Local Life - Wigan - January 2018

LocalLife
Wigan Edition January 2018
Iconic local
images
Pages 43 - 46
OMADS Reaches 50
Pages 66 - 68
Charity Ball Pictures
Pages 16-17
Garswood Park Walk
Pages 78 - 81
Local News Motoring Jack’s Tracks Garden Diary Event2Go Home Services
locallife247.co.uk
Photo: Shooting Star over Billinge Beacon by Ian Bonnell

Mere Oaks, Standish £550,000 Back Lane, Appley Bridge £425,000
This 5-bed family home on a small development has
2243 sq ft of magnificent living space and boasts many
quality features including a private large rear garden.
This gorgeous period cottage, has 3 double bedrooms,
a high quality fitted kitchen and exquisitely landscaped
and gated private gardens.
Walthew Green, Roby Mill £350,000 Barrowcroft Close, Standish £300,000
This stunning detached 3-bed property with beautiful
gardens has traditional features combined with a
modern style to make this a magnificent family home.
This impressive 4-bed detached family home in a culde-sac
offers simply stunning living space of the highest
specifications with beautifully landscaped gardens.
Ince Hall Ave, Ince £300,000 Almond Brook Road, Standish £250,000
A truly impressive 3-bed detached bungalow with a
beautiful open plan lounge diner and a stunning fitted
kitchen set within ¼ acre of land.
This 3-bedroom semi-detached home, just 2 mins from
the M6, has two immaculate reception rooms and a
modern kitchen diner rear, with beautiful open views.
a name you can trust

Fellside, Whelley £240,000
An exceptionally large 4-bed detached home, located
on a large plot in a quiet cul-de-sac, with a high level of
presentation throughout and a large rear garden.
Riverdale Close, Standish LG £220,000
Perfectly positioned on this popular development, this
beautifully maintained 4-bed detached family home sits
in a quiet cul-de-sac.
Dicconson Terrace, Wigan £180,000
This large, 4-bed Victorian home with period features
near to Mesnes Park has three reception rooms, a fully
fitted kitchen and low maintenance gardens.
Arnside Road, Orrell £170,000
This immaculately presented 3-bed detached family
home is in excellent decorative order throughout and
boasts beautifully maintained gardens.
Greenhill Crescent, Billinge £160,000
3-bed semi-detached home in Billinge, boasting a
beautiful open plan lounge-diner, a spacious modern
kitchen and a sunroom leading to a rear garden.
West Mount, Whelley £160,000
This beautiful 3-bed semi-detached home boasts a
spacious UPVC conservatory, a stunning fitted kitchen,
and an open plan lounge-diner.
www.alanbatt.co.uk

2
Copyhold Farm, Wrightington - OIRO £800,000
Very rarely does a property like this come up for sale. Parts of Copyhold Farm
date back to the early 1600s and many original features have been retained.
Set within excess of 3 acres of gardens and pastures, this superb 4 bed family
home also offers potential for equestrian use.
www.alanbatt.co.uk

3
Finance Now Available
T&C’s apply, please ask for details
Follow us
Telephone:
01942 583 558
721 Ormskirk Road, Pemberton, Wigan WN5 8AQ
(FREE parking to the rear)
wiganfiresandfireplaces.co.uk
Photo for illustration purposes only

4
Go for it...
Let’s face it, it really doesn’t matter whether the
starting point is the 1st of January, the 24th
April or the 17th September, those readers who have
the will power to commit to a resolution deserve
support. Whether it’s the route to healthiness or
happiness or some other ‘ness’ you’re striving to
achieve this year, we wish you all the best in your
efforts.
Sadly, I will be joining those that ‘do’ resolutions
this year because Santa (ok, my mother-in-law)
has brought me some yoga sessions for Christmas.
That’s right – Yoga Sessions. God, she must hate me
because she knows I have the core flexibility of a slab
of bonfire toffee. However, I have been urged by the
rest of the family that this is a ‘good thing’ so yes, I
shall be visiting a yoga class near you soon – please
don’t laugh at my exertions or any strange noises
that slip out from my being.
What did she get in return? A rather nice binder from
WH Smith with the words; ‘I’m Dead. Now What?’
on the cover, which she can use to carry important
information about her ‘belongings, business affairs
and final wishes’. I still carry the bruise on my head
where she threw it at me.
Anyway, a very happy year to you and yours, let’s
hope 2018 is a good vintage for us all. And as for
Local Life, well, we celebrate our 10th birthday this
year – where has the time gone? Our resolution
this year, as always, is to bring you an ever-better
magazine every issue.
See you next time,
Chris Pearce, Publisher
chrisp@locallife247.co.uk

5
In this issue
Shooting
star
43
Winter
sleep
Regulars
36 Planning
37 Class from the past
62 Puzzle Corner
Sections
6 Property
52 Health
56 Travel
60 Legal & Finance
64 Business View
75 Test Drive
82 Garden Diary
98 The Lump
70 Events2Go
81 Pets
82 Gardening
86 Home Services
52
Half a century of
acting up
66
Test Drive
McLaren
570GT
75
Jack’s Tracks visits
Garswood
Park
78
Next issue - February 2018
Advertising deadline - Thursday, 11 January
Published - Wednesday, 24 January
LocalLife
Local Life 247 Ltd, Unit 8, Hewitt Business Park,
Winstanley Road, Orrell, WN5 7XB
Telephone: 01695 627 999
Publisher: Chris
Sales: Nicola, Chris, Sally
chrisp@locallife247.co.uk
sales@locallife247.co.uk
Editorial: David, Niamh wigannews@locallife247.co.uk
Design: Peter
design@locallife247.co.uk
Distribution: Sally
sallyb@locallife247.co.uk
Accounts: Sam
accounts@locallife247.co.uk
Local Life is published every month and distributed into
the following areas on an alternate monthly basis.
This issue is delivered to 13,034 private homes and
businesses in Orrell, Billinge, Winstanley, Up Holland,
Highfield, Marus Bridge, Roby Mill and Pemberton.
The next issue is delivered to 13,039 private homes and
businesses in Standish, Shevington, Whitley, Appley
Bridge, Standish Lower Ground, Aspull and Haigh.
You can also pick up a free copy of Local Life at Sainsburys
or Tesco Extra in Wigan.
Whilst every care has been taken to ensure that the data in this publication is accurate, neither
the publisher or its editorial contributors can accept, and hereby disclaim, any liability to any
party to loss or damage caused by errors or omissions resulting from negligence, accident or
other cause. No part of this publication may be copied or reproduced without the prior written
consent of Local Life 247 Ltd.
locallifemagazine247 @locallifemedia events2go

6
BIRCHLEY ROAD, BILLINGE £389,950
Impressive detached house boasting substantial living &
entertaining space along with open views to front.
ALDER LANE, CRANK £320,000
Stunning family home providing almost 1400 SQFT and
boasting open views to three sides.
BROOMHEY AVENUE, WHITLEY £250,000
Generously sized 1930s semi-detached home located
on one of Whitley’s most coveted roads.
GRASMERE AVENUE, UPHOLLAND £215,000
An extended 3 bedroom detached house with an
amazing west-facing rear garden. No chain.
NEW
NEW
NEW
NEW
NEW
DEWBERRY FIELDS, UPHOLLAND £199,995
Superbly presented detached family home providing
almost 1000 square feet of living space.
TONTINE, ORRELL £159,950
A newly renovated & truly remarkable grade II listed
Georgian stone-built cottage.
www.reganandhallworth.com Wigan town centre showroom 01942 205555

7
NEW NEW
APPLETON GROVE, GOOSE GREEN £149,995
Impressively sized three storey family home providing a
generous 1192 SQ.FT of living space.
SHEFFORD CRES WINSTANLEY £124,995
Realistically priced semi-detached home located in
popular area & available chain free.
MAYFIELD ROAD, ORRELL £79,995
Competitively priced end townhouse offering superb
potential and available with no chain.
SWINLEY ROAD, SWINLEY £750PCM
A stunning Victorian bay fronted terraced home in ideal
location.
TO LET
TO LET
NEW
TO LET
LIBRARY STREET, WIGAN
£625PCM
Large modern two bedroom self-contained apartment in
the town centre.
NETHERBY ROAD, SPRINGFIELD £525PCM
Newly renovated two bed mid terrace property in a
great location.

