Andy and Alex, launchedcharity Joining Jack earlier this year to raiseawareness of the condition and money tofund research into treatments.www.joiningjack.org@alljoinjackTHE GAME NEEDS YOU!17AN amateur rugby league club hopesthe World Cup will inspire more youngpeople to take up the sport.New Springs Lions, of Aspull, say they arestruggling to get young players – despitebeing based in the unofficial home of thethirteen-man code.Coach William Roocroft says the under-12sside is especially short of budding talent. Buthe hopes having two World Cup matches inWigan Borough next year will persuade moreyoungsters to take up the game.William says: “We are finding it hard to getyoung players. Hopefully, with the World Cuphere next year, it will raise awareness of rugbyleague and encourage more youngsters tojoin our team.”It’s now less than a year until the 28-game, sixweek World Cup kicks off. The group gamebetween Tonga and the Cook Islands will beheld at Leigh Sports Village while the DWStadium in Wigan will host one of the quarterfinal matches. Among the 14 countriescompeting will be England, Australia andholders New Zealand. More than 50,000tickets have been sold already.Lord Peter Smith, Leader of Wigan Counciland a keen rugby fan, says: “This event willattract vast amounts of attention across theworld and Wigan Borough will be right at thecentre. For an area with such a rich rugbyleague heritage, that is only fitting.“Not only will local people be able to watchsome exciting international sport on theirdoorstep, but the tournament should alsoprovide an economic boost for the boroughby drawing in visitors and raising our profile.I for one can’t wait for the cup to kick-off.”To find out more about New Springs Lionscontact William Roocroft on 07719261985or w.roocroft@hotmail.com

18Road SafetyWhat’s the limit?19The legal alcohol limit for drivers in the UK is:What pricea life?The risk of a pedestrianThe effect of a road accident on loved ones,colleagues and friends is impossible to measurebut the cost in terms of lost income, medical,hospital and ambulance fees has been measuredin the tens of thousands – some say in the millions.In recent years, the council has made significant progressin cutting accident rates throughout the borough. Inparticular, the number of children killed or seriously injuredhas been reduced.Leader of the council, Lord Peter Smith, says: “I want to ensurethe roads outside our homes are as safe as possible. A 20mphlimit will ensure motorists drive at the right speed for theroad conditions.“We want to hear from you,” adds Cllr Smith. “This is a bigundertaking and will take time to complete, but it’s one that willsave lives, protect vulnerable road users and pedestrians andalso send a strong message out that Wigan Borough welcomescareful motorists.”fatality increases slowly up toan impact speed of 30mph.Above this, risk increases rapidly.The risk of fatality is about fourtimes greater at 40mph thanat 30mph. Please slow down.• 35 microgrammes of alcohol per 100millilitres of breath• 80 milligrammes of alcohol in 100millilitres of blood• 107 microgrammes of alcohol per 100millilitres of urine…but what this means for you depends onyour weight, age and even what you’ve beeneating and drinking.So the message is – just don’t.“Driving whilst under the influence of drinkor drugs can cause tragedy,” says boroughcommander Steve Sheridan. His Fire andRescue Service officers are anxious to avoidthe horrors of a smash caused by drivers overthe limit.“Any road traffic accident causes distress tothose involved as well as the emergencyservices who attend the scene, “ Steve adds.“The consequences are severe. Not only canyou lose your licence, livelihood and liberty,but you could kill someone’s loved one.Think before you have that last drink, is it worththat risk?”The traffic order, which includes virtually all residential roadsin the borough, and the proposed dates for implementationcan be viewed at Wigan and Leigh town halls on weekdays.The consultation period runs until the end of January.www.wigan.gov.uk/20mphThe Invisible Woman?“I think I must be invisible!” laughs SharonLeadbetter. She’s standing in her bright yellowhigh-viz uniform with her reflective STOP-Children stick in her hand. The road has itsfair share of zig zag lines, 20mph signs andspeed bumps – and of course there’s the schoolbuilding itself..“Most people are lovely and friendly,” she says, “but I’vehad drivers shaking their fists at me and shouting.”Sharon has been the lollipop lady at WinstanleyCommunity Primary for a year – she also helps out inschool during the day. It’s close to home for her and sheloves it. There’s the friendly banter with parents, politethank yous and even gifts from the children, and theknowledge that she’s playing an important role in roadsafety. She’s quite literally on the front line of councilservices and has a simple message for drivers: “Pleaseslow down.”Debbie’s supervisor Paul Wood featured on the cover ofthe last issue of Borough Life. He’s seen more than hisfair share of ‘drive throughs’, where motorists won’t stopfor the patrol, and he’s had to help out after a numberof incidents when his patrols have been knocked downby speeding motorists. “Urban driving needs carefuldrivers,” says Paul. “I agree that ‘twenty’s plenty’ and Iam delighted that Wigan Council is taking the lead ondelivering this to our residential areas.”“Please remember the school and the children,” Sharonsays. “The 20mph speed limit is fast enough where thereare vulnerable people around.”Steve, with colleagues across the blue lightservices and Wigan Council, stage vehicle‘crashes’, with students acting as drink drivers.They are performed in real time in towncentres and are an effective way of gettingthe message out.Around 100 vehicles a year in the boroughare involved in collisions attributed to alcohol.Cllr Kevin Anderson, cabinet environmentlead, adds: “The drink drive message is familiarto the law-abiding majority - but beingconfronted with the consequences of a crashreally makes people think about driving afterdrinking any amount of alcohol.“

20Environment21CONTAMINATIONALERTCard goes in the blue binnot the green bin. Pleasedon’t put plastic bags inany of the recycling bins.GET IT SORTED!Items are sorted usingmethods includingelectromagnets andinfrared at specialistrecycling facilities.From Rubbish to Resource“There’s a hidden world of rubbish,and the choices we all make have bigimplications,” says Cllr Kevin Anderson,cabinet lead for the environment. “Wehave to say goodbye to the days whenpeople could just put their bin out onthe kerb and forget about it. It’s timeto think about what happens next.”When you put your bins out out it’s just thefirst step on a journey to turn your rubbishinto something new.The content of your green bin is organic, soit can be processed and used on the soil toimprove its qualities. That happens fairlylocally and is similar to how many peoplealready compost their own green waste – buton a massive scale.The paper products in the blue bins -newspapers and magazines, and nowcardboard and tetrapaks – end up nearChester. There, a sophisticated process turnsit into recycled newsprint and cardboard.The brown bin is for ‘dry recyclables’. Innorthwest depots, they are separated out bya sophisticated system of electromagnets,filters and air jets. Cans are pulled outmagnetically and sent on as new rawmaterials. Most plastic recycling has UKmarkets. PET (polyethylene terephthalate)isn’t just made into new plastic bottles butalso fibre products like insulation materialand even fleeces and duvets.It’s soon going to be possible to recyclesome items from black bins at the council’sKirkless depot in Ince – but at a price, so themessage is that the black bins should be onlythose things that cannot go into one of theother bins.“Rubbish is a resource,” adds Cllr Anderson.“Disposal of items – either in the ground oras energy from waste – should be our lastchoice. We all need to think of the future. Webuy items and bring them into our homes,and when we throw something away, weneed to remember that it’s just the start ofanother journey.”MERRYCHRISTMASPlease place your realChristmas tree fully inside thegreen bin or take it to yournearest recycling centre.Yes we really do want your turkeycarcass and left over sprouts inthe green bin.The Ups andDowns of RecyclingAs these graphs show, we’ve doubledour recycling rate in the last six yearsand halved the amount going to landfill!This excellent news means that theactual total tonnage has gone down.This might seem odd but it’s linked to theamount of municipal waste generatedwhich is falling year on year.Tonnes (1,000s)1401301201101009080706050403006/07Municipal waste landfillRecycling, reuse and composting403836343230282624222007/08 08/09 09/10 10/11 11/12 06/07 07/08 08/09 09/10 10/11 11/12YearYearRecycling and composting rate (%)BIN THERE, DONE THAT“Strong support from residents hasreally helped us boost our recyclingrates.” So says the cabinet memberresponsible for monitoring the refusecollection service. Cllr Kevin Andersonhas been studying the data after thebiggest revamp to council refusecollection services in Wigan Borough.The new food waste service, introducedback in September, now enables residents’food waste to be disposed of in anenvironmentally friendly way, rather than itgoing to costly disposal.Cllr Anderson says that collection rates are upand complaints are down. “I’d like to thankresidents for how they’ve embraced thechanges. It’s not that many years since wefirst introduced recycling services in WiganBorough, so there’s been a lot to take in.“As you see on the chart, anyone whoplaces their rubbish in their green, brownor blue bins is saving everyone money andhelping to save the environment too.”Previously, 99.5 per cent of the borough’sannual 15 million bin collections weresuccessful – the new system has seen thisrise to over 99.7 per cent.Cllr Anderson adds: “This new system savescouncil tax payers £14m over the next sixyears and helps us use that saving to protectthe front line services people rely on. And ofcourse, environmentally it is absolutely theright thing to do to recycle as much as wecan rather than disposing of it.”For more information about recycling visitwww.wigan.gov.uk/recycling