8
Wine bar for Winstanley?
A former Winstanley laundrette is set
to be turned into a wine bar.
Unit 12 in The Winstanley Centre, Holmes House
Avenue could soon be the home of a Portland wine
bar, if permission to revamp the vacant laundrette
goes ahead. It was due to be officially approved as
Local Life went to press.
Bar bosses told customers they hope to be open for
business by February.
According to papers lodged with Wigan Council,
vehicle parking will remain the same, and there will
be no external materials used for the site’s proposed
change of use.
Employees at the site will include four full-time
employees; two part-time staff; and the equivalent
of five total full-time employees.
Should the wine bar become a reality, opening
hours are said to be be 12pm-11pm Monday to
Thursday; 12pm-12am on Fridays and Saturdays
and 12pm-11pm on Sundays and Bank Holidays.
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9
Bid for cash
Local community groups in Orrell
and Billinge are being urged to bid
for cash raised by Saturday Breakfast,
the community fundraising group
which operates the breakfast café at
Greenslate Farm in Billinge.
Figures are being finalised as Local Life went to press,
but there is expected to be £1,500-£2,000 up for grabs,
which represents the profits from the September to
November 2016 period. Saturday Breakfast, which
launched in March 2016, have already donated over
£7,000 to twelve local community groups including
the Friends of Orrell Station, Bispham Scouts,
Orrell RU Juniors and Bookcycle. Groups interested
in bidding for funds are asked to email Michael
Winstanley at mwinstanleym@aol.com or call into
Local Life at Hewitt Business Park on Winstanley
Road during office hours to pick up an application.
Saturday Breakfasts are run wholly by volunteers for
the good of local community groups. If you have a
Saturday morning to spare each month and would
like to volunteer then please email alisonbutlin@
me.com. Saturday Breakfast re-starts at Greenslate
Farm on Saturday 3rd February. Supplies for the
breakfasts comes from H Greaves Butchers and from
Windy Arbour farm shop and the doors open at 9am,
with last orders at 11.30am.
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10
One last push for tribute
Campaigners are mounting “one final push” to
help deliver a permanent memorial to Wigan’s
industrial past.
A statue of a mining family has now been formally commissioned
and will be installed on land between the old baths and Wigan
Town Hall.
The driving force behind the bid - Wigan Heritage and Mining
Monument group (WHAMM) - have raised the money for the
actual statue, but are now wanting locals to dig deep one last
time to fund the groundworks and lighting.
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Neil Cain, from WHAMM, told Local Life: “The
campaign had a successful 2017 and benefitted
from some splendid support from the public
and organisations such as the Komatsu Mining
Corporation, Wigan Council, local union branches,
The Victoria public house in Aspull and the White
Lion and Railway in Whelley.
“The team has been active in fund raising
throughout the year aided by Greater Manchester
Police Band, Wigan Cricket Club, Friends of Haigh
Woodland Park and the organisers of the Diggers’
Festival, but we need one big push to get us home
and fund the groundworks and Victorian style lamp
we want to illuminate the sculpture.
“We have an evening of Lancashire songs, poems,
dialect and music at St Michael’s Church, Swinley,
on Friday, February 9. Tickets are £8 each - call
Marianne on 01942 492855.
Donations can be made via www.justgiving.com/
wiganheritage or by cheque to W.H.A.M.M. at 22
Milton Grove,Wigan WN1 2PG
Thousands lost their lives or were injured or
disabled in helping to mine an estimated 750
million tons of coal from the Wigan area. While
there is no complete record of mine workings, it is
known that there have been a total of over 1,000
pits, large and small, across the town.

11

12
Arts hub for village
Mothballed Up Holland Library is
destined for a new lease of life.
Lancashire County Council’s cabinet has agreed in
principle an application for the Community Asset
Transfer (CAT) of Up Holland Library in Hall Green
to Artz for All, a community interest company
which provides creative opportunities and services
to people, schools and organisations across the
district.
As well as providing an independent communityrun
library service, the group is proposing to
turn the building into an arts centre, providing
opportunities for young people to take part
in activities such as drama, music, dance and
photography, as well as providing space for wider
community activities where possible.
The county council had also received a CAT
application from Up Holland Parish Council
for the same building, focused on providing
an independent community-run library and
maintaining it for use by the community, but this
was knocked back.
County Councillor Peter Buckley, cabinet member
for community and cultural services, said: “Libraries
are a vital service at the
heart of our communities,
offering free access to
books and information,
as well as being a place
where communities can
get together.
“We have committed to
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13
reopening libraries where they’ve been closed,
whether they’re run by the county council or
independently by community organisations, and
we are grateful to all the voluntary and community
groups who have shown such commitment to the
library service and its future development.
“We have agreed in principle to transfer ownership
of Up Holland Library to Artz for All and we’ll work
closely with them towards the completion of this
process so that people have access to another
library complementing the statutory service
operated by the county council.
“Up Holland Parish Council made a bid for the same
building and this was a difficult decision to make
because the two applications were very strong, and
both presented excellent options for a library and
community services. We could only accept one of
them but I would like to thank the parish council
very much for the time and effort they have put into
their application.”

14
s
What the doctor ordered
Up Holland and Roby Mill residents are being
advised they can now see a GP in the evenings and
weekends at certain times. Times are as follows: on
Tuesdays from 6.30pm to 8pm at the Skelmersdale
Family Practice; on Wednesdays from 6.30pm to
8pm at the Matthew Ryder Clinic in Up Holland and
at the Tarleton Group Practice from 6.30pm to 8pm;
on Thursdays at the West Lancashire Health Centre
in Ormskirk from 6.30pm to 8pm.
At the weekend, you can see a GP, nurse and
blood clinic at the Sandy Lane Health Centre in
Skelmersdale on Saturday from 10am to 4pm
and on Sunday you can see a GP and nurse from
10am to 2pm. To make an appointment to see an
extended hours GP, contact your GP practice. If your
local surgery is closed, you can still see a GP with
the out-of-hours service; just call 111 and you can
speak to a local GP over the phone or face to face
if necessary.
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New homes
The first stage of a major housing development in
Wigan has been given the green light by councillors.
Wigan Council’s planning committee has approved
the building of 157 homes by Bellway Homes at
land south of Landgate Lane in Bryn.
Earn extra
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for the following areas;
Winstanley
Pemberton Road, Pennine Avenue area
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LocalLife

15

16
Charity night out
Two charities benefitted to the
tune of £4,000 from a Charity Night
organised by local estate agent
Borron Shaw.
Proceeds from the night were shared by The
Brick, the homeless charity from Wigan, and
a national charity, The PSP Association, which
provides practical help and advice for people with
Progressive Supranuclear Palsy & Cortico Basal
Degeneration. The event was held at Houghwood
Golf Club in Billinge, and a charity raffle and auction
was followed by a disco.
The Charity Night was such a success that plans are
already in place to hold the event again in 2018. If
you would like to register for tickets to the event,
please call Borron Shaw on 01695 632123.

17

18
HOLLAND HALL
HOTEL
THE PERFECT WEDDING DAY
Holland Hall Hotel is set in private grounds of the Historic Village of Upholland. The Original Manor
House dates back to 1654 offering original features such as open fireplace and original beams.
The Contemporary Garden & Terrace Wedding Suites offer a modern setting leading onto a private
garden patio. The Suites are also licensed for Wedding Ceremonies including the Garden Pergoda.
Please contact Holland Hall Wedding Co-ordinator Karen Caddock to
arrange an appointment to discuss your Perfect Day
SPECIAL
OFFER
Perfect Wedding Day Package £5495
available on Saturdays for dates remaining in 2018, call Karen,
Wedding Co-ordinator at Holland Hall for further details
HOLLAND HALL
HOTEL
Fish & Chip Friday
on Fish & Chips all day Friday
BUY
GET
FREE
1
1
Terms & Conditions
All monies are nonrefundable and nontransferable. Restaurant bookings of 8 or more will be required to pay a deposit of £5 per person. The hotel offers a free car park, but is not
liable for damage to or theft of/from vehicles. We regret that for any decrease in confirmed party guest numbers, payments, including deposits cannot be offset against food,
beverages or accommodation. If a booking is held provisionally, the hotel reserves the right to remove the booking if it is not confirmed with a deposit within one week. For all
bookings only the organiser is responsible for payments and amendments, and the collecting and providing of orders using the pre-order sheets. This voucher is not to be used in
conjunction with any other offer. A booking has to be made to validate the voucher.
This voucher booklet excludes all Valentine Day promotions.
Management reserves the right to change or otherwise modify and bookings in order to meet the needs of the company.
Allergen Information - Any of the dishes listed on our new menu may contain one or more of the 14 allergens. Allergen advice is available on request. Please advise a member of
staff it you have any particular dietary requirements. Valid: Monday 15th January 2018 - 28th February 2018
OTHER OFFER VOUCHERS AVAILABLE PLEASE CALL TO RECEIVE YOUR VOUCHER BOOKLET
info@hollandhallhotel.co.uk | Tel: 01695 624 426 | www.hollandhallhotel.co.uk

19
Farm plan on hold
Plans to develop part of a Tontine farm are on hold.
Helen Ashton had applied for permission to convert
vacant workshop at Lawns Farm, 40 Lawns Avenue,
into four homes. However, the application has now
been withdrawn pending the results of a winter bat
survey. Up Holland Parish Council had objected to
the development, citing issues related to rights of
way and access: “ The parish council is confident that
the existing Right of Way from Sandford Road, over
land owned by Up Holland Parish Council, does not
extend to potential residents living in converted
workshop units. It is our understanding that this is
not a public right of way and only applies to owners
of Lawns Farm for their use and in connection with
the farm business.”
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new customers
in 2018?
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Simply email us at wigannews@locallife247.co.uk
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01942 833908
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20
Sports hub cash bid
A new sports hub could be created in
Newtown.
Lathwaite Park, off Lathwaite Road, is in the running
as Wigan Council bids to bring a £10m boost to
grassroots sport through the creation of three
state-of-the-art hubs. The other preferred sites are
Howe Bridge in Atherton and Cardinal Newman
playing fields in Hindley.
Wigan Council is applying to be part of the
successful Parklife programme spearheaded by
the Football Association, the Premier League and
Sport England. Parklife is The FA’s plan to address
poor facilities in grassroots football and has already
delivered state-of-the-art 3G artificial grass pitches
in cities including London and Sheffield.
Clubs currently holding leases on the preferred
hub sites are being consulted with and have been
invited to be partner clubs and use Parklife as their
base. The hubs will have a minimum of three full
sized floodlit 3G artificial grass pitches, changing
rooms and clubhouse facilities for community
sports clubs representing all playing ages to use
and car parking.
Council bossies say they will significantly reduce
disruption caused by frozen and waterlogged
surfaces during the harsh winter months.
The centres will be fully accessible and will present
opportunities to play flexible forms of the game
and will be available for use by other sports.
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21

22
Club nets impressive title
Winstanley Tennis Club Juniors
have beaten competition to
become reigning champs.
The Junior Team is now the Bolton League
Division One Champions which is a
tremendous rise from their position as
runners up in Division Two last season.
Helen Cannell, from Winstantley Tennis Club,
said: “This is a fantastic achievement in their
first season in Division One.
“Well done to all the team: Jemma Cannell,
Niamh Everett, Lucy Parker, Eliza Winstanley,
Tom Dillon, Dylan Hartley, Jack Parker, Tom
Sanderson and Joseph Burrows.”

23

24
Margaret’s delight
A Goose Green woman had a bumper
festive season thanks to Local Life.
Margaret Donnelly of Clapgate Lane, won one
of our hampers as a raffle prize at MP Yvonne
Fovargue’s annual veterans lunch.
Over 120 veterans attended the event at St
Matthews Parish Hall, Highfield. Cllr Clive Morgan,
a former Welsh Guard and veteran of the 1982
Falklands War was MC for the day.
Guests enjoyed a traditional three-course Christmas
lunch by H&H Catering Ltd and were entertained by
St Edmund Arrowsmith High School students.
MP Fovargue welcomed special guests Mr Mark
Dumican, Headteacher at St Edmund Arrowsmith
High School and Deputy Leader of Wigan Council,
Cllr David Molyneux.
The Rev Sian Gasson opened the event with prayers
followed by the Exhortation led by Mr John Burns
(Chair – Ashton in Makerfield Royal British Legion)
and Mr Lawrence Powers (Burma Star Association).
Yvonne Fovargue MP said: “On behalf of the whole
community across the Makerfield constituency, I
want to recognise and celebrate the outstanding
contribution made by the men and women present
today both at home and abroad.”
Winstanley Cllr Clive Morgan said: “I am grateful
to Yvonne Fovargue MP, local councillors and
Wigan Council for supporting the lunch since the
inaugural event in 2012.”
Funding row protest
Winstanley College’s principal Louise Tipping has
joined protests over funding for maths students.
Under plans unveiled in the last Budget, schools
and colleges will receive an extra £600 per student
– but only for each additional student that decides
to study A level Maths, Further Maths or a Core
Maths qualification.
The leaders of the North West’s 21 Sixth Form
Colleges say the Chancellor should have taken
the opportunity to increase the basic rate of
funding for all sixth form students. At a meeting
at Winstanley College, the Principals backed the
Support Our Sixth-form campaign which is urging
the government to increase funding for every sixth
form student by £200.

25

26
Secret meeting over link road
Wigan councillors met in secret to
agree Compulsory Purchase Orders
powers for the new M58 link road.
The move gives town hall bosses the power to force
private landowners to sell land to them.
The decision was taken “after taking account of
human rights issues.”
At the meeting, councillors also gave civil servants
the authority to seek a preferred contractor to
deliver the scheme. However, this will be subject to
a further report.
It’s believed there may be scope to use the scheme
as a way to securing Apprenticeship placements.
The controversial road, which will connect the M58/
Orrell junction with Ince, has been talked about for
a number of years. This, however, marks the biggest
step to date in making the road become a reality.
Official minutes from the private discussion say:
“The Cabinet considered a report, which provided
Members with an update on the M58 Link Road
Scheme and requested approval to progress
the scheme up to the submission of full funding
approval, including undertaking a competitive
tender exercise to identify a preferred contractor
to deliver the scheme. The report also requested
approval for the making of a Compulsory Purchase
Order (CPO), in respect of the land and new rights
required to construct the new link road.
“Members asked a number of questions and
commented on the various aspects of the report.
They were pleased with the timescales that had
been proposed and suggested that regular updates
were essential.”
A number of locals are against the scheme,
including some in Highfield. They claim the road
would present major health and safety issues
including increased noise and air pollution, loss of
wildlife habitats and loss of open space.
A residents’ spokesman added: “We passionately
believe that this link road would cause much more
harm than good and would rather that Government
funding - taxpayers’ money - be put into creating
better public transport, helping local business’ and
encouraging greater community cohesion and a
safer, cleaner, healthier, sustainable place to live.”

27
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28
Property
Philip Hammond saved
the best till last in his
Autumn Budget.
Following more than an hour
of outlining his financial vision
for the UK he grabbed the
headlines by announcing that
Stamp Duty is to be abolished
for first time buyers purchasing
homes up to the value of
£300,000. I see this as fantastic
news and welcome the move
with open arms. Why?
First time buyers are essential to
keep the property market moving and this decision
to abolish Stamp Duty for first time buyers will save
them between £6000 to £15000.
Many property chains have first time buyers in
them and without them the market slows down
and can stagnate, so any measure to help people
get onto the property ladder is to be applauded
Alan Batt
Alan Batt is a member of The Royal Institution of
Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and has worked within
the Wigan property market for over 30 years.
Budget boost
by Alan Batt
and this Stamp Duty decision
will certainly help people,
especially young people, buy
their own homes and will
energise the local market.
We’ve plenty of first time buyers
recently who have registered
their interest in properties but
have wisely held off pursuing
purchases any further until the
budget because of talk around
a possible abolishing of Stamp
Duty for first time buyers. These
people are now motivated to
move with extra money in their pockets.
Mr Hammond also announced a raft of other plans
connected with housing including:
Concentrating new homes in city centres and
around transport hubs.
Five new garden towns developed by public and
private partnerships.
Commissioning an urgent review to be ready by
next Spring to look at the gap between planning
permissions and the number of homes built.
An extra £44 billion capital funding, towards
guarantees and loans for extra homes.
More help to develop new homes on smaller
plots to help small and medium sized property
developers.
A consultation looking at longer tenancies in the
private rental sector.