22HealthLiving Healthier. Living LongerDiabetes. Asthma. Stroke. CoronaryHeart Disease. Dementia. Arthritis.Often incurable but managed throughmedication or therapy, these are some of themost common long term conditions.Currently, around 15 million people inEngland live with at least one long termcondition, a figure which may rise over thenext few years.Here in Wigan Borough, 96,000 people areliving with long term conditions and there’san increasing number who may go on todevelop these conditions as they grow older.Most people over 65 have two or more longterm conditions, whilst the majority of over-75s have three or more.This increase is adding to the strain on theNHS, which has to make savings of more than£15 billion over the next three years.That’s why health and social care providers inWigan Borough are currently looking at waysto create efficiencies in the care of peoplewith long term conditions.Living Healthier Longer is a joint programmewhich promotes greater self-care by patients,together with more shared decision-makingbetween patients and clinicians.“We need to rethink how we deliver servicesto local people, to achieve savings whilstensuring we maintain and improve thequality of care we provide,” says Dr TimDalton, Chair of Wigan Borough ClinicalCommissioning Group.“We also need to change the culture of howpeople expect to receive their healthcare andfocus on prevention. It’s vital that we takeaction now, for the sustainability of the NHSand our care systems across the borough.”Sally’s Story.After being diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease,Sally had her large intestine removed. Sherequires regular treatment and currently hasfour separate saline injections every week toprevent her becoming dehydrated.But thanks to the Hospital at Home service,she no longer has to make gruelling trips tothe hospital.Sally explains: “Every Monday, a memberof the H@H team visits me and inserts abutterfly needle into my chest and gives mea litre of saline.“Then for the rest of the week, I sort myself out.I’ve even learnt to insert my own butterflyneedle, either into my left or right thigh, sothat I can inject saline myself.“The H@H team provide me with everythingI need, including saline, butterfly needles,even my own record book.“Some people may be a little scared at first.I know I was, but the team have given methe confidence and skills to self-managemy condition. I see my consultant everysix months at the hospital and if I have anyproblems, I can contact the H@H service upto 8.00pm in the evening.“This marvellous service gives me reassurance,freedom and independence.”Tim adds: “Living with multiple healthconditions is now the norm for manypeople, rather than the exception, and this isassociated with a poorer quality of life, morehospital admissions and higher mortality.“Our vision is to give local people with longterm conditions a chance to enjoy full andpositive lives.”15 MILLIONTHE NUMBER OF PEOPLEIN BRITAIN CURRENTLYLIVING WITH A LONGTERM CONDITIONWould you like to help shape healthand social care in Wigan?Healthwatch Wigan will be a new way forpeople to get involved in helping us makeWigan a healthier, better place to live.It will be a new public voice for health andsocial care from April 2013. It will build onthe good work of previous organisationsbut with a difference – it’s a corporate bodywith statutory functions providing a voicefor patients in shaping and influencingservices locally.We hope to see a confident local Healthwatch,connecting with people everywhere, in ourcommunities, businesses and services. Itwill include involving and engaging public,patients and people who receive socialcare and support, to influence and shapeimprovements, scrutinise and inspectservices, and support good decision making.Healthwatch Wigan will work with all sectorsof the community to ensure it is in tune withthe wider priorities of health and wellbeing,helping to build a vibrant local community.If you would like to know more or would bewilling to become a Trustee of HealthwatchWigan we would like to hear from you.Visit the website at www.healthwatchwigan.org or e-mail info@healthwatchwigan.orgfor more information.23Someone to watch over meIn Wigan Borough, there aremore than 30,000 peopleproviding unpaid care to frail,ill or disabled family members,friends or neighbours.The NSPCC estimates that four per centof children are young carers, whichmeans there are around 3,000 youngpeople in our borough assumingcaring responsibilities.These unsung heroes provide a rangeof health and social care, from assistingwith getting someone dressed, helpingthem to the loo or administering theirmedication; to offering support withpractical tasks, such as shopping,housework, or managing money. Andof course, carers are also a source ofemotional support, too.Many carers find the experience lifeaffirming, a rich source of personalsatisfaction which also providesan opportunity to learn new skills.But without the right support, theresponsibilities associated withcaring for another person can have aprofound impact on an individual. Inextreme cases, it can cause ill health,mental and emotional stress, povertyand social isolation. Carers mightstruggle to hold down a job, maintainrelationships or even simply get a goodnight’s sleep.So, who looks out for the carers?“Carers make an invaluable contributionby volunteering their time, compassionand commitment, so it is vital that thecommunity and public sector partnersrecognise and support them as muchas possible,” says Cllr Keith Cunliffe,Wigan Council’s cabinet member foradult health and wellbeing.To help carers achieve the bestoutcomes for themselves and theirloved ones, Wigan Council and WiganBorough Clinical Commissioning Grouprecently carried out a consultationexercise to find out what services arecurrently available to carers and whatremains a priority for them.Wigan Borough’s carers’ strategy iscurrently being reviewed to take onboard these suggestions together withthe implications of emerging nationalpolicy, financial pressures on thepublic purse and a growing demandfor services.Duncan with his wife and carer, Lyndsey.“Carers are keen to have their roleacknowledged by professionals,especially GPs and health agencies,”explains Cllr Cunliffe. “Young carers inparticular described the importanceof their need for recognition withinschool and were keen to make peoplemore aware of the issues whichaffect them.“Respite was also a recurring theme,raised by two thirds of respondentswho spoke of their need for breaks tosustain them in their role.”Access to education and opportunitiesto help build skills also a prioritiesfor carers.Lyndsey’s StoryThis clearly resonates with LyndseyPimblett from Hindley. Together withher 11 year old son Kian, Lyndsey looksafter her husband Duncan, who has aprogressive illness which has severelyaffected his mobility.“My husband requires regular medicaltreatment so we’re always on the go,”says Lyndsey. “I applied for help to payfor driving lessons because as I am nowa fulltime carer, I no longer work and Isimply couldn’t afford them.“I was thrilled when the council agreed.Having a driving licence will give us allgreater independence and peace ofmind. It’s also a life skill which I can usein the future.”Duncan says: “Wigan Council’s CarersSupport Team has been fantastic.They’ve helped us fill forms in andexplained about the support whichmight be available to us. It’s reallyimproved our quality of life.”For more information and to find outwhat support is available, contact theCarers Support Team on 01942 705983

26PlacesIt’s happening27SADDLE UPTHE project is still a couple ofmonths from completion, butthis Christmas, traffic is alreadyflowing along Wigan Borough’snewest road – Southgate.The new busway between Leigh,Salford and Manchester will addresstwo of the biggest issues that buspassengers have – journey timesand reliability.Travel between Leigh and central Manchesterwill be reduced to around 45 minutes,between Atherton and central Manchesterto around 45 minutes, and between Tyldesleyand central Manchester to around 35 minutes.The journey times will be more reliablebecause the guided busway takes buses outof busy traffic.Welcome home!Across the borough over the last year,around 400 new houses have beenbuilt, giving homes to local people andbringing money into the local economy.Dozens of these have been ‘affordable homes’available for rent or sale. There’s a range oflow cost home ownership options availableto help people on moderate incomes to geta foot on the property ladder when perhapsthey thought moving was beyond theirmeans. Many of the future developmentsproposed locally will have up to 25 per centof new homes in this ‘affordable’ class.Cllr Chris Ready, cabinet lead for housing,explains: “If you live or work in Wigan Borough,Wigan Council could offer you an equity loanon a new build property. That would meanyou only need to get a mortgage for 70 percent of the property value - five per cent ofwhich would be your deposit. This brings abrand new house within the reach of manymore people.”The loan is repayable anything up to 25 yearsafter the date of purchase, and is non interestbearing. There are currently homes availablevia this scheme at College Court in Newtownand most recently, at Oakwood Meadows inShevington. Next year, affordable homes areplanned for Poolstock Lane in Wigan too.