29

30
A stated aim to see the end of rough sleeping in the
UK by 2027, with three new pilot schemes muted.
And giving powers to local authorities to charge
100 per council tax on empty properties.
It’s not often, especially in recent years, that we’ve
been excited about something announced in a
budget, but the Stamp Duty news will really boost
the market in and around Wigan. If you’re a firsttime
buyer keen to learn what’s now available
to you locally, or a property owner interested in
learning more about how this announcement can
benefit you, please give me a call on 01942 233999
or send an email to: sales@alanbatt.co.uk
Wigan Wages outstrip
house prices
Irecently read a report by the Yorkshire Building Society that 54% of the country has seen wages rise faster
than property prices in the last 10 years. The report said that in the Midlands and North, salaries had
outperformed property prices since 2007, whilst in other parts of the UK, especially in the South, the opposite
has happened and property prices have outperformed salaries quite noticeably.
Digging a little deeper for a local angle, I took a more detailed look at the Office of National Statistics (ONS) data
for Wigan Council and discovered that in the last ten years, salaries in Wigan have risen by 17.1%, more than
the regional picture, which increased 15.8% over the same period and slightly less than the national picture,
which showed an increase of 17.6%.
Over the same ten year time frame, net property values in Wigan are 2.62% higher than they were in Spring
2007 (If you remember they dipped quite a bit in 08/09) and therefore wages in the Wigan area have increased
at a higher rate than property values to the tune of 14.5%.
All this is important, as the relationship between salaries and property values is the basis on how affordable
property is. On the face of it, the change between 2007 and 2017 in terms of ‘property-affordability’ hasn’t been
that great. Go back another 10 years to 1997 though, and that tells a completely different story.
In 1997, house prices were on average 3.5 times workers’ annual wages, whereas now workers can typically
expect to spend around 7.7 times annual wages on purchasing a home. Although my figures show that the
situation is improving in Wigan, the damage done to the home ownership market in the 1980’s and 1990’s will
take a long time to rectify.
If you want a chat about where the Wigan property market is going – please read my other blog posts on
http://wiganpropertynews.blogspot.co.uk or drop me note via email on sales@alanbatt.co.uk
For more of Alan’s tips, guidance and analysis
on the Wigan property market, check out
www.wiganpropertynews.blogspot.co.uk

31

32
Overdevelopment fears
Over 100 new homes for Up Holland
would represent overdevelopment.
That’s the view of local parish councillors who have
objected to Morris Homes Ltd’s proposals to build
on land at Chequer Lane, near the M58 and Tower
Hill Road.
In a letter to West Lancs borough planners, Up
Holland Parish Council said: “The proposals would
result in an overdevelopment of this site in the
light of Up Holland’s infrastructure, such as schools,
dentist, doctors that have been identified, with
no assessment made of the capacity of these to
accommodate further residential development.
“It is the opinion of the parish council that residents
would use cars for shopping either in Up Holland
centre or further afield. There is already insufficient
public parking in central Up Holland forcing
people to park in the surrounding residential areas
which at times are unable to cope with this.”
No final decision had been made on the bid as
Local Life went to press.
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34
More ready for school
The number of children ready for
school in Wigan Borough has almost
doubled in the last five years.
As the Mayor of Greater Manchester urges
organisations to sign up to a new pledge to help
get children ready for school, Wigan’s school ready
journey is already well underway.
Figures released by the Department for Education
showed that last year 12,157 children in Greater
Manchester started school not ready to learn. This
represents 32.5 per cent of children who started
school last year in the city-region. In Wigan school
readiness figures have improved significantly over
the last five years from 37 per cent in 2013 to 69 per
cent in 2017 – higher than the 67 per cent North
West average. Wigan Council was invited to speak at
the October Greater Manchester School Readiness
Summit by Mayor Andy Burnham.
At the summit the Mayor said more needed to be
done to bring neighbourhood services like health
visitors, school visitors, GPs and schools together
to identify and support those children at risk. This
approach is already being utilised in Wigan through
its Start Well model.
Mike Chew, assistant director for children’s
integration at Wigan Council, said: “The model was
set up two years ago after residents told us they
wanted services to be more accessible and joined
up. On the back of that we commissioned five Start
Well Family Centres to be based in those areas facing
the most difficult challenges in a bid to improve
outcomes for children and families.”
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36
Planning Matters
Orrell
321 Orrell Road: Erection of greenhouse to
rear following removal of existing shed. (ref:
A/17/84770/HH).
Land adjacent to 59 Brook Lane: Change of use
of land to form garden curtilage together with
erection of 1.8 metre boundary fence. Retrospective
application. (ref: A/17/84794/RET).
Wigan Central
Land adjacent to 375 Wigan Lane: Erection
of detached 3 storey dwelling with first floor
balcony to rear together with vehicle access and
landscaping. (ref: A/17/84700/FULL).
Royal Albert Edward Infirmary, Wigan Lane: Listed
Building consent for the erection of a single storey
extension to front elevation of the emergency
department. (ref: A/17/84904/LB).
Wigan West
Beech Hill Medical Practice, Beech Hall Street:
Prior notification for the demolition of the medical
centre. (ref: A/17/84843/DEM).
Winstanley
Winstanley Dry Cleaners, Unit 12, The Winstanley
Centre, Holmes House Avenue: Change of use
from laundrette to a wine bar. (ref: A/17/84698/CU).
26 Culcross Avenue: To extend dwellinghouse,
single storey to side and rear. (ref: A/17/84825/HH).
For more information on these plans, visit
www.wigan.gov.uk
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37
Class from the past
This month’s Class from the Past is actually a photo
of teachers from Up Holland High School. It’s
believed this photo was taken around 1972. Maybe
you can spot a familiar face? Remember, if you have
a photo you’d be willing to share, contact us today
by emailing wigannews@locallife247.co.uk

38
Care leavers’ Council Tax break
Young adults who have left care are
to be exempt from paying council tax
in the area.
Wigan Council’s cabinet approved plans to
exempt anyone aged between 18 and 21 who has
previously been cared for by Wigan Council from
paying council tax.
It is hoped the move will help support care leavers
to establish independence and reduce the risk of
these young people from getting into debt and rent
arrears at this crucial time in their life.
The change has been introduced by the council
immediately and will be back-dated to April.
Care leavers in full time education up to the age of
25 are already exempt.
James Winterbottom, Wigan Council’s director for
children’s services, said: “Care leavers are among the
most vulnerable groups in our community but also
have many individual skills and talents that benefit
our communities in many ways and we want to
make sure that we support them.”
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39
Action over wellbeing
Incidents of self-harming in West
Lancashire appear to be falling.
Data compiled by health chiefs show that the
amount of emergency hospital admissions have
fallen each year since 2012/13.
The highest number of suicides in Lancashire is in
the Preston area, which is between 13.8-16.8 per
100,000 people. The English average is 10.1.
A report to county councillors said: “Suicide rates
in Lancashire are high. Amongst women under 30
years old and males under 40 years old, suicide is the
leading cause of death in the county. Overall suicide
rates (all persons), female suicide rates and years of
life lost due to suicide (all persons, males and females)
are significantly higher than the national figures and
Lancashire does not perform significantly better
than the national average on any suicide indicator.
Our vision for the future is to reduce suicide rates
in Lancashire at a county-wide level both through
targeted interventions aimed at those at the highest
risk of suicide and through more upstream initiatives
that seek to improve the wellbeing of the Lancashire
population and that have wider societal benefits.”
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40
Helping the homeless
Wigan Rotary Club and Soroptimist
International of Wigan have again
joined together to help The Brick by
donating sleeping bags for some of
the homeless in the town.
Wigan Rotary Club president Gwyneth Millard said
‘Once more we are delighted to be able to help The
Brick with their work in providing much needed
care for the homeless. Sleeping bags are a small
part of what they need but we are confident they
will serve a useful purpose.’
Angela Holmes, Wigan Soroptimist president,
agreed and continued ‘The charity do such
wonderful work in the town.”
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43
Shooting star
David Sudworth meets the Billinge dad-of-two whose
photographs are delighting locals
Ian Bonnell knows he’s lucky. “Most people who enjoy photography have to
travel for miles, but we’ve got great scenery on our doorstep.”
He’s not wrong. Although technically, Ian himself came quite a long way to enjoy the
scenery Billinge and the surrounding area has to offer - from
Australia to be precise.
“I was born in Melbourne because my parents, Eddie
and Mary, emigrated there in 1965. They had me in
1968 but came back in 1970. So I’ve been in Billinge
since I was two and grew up on Hillside Close.”
The former Chapel End and Rainford High pupil
is becoming well known in the area for his
stunning photographs - mostly thanks to the
power of social media.