“It’s great to have a new house!” says DavidGreen (above, with his partner Lisa). Formerlyof Standish, David says that getting togetherthe usual ten per cent deposit was provinghard for them as they looked to buy their firsthome. “We tried to save up all we could butwhen we saw this scheme promoted at thesales office, we found it far better for us.”Lisa adds: “You need to be sensible andplan your repayments. It comes with theresponsibilities of home ownership but it’sreally common sense.” She says she hastold all her friends to help spread the wordabout the scheme. “Be sensible and plan,” sheadvises, “and you get a lovely home out of it.”College Court is proving to be a very populardevelopment. There are some two bedroomapartments still remaining with an affordableprice of £69,997. Over in Shevington, twobedroom houses are £91,000, with threebedroomed homes from £112,000.Cllr Ready adds: “Our shared equity schemeis just one of several options for local peoplelooking for affordable housing and we nowoffer a range of schemes to suit a variety ofneeds and incomes. We’re putting homeownership within people’s reach at the timewhen it’s really needed.”More information from the council’s housingstrategy team on 01942 489206 about howto apply or to find about future developments,or go to www.wigan.gov.uk and search for‘Affordable Housing’.Journey of a road:Cllr Molyneux receivedthe keys to the old busdepot last year, the site wasdemolished and by thetime you read this, the newA49 route to the SaddleJunction, Southgate, will beopen to traffic.“I’m proud to see the road operating andalready delivering improvements,” saysdeputy leader and economy championCllr David Molyneux. “Southgate is amuch-needed piece of infrastructureand one we have delivered on time.”Drivers will continue to seeconstruction work and equipment onsite until March but engineers alwaysplanned to move traffic from theexisting roads as soon as practical.“It’s been a busy 18 months and we’rein the final stages,” adds Cllr Molyneux.“Last year, I received the keys for theold bus depot and since then we’vecleared the site and opened up newland which will soon be available forinvestment and jobs.”There’s real time passenger informationshowing when the next bus will arrive - notjust when the next bus is scheduled. Andit’s safety first with CCTV and high qualitylighting at the shelters.Guided busways have been successfulelsewhere. In Cambridge, passenger numbersare 40 per cent above forecast, and extraservices are now being run to meet demand.thirty seven per cent of passengers surveyedin Cambridgeshire used to travel by car butnow use the busway instead. A dedicatedbusway in Southampton opened in April andis also proving popular.Latest news:The relocation of the proposed bus stop toimprove access from Tyldesley West to HigherFolds is awaiting final approval after beingsupported at the recent public consultation.In Tyldesley, Cooling Lane will be hardsurfaced so the path is accessible all year, andwill be extended to Squires Lane.As we go to press, the consultation responsesto the proposed changes in Leigh, Tyldesleyand Atherton town centres are beingreviewed. A summary will be sent to thosewho responded and posted on www.tfgm.com/buspriorityWestwood updateThe proposed A49 diversion – providingdual carriageway access to Wigan towncentre for the first time – would see a dropin traffic on the Poolstock ‘B’ road of 69 percent, according to the latest traffic modellingby engineers.The scheme is still in the early planning stages,but will include new pedestrian crossings andfootway improvements in the Rushdene,Holborne Avenue and Morton Avenue areas,as well as new signage and road designwhere Poolstock Lane meets the A49 at theMarus Bridge roundabout.

28 29Your ViewsYour letters and tweetsWELCOME to the Borough Life postbag. We welcome your letters about local issues or comments about articles in the magazine.From this edition, we’re also including a selection of comments from social media so that, whether you are online or not, youcan see what others are talking about. We reserve the right to edit letters but please keep your comments coming: The Editor,Borough Life, FREEPOST NWW3502A, Wigan, WN1 1XZ or email us at boroughlife@wigan.gov.ukWe have concerts on the first Sunday of each month fromOctober to March. We have one of the few full sized Steinwaypianos bought by the people of Leigh from the old Leigh GirlsGrammar School and our venue is above Leigh Library. I thinkwe should have a mention as we are part of the borough.Kevin Mulhearn, Leigh Music Society.Our response: Happy to give you a mention. Keep up the great work!I write in respect of disabled on road parking. Is it not possibleto have disabled spaces marked out? Some people haveno regard for others and the spaces they leave are so far apartthat you could get at least another 3-4 cars in if they parkedproperly. I am sure this would be beneficial to all concerned.Mary Latham, via emailOur response: Kevin Hargreaves, traffic manager, says: “We provideon street disabled parking with longer than normal spaces for thosewho don’t have an off-street parking space and find it difficult parkingclose to their house. You can apply for a bay on the council’s website oron 01942 489309”Rob Halliwell @Rob_HalliwellHad a great night at #haighhall surrounded by Wiganers!Great bonfire and fireworks @WLCT@WiganCouncilWigan&Leigh Housing @WALHousing@gmpolice @WiganCouncil great partnership working!Looking forward to #Atherton’sBigCleanUpTCC Wigan @tcclifeWe’re being a great story at The Pier Centre today: @Yvonne_Taylor and @AFisher82 just offered the@WiganCouncil builders a brew and cakes.Ian Such @iansuchThe streets of #Orrell are now gritted thanks to@WiganCouncil. Great work fellas, the roads of Wiganwill be safer tonight.I see Peter Smith would like to see 20 mph for all the streets.I live on Hamilton Street Atherton, a town which is basicallya 20 mile zone. The average speed on Hamilton St. is between 40and 60 mph, that is including HGVs. The only vehicles to do 20 aremilk floats because that is their maximum speed. Boy racers driveon the wrong side of the road to pass a line of traffic. There are signsat each end of the street saying unsuitable for HGVs but we getthem from 4 o’clock in the morning and as many as 20 to 30 per day.Frank Smith, via email.Our response: Speeding is a matter for police enforcement, but we hopeto include a significant number of streets in the 20mph plans and send aboroughwide message out about safe driving. See page 18Recently, shopping in Golborne, my electric scooter lost power.Unable to push it home I was at a loss to know what to do.Thankfully three young men from Bradwell Estate came to me andoffered to push my scooter. They were polite, caring and happy tohelp. Through your pages I would like to thank them and point outthat not all young people are rude. Well done to those young men.May Lynch, Lowton.Mrs Alison Campbell @SugarShonny@wigancouncil why are all the pubs in King st nowcharging an entry fee. Ridiculous. Its expensive enoughwithout that.Wigan Vets @wiganvets@sjonesuk @wigancouncil The Pyramids were builtquicker than this. How many attempts at solving traffic atSaddle. Highways planners a jokeIn response to the above:Scott Jones @sjonesuk@wiganvets @wigancouncil pyramids took 14-20yrs tobuild, the road has been developed very quickly, I’vewatched it from my office each day.Tony Topping @terrythomas1@WiganCouncil Excellent news that yousupport @alljoinjack and if you could also help@JosephsGoal too that would be superb. Anotherworthwhile local causeScan here!There’s a QR Heritage Trail around HoweBridge in Atherton helping residentslearn more about their local area.There are 27 unobtrusive QR (quick response)plaques around the village. Scanning them takessmartphone users to the Bridgers CommunityGroup’s website packed with historical andenvironmental facts about the area, plus upto date events details.Readers survey: new Borough LifeWhat do you think?You will have noticed this issue of Borough Life looks a little bitdifferent. We wanted to give you a new fresh approach to the wayin which you receive council information. We hope you like it.We are always keen to hear what our readers think about ourmagazine. Simply answer the questions below, cut out this sectionand send it back to us using the free post address listed below(no need for a stamp) and we will enter you into a free prize draw,kindly supported by:Q1. How often would you like to receive Borough Life?Twice per yearThree times per yearFour times per yearQ2. How many pages do you think the magazine should be?162432There’s even a poignant video of the last busarriving at the Lancashire United Transport busdepot – a site where houses now stand.Bridgers community group chairman Terry Dalysays: “Everyone in the village got involved withthis. There’s a strong sense of history and pridein Howe Bridge and this project lets that shinethrough.”The scheme certainly impressed the Britain inBloom judges by winning a Heritage Trophy–why not give it a go? For more information visitwww.bridgers.org.ukQ3. What sort of topics do you like to read about?Tick your top 3:Council policyCommunity newsNew developmentsYoung people’s newsSocial careEducationBusiness and financial newsActivities / leisure / sport / things to doQ4. Would you prefer to read Borough Life online?YesNoPlease indicate which prize you would prefer:Wigan Grand Arcade Voucher worth £20Cineworld Leigh tickets for four for a film of your choiceYour nameYour address including postcodeTelephone numberCalling allvolunteers!Wigan Council isrecruiting volunteers tohear its school appeals.An independent panel meetsat the Town Hall in Wiganeach month to hear appealsfor children who cannot beoffered a place at the schoolof their choice. You do notneed to have any previousexperience in this role. If youhave a few hours to spareand you are interested inbecoming a panel member,you will be fully trainedbefore taking your place ona panel.For further information, orjust for an informal chat todiscuss this further, pleasecontact: Diane Adshead,01942 827121, D.adshead@wigan.gov.uk or JanetDavies, 01942 827028,J.davies@wigan.gov.ukCut this out and return to The Editor, Borough Life, FREEPOSTNWW3502A, Wigan, WN1 1XZ. Closing date for entries is2nd January.