44
Crosby Beach

45
Liverpool Waterfront
“I’ve always sort of been interested in photography
and my dad certainly was. In fact, every so often we
come across photos he took of Billinge in the 1970s.
Some of them have even appeared in Local Life.
“She thinks I’m mad for going out at five o’clock in
the morning, trying to catch the sun coming up,” he
laughs.
For Ian, 49, it remains largely a hobby. By day he
works across the North West repairing petrol pumps
“Wife thinks I’m mad for
getting up at 5am!”
on garage forecourts.
“It’s starting to become a bit of a business but
there’s not a great deal of money in photography
unless you’re a wedding photographer, and for me
it’s more man-management than anything else.
“I’ve been to photograph my son Matthew’s band,
Last Reserves, but even that is completely different
Sign Post Billinge

46
to doing landscapes. It’s nice to have variety
though. I had a stall at St Aidan’s Church’s Christmas
fair a few weeks ago and sold a few then. It’s not at
the stage where it’ll pay the mortgage though,” he
smiles.
For Ian, his own particular interest is when there’s
any sort of activities in the skies.
“Doing trigonometry for
first time in 30 years”
Carr Mill Dam
“I’ve captured a shooting star going over Billinge
Hill and various shots of the moon. To be honest, a
lot of the skill is about being in the right position
to take the shot. For the first time since school, I’m
doing trigonometry and reading maps. For some
shots of Billinge Hill, I’ve been standing on a bridge
over the M58 at Skelmersdale.
“It’s all good fun though, and I just hope people get
as much enjoyment out of them as I do.”
To view Ian’s photos, visit www.facebook.com/
IanBonnellPhotography/
Cloudscape Billinge
Wigan Pier

47

48

49

50
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51
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52
Health & Fitness
Winter sleep
By Abi Jackson
There is never a time when sleep isn’t
important. But with the shorter, vitamin
D-deprived days, gloomy weather - and the dread
that it’s going to drag on for months - at this time of
year, solid slumber is more vital than ever.
Winter, like all the seasons, has its joys (little beats
a stroll on a perfect, crisp winter’s morning; stark
blue sky, robins and the last of the leaves glistening
with dew). But the reality for many is it can be quite
hard work, too, whether it’s loneliness, worrying
about the cost of Christmas or suffering the moodzapping
effects of seasonal affective disorder (SAD),
not to mention those winter bugs doing the rounds.
And so we’d do well to give ourselves - and our
immune systems - a helping hand, which in so
many ways, starts and ends with decent dozing.
Here are five things to think about if you want to
win at winter sleep.
Hot and cold
Nobody wants to lie shivering in bed with feet
like ice blocks. But overheating can actually be
more detrimental to sleep, so it’s important to
get the temperature just right. “Ideally, the brain
temperature needs to be fractionally lower than the
body’s core temperature, so ideally your bedroom
needs to be cool, around 19C,” says physiologist
and sleep expert Dr Nerina Ramlakhan, author
of Fast Asleep, Wide Awake: Discover The Secrets
Of Restorative Sleep And Vibrant Energy (£12.99,
Harper Thorsons). “So you’ll walk in and find it a
bit chilly, but you can put a hot water bottle into
the bed which you then discard as you get cosy. It’s
important not to overheat as this will make sleep
fretful and restless. I find it helpful to keep a fan in
my room, even in winter, carefully positioned so I
don’t get too cold if I use it. Also, a eucalyptus stick
on your bedside table’s a good idea. Eucaplytus is
cooling, so if you wake during the night - 2 to 4am
is the most likely time for overheating - you rub
the menthol stick between your eyebrows and
temples and it has a cooling effect on the brain and,

53
surprisingly, the mind.” Go for layers of bedding,
rather than one thick duvet, “so you can discard
some as you journey through the night”.
Comfort is key
A comfortable bed, that’s just right for you, makes
a big difference - but often it’s only when you
actually experience it, that you realise just HOW
much (investing in memory foam pillows actually
changed my life). A calm environment can equal
a calm mind, but when it comes to designing
your bedroom, “quality of sleep should be the top
priority”, notes James Cox, co-founder and CEO of
British brand Simba Sleep, whose unique 2,000
spring/Visco memory foam mattresses can be
delivered to your door in a box (from £399, www.
simbasleep.com and selected John Lewis stores).
“So ditch the lumpy, uncomfortable mattress.” The
best mattresses aren’t likely to be the cheapest, but
if you are looking to make investments, few things
are more rewarding than years of good sleep.
A good mattress can also play a role in helping
manage and reduce aches and pains. Cox notes
that innovations have come a long way, so it’s worth
considering designs that combine experience and
technological developments.
Tech it or leave it
We bang on about the importance of stepping
away from those screens before bedtime, but the
message just isn’t getting through for many of
us (according to a recent survey by Simba Sleep,
almost one in six Brits spend at least two hours a
day on social media in bed). Bottom line: if you want
to nail a solid sleeping routine, you need to switch
off those devices. Dr Ramlakhan recommends an
“electronic sundown” of around an hour before
getting into bed, in order to calm those dopamine
hits from constantly looking at a screen, and cut
down on the blue light exposure that suppresses
melatonin - “the sleep hormone” - production. “We
might associate the device with being mentally
engaged and in work-mode too, especially if we
also have access to email on the device,” she adds.
Try old-school bedtime reading - with actual books
- instead. “Neuroscience shows that the reading

54
brain responds differently to reading on paper than
it does to reading on a screen. With the latter, the
reading rate tends to be faster, less mindful and
more skimming - sort of multi-task reading - as if
looking at a social media feed. Reading on paper
tends to be more mindful, and we slow down and
read in more detail (neuroscientists call this deep
reading).”
What’s on the menu?
Just as we think about fuelling up in the morning,
with energy-boosting breakfasts and those allimportant
caffeine kicks, if you’re aiming to improve
your sleep, the same theory applies at the end of the
day - in reverse. So tailor what you eat and drink in
the evening, with winding-down in mind. Keeping
stimulating and sugary substances to the first half
of the day is one thing, but it can go beyond that.
“To sleep well, we need to eat foods that help
the brain produce melatonin: a small amount of
carbohydrates with a small amount of protein rich
in tryptophan,” suggests Dr Craig Hudson, founder
of Zenbev.com. “A cheese sandwich will help sleep,
but a big steak dinner will make your sleep worse.
Food for sleep is like everything else; a little in
moderation works well.” A late heavy dinner may
make you feel sleepy, but setting your digestive
system up for a night of overdrive isn’t going to
amount to the best quality slumber. The same goes
for alcohol - yes it may seem to help you drift off,
but booze actually hinders quality sleep. Making a
soothing tea part of your pre-bedtime routine is a
great idea - not only can this be a natural way to
aid sleep, but the simple act of making yourself a
cuppa, and then sitting quietly to sip it, nurtures a
sense of calm and mindfulness.
Embrace bathing rituals
Running yourself a bath is a fantastic way to embrace
self-care, treat yourself to a little luxury, and really
switch from manic ‘day mode’ to relaxed and sleepready
(and it’ll help with dragging yourself away
from those screens, too). Even once a week, a bath
is worthwhile, and alchemist, aromatherapist and
intuitive body worker Michelle Roques-O’Neil,
founder of the ‘balancing and emotionally healing’
THERAPIE product range, says even a 10-minute
bath will make a difference when you don’t have
time for a half-hour soak. Make the ritual even
richer by incorporating some aromatherapy based
products, such as THERAPIE Himalayan Detox Salts
(£38 for 400g, roquesoneil.com), which combine
pink Himalayan salts, geranium, juniper berry
and powdered amethyst. “This is one of our most
popular products,” says Roques-O’Neil. “It’s great for
when you’re really overextended, especially with
digital overload. If you’re very anxious, suffering
from insomnia, you’ve just overdone it. This will help
pull you down to Earth.” Applying a soothing body
oil, or lavender-based moisturiser, can be another
effective step in your snooze-ready self-care ritual,
finishing off with a spritz of lavender pillow spray.
WELLBEING NEWS
85% of over-75s say listening to music
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It’s often said that scent is incredibly powerful
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three-quarters of the 500 over-75s quizzed as part
of the charity’s Sing Your Heart Out campaign,
admit they’ve forgotten lots of things - but can still
remember the words of their favourite songs. Many
say music has the power to help them remember
pivotal events from their past, such as the day they
met their partner (14%), a special day (12%) or their
wedding day (8%). Furthermore, 92% agree that
singing along to music lifts their mood, 81% think
it helps keep their mind active, while 63% say it
helps them forget health worries. Presenter Phillip
Schofield, said: “My song is Make Me Smile by Steve
Harley and Cockney Rebel. That’s my childhood in
a song. What seemed like endless summer days,
growing up in Newquay. Playing on the beach,
being late for tea having lost track of time.”