30What’s onwww.visitgreenheart.co.uk31DecemberCHRISTMAS IN THE PARK ATMESNESSaturday 15th December, 12 pm – 3 pmPavilion, Mesnes Park£5 01942 487098HEART AND SOULWe started this issue of BoroughLife with the great news of residents’successes In Bloom.And it’s not just the urban landscape thatwe can be proud of – the two thirds ofour area which is green open space isreally worth exploring. As John O’Neill tellsus, the Greenheart regional park is therefor everyone.“Summer is the obvious time of year toenjoy the countryside, and many of ustake advantage of the long days to headout – perhaps forgetting the open spaceswe have closer to home. Even though thedays are shorter, the winter countryside hasplenty to offer. I enjoy the long shadowsand the crispness of the cold weather andthe different look to familiar places as thetrees shed their leaves. The views you cansee in this year’s Greenheart calendar showwhat we can see just a stone’s throw fromhome. Hundreds of cyclists, joggers, runners,birdwatchers, horse riders and walkers getout around places like Pennington Flash,Amberswood Common and many, manyother favourite local places. Why not jointhem – and perhaps take a camera and getsome photos for our next competition?”John O’Neill is chair of the Greenheartboard. The calendar, with imagestaken by local people, is available fromthe Wigan Life Centre, Museum ofWigan Life and other outlets acrossthe borough.www.visitgreenheart.comWIGAN RSPBWed 12th Dec, 9:15amMeeting point in Standish, Venue will bedecided a fewa days before event.FREE 01942 832383. Booking essentialAN EVENING WITH MARIANNEHOWELLSThu 13th Dec, 6:30pm – 7:45pmMuseum of Wigan Life£2.50 01942 828128. Booking essentialCHRISTMAS CRACKER DISCONIGHTFri 14th Dec, 7:30pmHaigh Hall.£29 01942 832895. Booking essentialMEET A veRY SPECIAL BOOKCHARACTERTue 11th DEC, 10am – 12 noonWigan Library, Wigan Life Centre£3.50 01942 827621CAROLS BY CANDLELIGHTWed 12th Dec, 7:30pmHaigh Hall£10 adults. £5 children, £25 family ticket01942 832895INTRO TO SOCIALNetWORKING FACEBOOKAND TWItteRFri 14th Dec, 3pm – 4pmHindley Library.FREE 01942 255287. Booking essentialFLOWER ARRANGINGThu 20th Dec, 1:00pm - 2:30pm & 2.45pm -4.15pmStandish Library£6 01257 400496THE NEW YEAR BALLMon 31st Dec, 7:30pmHaigh Hall£49.95 01942 832895. Booking essentialJANUARYCINDERELLAFri 11th Jan to Sat 26th JanWigan Little Theatre, Crompton Street,Wigan£10, Concessionary £7.50 01942 242561NORDIC CLINICSat 12th Jan, 9:30am – 10:00amLeigh Sports Centre, meet at reception, SaleWay, Leigh, WN7 4JGFREE 01942 488481RECRUITMENT DAY15th January, 10:00am – 12:00pmLeigh Job Centre and Wigan Life Centre01942 263700 & 01942 404364AN INTRODUCTION TO E-BAYFri 18th Jan, 3pm – 4pmHindley LibraryFREE 01942 255287. Booking essentialDRAWING FOR BEGINNERSSaturday 19th January 10am – 3pmTurnpike Gallery, Leigh£15 01942 404420SPANISH WINE TASTINGEVENINGSat 26th Jan, 7:30pmHaigh Hall£29 01942 832895. Booking essentialWATERCOLOUR STUDY DAYSaturday 26th January, 10am – 3pmTurnpike Gallery, Leigh£20 01942 404420COMMEMORATIONCEREMONIES LINKING TO2013 HOLOCAUST MEMORIALDAYFri 25th January 2013Council Chamber, Wigan Town Hall10:30am – 11:30amDerby Room, Turnpike Centre, Leigh13:30 – 14:30pmFAMILY FUN: VALENTINES DAYSaturday 26 January 2013, 11:00am –2:30pmMuseum of Wigan LifeFREE 01942 828128FEBRUARYLIGHT AND LINE teXTILEEXHIBITION2nd February – 16th MarchTurnpike Gallery, LeighFREE 01942 404420SHROVE TUESDAY FAMILYDAY12th February, 1pmHaigh Hall£10 adults, £6 children, £28 family ticket01942 832895INTRODUCTION TO FELTMAKINGSaturday 23rd February, 10am – 1pmTurnpike Gallery, Leigh£10 01942 404420Some of the images from this year’s Greenheart calendar: - left to right Carol Kirton, David Shallcross, Alison Brown, Jennifer Farley.All information correct at time of going to press. Please contact the venue in advance to confirm details.