55

56
Travel
Mentioned by the Daily Telegraph as
one of the 20 Mediterranean islands
you must visit in your lifetime, Zakynthos (or
Zante has it is more popularly known) is the most
southerly of the Ionian Islands and one of the most
popular Greek islands. There is something for all
the family on this gorgeous island with stunning
Zakynthos for
everyone
views, where locals offer tourists the hospitality
which Greece is famous for. This island paradise
has three distinct geographical areas: the north
west region is mountainous with many traditional
mountain villages, the central region is a fertile
plain chock-full with olive groves and vineyards
and the south east is characterised by its beautiful

57
beaches. Similarly, there are a range of contrasts on
the island for tourists, depending on what you’re
looking for in a holiday. Zante boasts numerous
sandy beaches, mountain villages, beautiful natural
scenery, water sports and good quality restaurants,
bars and nightclubs to more than cater for all your
entertainment needs.
If it’s all out partying you’re after, then Laganas
will fit the bill perfectly. Over 100 bars and clubs
are packed into the main street in Laganas, so you
can imagine how exciting things get during the
summer holidays. Just off the coast of Laganas
is the famous Marathonisi ‘Turtle’ Island, with
beautiful almost tropical beaches, and also a small
bay with intriguing sea caves to explore and a great
spot for snorkellers. There are no buildings allowed
on the island, but a quaint boat that bobs around
the island selling refreshments.
But for those who want to simply relaxing in an
achingly beautiful setting you’ll find there are ideal
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Zante holidays for you. Go to Alikanas and you’re
ideally placed for exploring Zante’s lush north coast
which has dramatic white cliffs, magical sea caves
and one of the most beautiful beaches in the whole
of Greece.
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Take a trip to one of the Zante’s best loved tourist
spots, the Blue Caves, which are located at the
northern tip of the island, underneath Cape Skinari.
The caves show a range of blue hues on the white
rocks caused by reflections from the sea. The area
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58
is popular for snorkelling to see the wide range of
marine life living in the clear waters.
On the south eastern tip of the island, the pineforested
Vasilikos peninsula is an area that has been
mostly protected from large-scale development
because of the loggerhead turtles that breed on
Gerakas beach. Arguably the most beautiful area
on the island. Nearby Daphni beach, also a turtle
nesting beach, is well-worth a visit too.
Not far from Keri is the beautiful pebble beach of
Marathias. It is off the beaten track and well-worth
the walk down. The island also boasts one of the
most photographed beaches in Greece, Shipwreck
Cove, which is a blissful cove backed by plummeting
limestone cliffs; but be warned, there is usually a
long queue out onto the viewing platform where
you can photograph it.
The Zante authorities take their conservation
seriously; the only airport on the island is closed
after dark because it’s close to beaches where
Greece Checklist
Language: Greek
Currency: Euro
Time: +2 hour
Beer: €3.50
Cappuccino : €2.91
3 Course Meal: €15
loggerhead turtles lay their eggs at night and some
of the beaches are also closed at night for the same
reason.
It’s no wonder that the Telegraph rates this jewel in
the Ionian, Zante, so highly. With its breath-taking
green hills, lemon and orange trees, authentic
Greek villages, olive groves, vineyards, long white
beaches; all framed by a crystal clear blue sea. Your
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59

60
Financial Planning
New Year
Resolutions
by David K Barton
APFS Cert CII(MP),
Chartered Financial Planner
and Managing Director
AHappy New Year to everyone, let’s hope
you will all “Prosper” throughout 2018.
Amongst the nation’s favourite resolutions are
more exercise, more dieting and less drink. Sadly,
all these involve an element of deprivation and it’s
hardly surprising that even the most strong willed
of us are faltering by mid-February.
One resolution that you may want to retrospectively
add to your list, which importantly involves very
little pain but can have significant benefits, is to
have an investment health check.
Every January I notice a significant increase in the
number of enquiries from Local Life readers.
What prompts this increase?
Perhaps time off over Christmas, completion of
tax returns, whatever the trigger, reviewing and
revamping your portfolio now could make a
significant difference to your portfolio value. Apart
from weeding out the poor performing funds and
checking you’re still on track, you might find your
finances could be arranged more tax-efficiently.
I was recently talking to a new client who was
having a moan about the amount of paperwork
he was receiving from all his different investments.
At the heart of the problem was that “everything
was all over the place” - for every investment he
was dealing with a different company. He’d lost
complete control of his portfolio and the piles of
paper in his study had continued to grow. No action
was being taken by his previous adviser, potentially
costing him money.
He didn’t have a clue what his valuations were and
didn’t know how well his investments had been
performing. I asked him what his “ideal” would feel
and look like. He replied that he wanted to;
Retake full control of his investments rather than
getting swamped with paperwork and information.
Have “peace of mind” knowing that an expert was
also keeping an eye on his investments.
Invest in a wide choice of leading companies
without being tied in to a single company/fund.
Just deal with “one firm” for all of his different
investments rather than speaking to many.
It probably does not come as a great surprise to
learn that we have the solution to all these issues
and our Wealth Management Service delivers on
all the points above. Indeed one of our recently
engaged clients described the difference between
the old way of managing investments and using
the Prosper Wealth Management Service as “an
absolute revelation”.
If you would like more information please feel free
to get in touch on 01257 423800. Alternatively
visit our website www.prosper-ifa.co.uk or email
us to request a brochure. The cost of the initial
consultation is met by us and you are under no
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If you invest in the stock market the value of your
investments can go down as well as up and you
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Remember all investments can fall as well as rise in value so investors could get back less than they invest.

61

62
All the puzzle solutions are on page 84 of this magazine
CROSSWORD
Across:
7. Bramley’s, Perhaps? (7,6)
8. Collar Bone (8)
9. Therefore (4)
10. Source of Barium (7)
12. Southpaw (5)
14. Small Holding (5)
16. Relating (7)
19. Russian Royal (4)
20. Reserve (3,5)
22. Wall Edging (8,5)
Down:
1. Aim (4)
2. Servant (6)
3. Sneer (7)
4. Sap (5)
5. For Each (6)
6. Elevate (8)
11. Drinks after Slopes? (5-3)
13. Reserves (4,3)
15. Uproar(6)
17. Abrasion (6)
18. Jelly (5)
21. Dreadful (4)
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64
Business View
Self Assessment in time
saves fines!
by Chris Alcock - CMA Accountancy
HMRC have indicated that the tax return
as we know it will be phased out and
replaced by digital tax accounts in future. However,
for this tax year (year ending 05 April 2017) if you
have been issued with a tax return notice you must
file online before 31 January 2018 to avoid being hit
with a penalty. The deadline for submitting a paper
tax return has now passed.
Self Assessment isn’t purely for the self employed.
You may have a permanent job but earn some
income on the side such as selling goods on ebay
or at a car boot sale, rent from properties, rent from
Airbnb, or any other activities where you receive
gross income. If you are making more than £2,500
annually then you’ll need to complete a tax return.
Remember, those who miss filing their tax return
face an automatic penalty of £100 and after 3
months this increases to £10 per day!
As a reminder, the following are the main reasons
you may be required to completing a return:
• Anyone who is self-employed, that is they are not
employed and pay income tax via PAYE.
• If you receive rental income from a property.
• Company directors must complete a return.
Watch out for the new tax charges on dividends
from April 2016! Contact CMA for advice on this.
• You have Capital Gains Tax to pay as you have
sold an asset.
• You have received income from overseas such as
pensions that are liable to UK tax.
• If you are employed and want to claim for
expenses or professional subscriptions.
• The changes to the Child Benefit system mean
that any household with someone earning more
than £50,000 lose a proportion of the benefit.
Households where the highest earner has a
salary of £60,000 lose the benefit entirely.
You can ease the worry of your tax return by asking
CMA to complete this for you. We may be able to
advise you about certain tax reliefs that you have
not considered and maybe even get a refund for
you from HMRC.
Please contact us if you would like to discuss anything
in this article. Alternatively drop by the office on Skull
House Lane in Appley Bridge and we can discuss these
further.
Contact Details
Chris Alcock ACMA
CMA Accountancy 39 Skull House Lane, Appley
Bridge, Wigan, WN6 9DR
Tel: 01257 255521
Email info@handsonaccounting.co.uk
web www.handsonaccounting.co.uk

65
Do you complete a
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Make sure you are not fined!
Call CMA today on 01257 255 521
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info@cma-accountancy.com
Skull House Lane, Appley Bridge. 01257 255521

66
50 years of
acting up
Niamh Ollerton discovers how one society remains finely tuned
50 years on...
Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip; James Garner and Lois Clarke; and Jerry
Stiller and Anne Meara – they’ve all surpassed the golden milestone, and
this January, Orrell Musical & Dramatic Society is also celebrating its 50th anniversary.
In December 1967, six local friends decided to try and form an Operatic Society. And
among them they already had the key ingredients to fill essential roles i.e. musical
director, producer, pianist and scenery creator.
The friends delivered handouts all over Orrell to advertise the new society, putting
feelers out to see if anyone would like to take part in their first production: Gilbert
and Sullivan’s ‘The Pirates of Penzance’.