Public Servicesover the festive periodCouncil offices will be closed onChristmas Eve, Day, Boxing Day and thefollowing week. Offices will re-open onWednesday 2nd January.Registrar OfficesRegistrars will be open Monday 24thDecember as normal. They will be closedon 25th and 26th December and open 27th,28th and 31st December. They will openagain on Wednesday 2nd January 2013.CemeteriesAll cemeteries will be open (for visitorsonly) as normal from 9am to 4pm every dayduring the Christmas and New Year period.No burials will take place on Christmas Dayor Boxing Day. There will be burials fromnoon on 27th December and the serviceis open on 28th and 31st December. Thereare no burials on New Year’s Day and theservice reopens from noon on 2nd January.Adult Social Care ServicesThe team will be available:22nd December - 8.45 am to 1 pm23rd December - closed24th December - 8.45 am to 5 pm25th/26th December - closed27th/28th December - 8.45 am to 5 pm29th/30th December - closed31st December - 8.45 am to 5 pm1st January - closed2nd January - 8.45 am to 8 pmFor help over the holiday period pleasecontact the Central Duty Team on01942 828777.Home Care Service: service as normalthroughout the holiday period.For enquiries, contact your individualservice provider.Refuse and Recycling collectionsThere are changes to the days of collectionsover the Christmas period. Please referto your collection calendar for moreinformation or find out your dates onlineat www.wigan.gov.uk/recycling. Pleaseput your (real) Christmas tree in your greenbin or take it to one of the borough’sHousehold Waste Recycling Centres.Household Waste RecyclingCentres (HWRCs)All HWRCs will be closed on ChristmasDay, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.Normal opening times will be in placeon all other days.Bad WeatherFurther information about Christmasarrangements and recycling, includingany changes due to bad weather will beavailable on the Wigan Council websiteor by calling our telephone helpline01942 404364.MedicinesMake sure you have a supply of your regularmedicines to last you through the holidayperiod. If in doubt, contact your doctor.Have a supply of remedies in your house forcommon conditions like coughs and colds.Pharmacy RotaChristmas DayElliott Street Pharmacy 177 Elliott Street,Tyldesley, M29 8DR 10am-1pmNew Springs Pharmacy 21 Wigan Road,New Springs, WN2 1DH 1pm-4pmShevington Community Pharmacy,Houghton Lane, WN6 6ET 4pm-7pmGolborne Chemist, 98 High Street,Golborne, WA3 3DA 7pm-10pmBoxing DayManor Pharmacy, 90-92 Manchester Road,Leigh, WN7 2LD 4pm-7pmManor Pharmacy, Wigan Health Centre,Frog Lane, Wn6 7LB 7pm-10pmNew Year’s DayLee Pharmacy, 155 Elliott Street, Tyldesley,M29 8FL 4pm-7pmLambs Pharmacy, Lower Ince Health Centre,Phoenix Way 7pm-10pmLeigh NHS Walk-in CentreThe centre offers fast and convenient accessto healthcare advice, information andtreatment. No appointment is necessaryand the centre is open from 7am to 9pmseven days a week, including during theholiday period.An experienced NHS nurse is available toprovide treatment for minor injuries andillnesses, issue emergency contraceptionand give advice and information on localpharmacy services as well as out of hoursGP and dental services.Leigh NHS Walk-In Centre is situated atLeigh Health Centre, The Avenue, Leigh,WN7 1HR, telephone 01942 483 453.Contact NHS Direct on 0845 46 47 forconfidential health information and advice24 hours a day, seven days a week or onlineGP Out of Hours Service: 01942 829911Dental Out of Hours Service: 01942 614376If you are NOT registered with an NHSdentist but require emergency treatmentplease call the In-Hours Emergency DentalService on 01942 614390 (weekdays 9amand 5pm).District NursingDistrict Nurses will be available throughoutthe Christmas and New Year period,including bank holidays for essentialservices. Contact your local clinic or healthcentre for more information.THE MAGAZINE FORWIGAN BOROUGH RESIDENTS