67
One Monday evening in January 1968,
approximately 15 people attended the first meeting
at Trinity Methodist Church Hall in Pemberton. And
so, Orrell and District Gilbert and Sullivan Society
became a reality.
The meetings continued on subsequent Monday
evenings with more and more people attending,
and the group decided its first production would be
staged in June that year.
Their debut production was a roaring success,
and with membership soaring, the society’s next
show moved to Up Holland Grammar School (now
Winstanley College) and rehearsals were held at
Salem United Reformed Church Hall in Orrell.
“Debut production was a
soaring success”
But what was the first production of choice? ‘The
Merry Widow’ by the Austro-Hungarian composer
Franz Lehár.
In 1986, the production venue changed to the
Linacre Theatre in Wigan. But there have been
multiple locations over the years including the
Deanery High School, Abraham Guest High School
and today productions are staged at St Michael’s
Parish Hall in Swinley.
As time went by, members wanted to move away
from operatic shows to produce more modern
theatrical musicals as well as plays. So this is where
the razzle dazzle finally comes in…
In 2001, the society’s name changed one final
time to reflect the change in direction and the
Since 1971, the society has held shows and concerts
at different venues, to both support the society’s
financial commitments, and help organisations
raise necessary funds.
Whether it was their success, or a desire to broaden
their musical horizons, operettas and shows written
by other composers were introduced, and the Orrell
and District Operatic Society was christened.

68
Orrell Musical and Dramatic Society
(OMADS) as we know it today was
born.
The first musical under the new name
was ‘Hello Dolly’ in 2002, but other
shows have included ‘Thoroughly
Modern Millie’, ‘Sweet Charity’, ‘Little
Shop of Horrors’ and ‘Half a Sixpence.’
Is there much better a way to bring
joy to an audience than skipping
down the yellow brick road to meet
‘The Wizard of Oz?’
But you don’t need to wait for the
concerts and shows, as members’
serenade the crowds come
November and December with some beautiful
“It’s fun to dress up in
bright costumes”
carol singing. For the first time ever, members were
invited to sing at Pemberton Christmas Market in
2017, which was exciting for everyone involved.
The society still looks forward to celebrating its 50th
anniversary, commemorating all the fun from the
last five decades.
Although none of the founding members are
still alive, the longest standing member joined in
September 1977, showing the camaraderie in the
group and obvious sense of belonging.
One member Wendy Forshaw said: “I have been a
member for over 20 years; the people become like a
second family, and are very supportive.
“It’s fun to dress up in bright costumes and sing
and perform; healthy for mind, body and soul, hard
work at times, but well worth the effort!”
And there’s more to staging a musical than meets
the eye.
Carol Clayton, secretary, said: “Apart from rehearsals,
we have to construct and paint scenery, source
costumes, arrange sound and lighting and get a
band together to play.
“Plus there are lots of other jobs like publicity,
designing a programme and printing and selling
tickets.”
Diane Jones, the producer said: “It was amazing to
be part of a dedicated team all working towards a
common goal.
“We are very lucky to have so many members who
are so passionate about this society and are always
willing to help.”
Celebrations for the group’s half centenary will
include a concert in January entitled ‘Fab and 50’,
followed by a musical production of ‘9 to 5’ in July.
The icing on the cake will be a musical extravaganza
in November, which will look back on 50 golden
years of performing.
For the first time in the society’s history, open
auditions will be held to cast ‘9 to 5,’ so the musically
gifted among us, now’s your time to shine.
If the lure of the stage intrigues you, OMADS is
always happy to welcome new members either on
stage or behind the scenes. If you’re feeling brave
enough you can turn up at one of the rehearsals
held on Wednesday evenings at 7.30pm at Trinity
Methodist Church, Fleet Street in Pemberton.
Further information about the society can be
found on the website www.omads.co.uk or
contact the secretary, Carol on 01695 622713.

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70
Upload your event for FREE at
www.locallife247.co.uk/events
Follow us on Facebook
events2go
Board Games Night
Fri, Jan 5, 5pm-8pm; Fri, Feb 2, 5pm-8pm; Fri, Mar
2, 5pm-8pm
A Board Games Night on the first Friday of each month
until June to play any of the current Games Workshop
board games or self-contained boxed games! Book
ahead to ensure there is space to play your game- or
even organise a game event page www.facebook.com/
events/898871296942593/
Games Workshop: Wigan, 12 Crompton Street,
Wigan, WN1 1YP. Tel: 01942 829121
The RLP Choir
Sunday, January 7, 2.30pm (2.5 hrs with interval)
Handel’s Messiah features ‘Ev’ry Valley’, ‘For Unto Us A
Child is Born’ and ‘The Trumpet Shall Sound’ and it’s clear
to see why it’s been so popular for centuries. Baroque
music expert Nicholas Kraemer (conductor) has
assembled four of the finest singers working in Britain
today. Tickets from £21.50 https://prestonguildhall.co.uk
Preston Guild Hall & Charter Theatre, Lancaster
Road, Preston, PR1 1HT. Tel: 01772 80 44 44
Effective Revision Skills
Monday, January 8, 6pm-8pm
This event will support pupils with effective revision
techniques from a psychology perspective to aid recall
and exam success. It will support parents to take away
strategies to support their child’s wellbeing through the
exam period. Tickets £10pp via www.ew-consultancy.
com/aspiring.htm
The Mount, Orrell Road, Orrell, Wigan, WN5 8HQ.
Tel: 01942 219740
Little Red Riding Hood
Thurs, Jan 11, 7.30pm to Sat, Jan 27, 7.30pm (with
2.15pm showings on the weekends too)
Once upon a time, there was a little girl who was loved
dearly by her grandmother, who gave her a riding hood
of red velvet. But, there’s an evil creature in the woods
and Little Red Riding Hood will need all your support
and encouragement to get home from Grandma’s in
one piece. Tickets are £10.60 and £12.60 (incl. online
booking fee).
Wigan Little Theatre, Crompton Street, Wigan,
WN1 3SL. Box Office: 01942 242561.
WOL Open Mic Poetry
Friday, January 12, 8pm-10pm
At Write Out Loud Wigan Open Mic people listen to
bawling, drunken, old, young, new and subtle poets.
Some funny, some melancholy, some political and
some absurd.
The Old Courts, Crawford Street, Wigan, WN1
1NG. Tel: 01942 834747
Beginners Calligraphy Class
Friday, January 12, 7.30pm-9.45pm
An introductory workshop to learn the basics and skills
of this lettering style that is growing in popularity. Write
your own greetings for occasions, or try new letter skills
to create projects for the walls. The workshops including
a full Calligraphy Starter Kit are £39pp. To book send an
email to mellorandrose@icloud.com.
Lily & Arthur’s Café Bar & Tea Rooms, 37 Mesnes
Road, Wigan, WN1 2DF. Tel: 01942 665950

71
Capturing tender special moments to cherish and treasure
Newborn
Weddings
Christenings
Special Parties
Please contact Eleanor T: 01257 792745 M: 07510 612926
Art Exhibition
Fridays and Saturdays from Friday, January 12,
11am-4pm to Saturday, January 20 11am-4pm
In The Transit of Venus, Jane Fairhurst creates an
idealised working space that is part domestic, part
studio-gallery reflecting the dichotomy of many female
artists working between home and studio. Guise is an
exploration of masculinity and it’s evolution through
history within clothing by costume designer Reggie
Doherty. Do the clothes make the man?
The Old Courts, Crawford Street, Wigan, WN1
1NG. Tel: 01942 834747
Live at The Old Courts
Friday, January 12, 9pm-11pm
DDE are delighted to be appearing for the first time
at The Old Courts. Check The Old Courts website for
details of advance ticket booking and stage times
www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-old-courts-13900507160
The Old Courts, Crawford Street, Wigan, WN1
1NA. Tel: 01942 834747
Winter Walk at Haigh Hall
Sunday, January 14, 11am-12.30pm
Barking Mad Wigan invites you to join them at Haigh
Hall Country Park for a leisurely winter walk to blow
away those cobwebs and walk off those mince pies!
Meeting outside The Stables Cafe and taking the green
path, approx. 1.8 miles. Everyone is welcome to join and
dogs too!
Haigh Country Park Stables Complex, School
Lane, Haigh, Wigan WN2 1PE. Tel: 01942 828280
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Whether it’s a charity do, sportsman’s dinner, wedding fair
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For FREE publicity for your event visit
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72
Rock’n’Roll Dance Class
Every Wednesday, from Wednesday, January 17,
8pm-9pm to Wednesday, February 28, 8pm-9pm
Learn authentic 1950’s Rock n Roll dance moves in a fun
environment. Couples and singles welcome. Suitable
for all levels. 6-week course, but you can start any time
and learn what is being taught that evening.
St. Elizabeth’s Parish Hall, Bolton Road, Aspull,
WN2 1QW. Tel: 01942 831911
Awful Auntie
Thurs, Jan 18, 1.30pm/7pm; Fri, Jan 19,
10.30am/7pm; Sat, Jan, 20, 1.30pm/6pm; Sun, Jan
21, 11am/3pm
The world premiere of David Walliams’ amazing tale of
frights, fights and friendship, featuring a very old car, a
very large owl and a very small ghost! Tickets start at
£17.50 from https://prestonguildhall.co.uk
Preston Guild Hall & Charter Theatre, Lancaster
Road, Preston, PR1 1HT. Tel: 01772 80 44 44
Comedy Night
Saturday, January 20, 7.30pm-12am
Austin Knight’s wit, earthy humour and timing will have
you rolling in the aisles. Tickets are £10pp from http://
ortcc.org.uk
Orrell Red Triangle Cricket Club, Winstanley Road,
Orrell, WN5 7XE
Pug Pop Up Cafe Liverpool
Saturday, January 20, 9am-6.40pm
HUS will be transformed into puggy paradise so you can
bring your curly-tailed pals to the cafe to meet some
new puggy friends. Booking fees are: pug owners £7.50
(2 pug owners at £7.50 per one pug), additional pug
owner guests £10, pug lovers £15. Find full instructions
and details at facebook.com/pugcafeuk/notes
HUS, Tempest Building, Tithebarn Street,
Liverpool, L2 2DT. Tel: 0151 958 1260
Beer & Cider Festival 2018
Thurs, Jan 25, 12pm-10.30pm; Fri, Jan 26, 12pm-
10.30pm; Sat, Jan 27, 12pm-10.30pm
With over 700 beers, ciders and perry’s ranging from
traditional cask bitters to cutting edge craft beers, you
decide your tipple. Tickets range from £7.53 to £10.75
at www.eventbrite.co.uk
Manchester Central Convention Complex,
Windmill Street, M2 3GX. Tel: 0161 834 2700
Old Mother Hubbard Panto
Fri, Jan 26, 7.30pm; Sat, Jan 27, 3pm; Sat, Jan 27,
7pm; Sun, Jan 28, 2pm; Wed, Jan 31, 7.30pm; Fri,
Feb 2, 7.30pm; Sat, Feb 3, 3pm; Sat, Feb 3, 7pm
St John’s Dramatic Society will be performing their
rendition of ‘Old Mother Hubbard’ in early 2018. If you’d
like to find out about Old Mother Hubbard and her
dog, tickets are £7 for adults and £5 for school children.
Please ring Anne on 01942 621701.
St John’s School Hall, Church Street, Pemberton,
Wigan, WN5 0DT. Tel: 01942 222133
Burns Night
Friday, January 26
A 4 course meal & coffee with entertainment by ‘Burns
Night Incorporated.’ £22.50 per person. All theme nights
require a £10 per person deposit.
Houghwood Golf, Billinge Hill, Crank Road, Crank,
WA11 8RL. Tel: 01744 894754
One for the Road
Friday, January 26, 7.30pm to, February, Saturday
3, 7.30pm
A wickedly funny comedy by Willy Russell. While wife
Pauline plans another dinner party, Dennis finally loses
patience on the eve of his landmark birthday. Tickets
may vary from £8-£12.
Southport Dramatic Club, Little Theatre, Hoghton
Street, Southport, PR9 0PA. Tel: 01704 530521

73

74
Led Zeppelin Tribute
Friday, February 2, 7.30pm-11.30pm
Led Zeppelin tribute Mothership - described in Classic
Rock Magazine as “the most authentic-sounding Zep
tribute in the UK” - present a brand new show. Kashmir,
Achilles Last Stand, No Quarter, Black Dog… expect all
the classics, but expect the unexpected too! A show
not to be missed for any Zeppelin fan. Tickets are
£12(+£1.01 booking fee) in advance or £14 on the door.
www.eventbrite.co.uk
The Grand Vault, The Old Courts, Crawford Street,
WN1 1NA. Tel: 01942 834747
Liverpool Cruise Fair
Saturday, February 3, 10am-4pm
A day packed full of information, presentations,
exclusive offers and more! Don’t miss your chance to
meet up with TV Presenters John Cooper & Richard
Cross from Holiday and Cruise TV. Chat to all the major
cruise line reps and cruise specialists. Free entry.
Hilton Liverpool City Centre, 3 Thomas Steers
Way, Liverpool, L1 8LW. Tel: 0151 708 4200
Through the Decades Party
Sat, Feb 3, 7.30pm to Sun, Feb 4, 1.30am
Whatever your musical era it’ll be covered at this party
night. Enjoy a 4 course meal and then dance the night
away to the sounds of the resident DJ. Tickets are
£22.50pp from www.dwstadium.com
DW Stadium Official, Loire Drive, Robin Park,
Wigan, WN5 0UZ. Tel: 01942 774000
Wigan’s Strongest Novice
Sunday, February 4, 10am
The Strongman/woman will be held at The PT Studio
Wigan. If you have never competed before but
fancy giving it a go, this is for you. Entry fee is £25 for
competitors, and it’ll be £3 for spectators and kids go free.
The PT Studio, Unit 7 Leeds Street, Wigan, WN3
4BW. Tel: 07506 673955
Memorial Fundraiser
Friday, February 9, 7.30pm
Evening of song, dialect and Lancashire humour in aid
of the Wigan mining statue appeal. Tickets £8 each - call
Marianne on 01942 492855.
St Michael and All Angels Church, Swinley
Artisan Market
Saturday, February 10, 10am-4pm
Wigan Auction House on Miry Lane Wigan has
announced a new monthly market day on the second
Saturday of each month. There’ll be stall holders selling
organic meat and dairy, homemade artisan pies and
cakes, arts and crafts, bespoke handmade children’s’
clothes, vintage traders, vinyl records and more.
Wigan Auction House, Miry Lane, Wigan, WN6
7TG. Tel: 01942 230460
Rebecca Ferguson
Saturday, February 10, 7pm
This soulful singer from Liverpool was the runner up of
X Factor in 2010. She covered songs by Billie Holliday
on her 2015 release ‘Lady Sings The Blues’ but returned
with new material for 2016’s ‘Superwoman’. Tickets from
£22.50-£35(+booking fee) from www.ents24.com/
preston-events
Preston Guild Hall & Charter Theatre, Lancaster
Road, Preston, PR1 1HT. Tel: 01772 80 44 44
The Script
Monday, February 12, 7pm-10pm
With their recent album Freedom Child launching to
No.1 on the UK Official Album Chart, seeing off the
likes of LCD Soundsystem and OMD, The Script have
announced a series of tour dates. For more info or to
book visit http://tidd.ly/e4c576b6
Echo Arena Liverpool, Monarchs Quay, Liverpool,
L3 4FP. Tel: 0844 800 0400

75
Test Drive
McLaren 570GT
by Tim Barnes-Clay
The letters ‘G’ and ‘T’ are used far too often on 570S, is tastefully concealed under a leather floor
cars. And, yes, I’m referring to a grand tourer in the 570GT. While, inside, the car gets extra
rather than a gin and tonic. Some automakers think
that by sticking a ‘GT’ badge on the boot lid it makes
their product instantly irresistible. Many are wrong
about that. But McLaren isn’t. Indeed, the 570GT is
so far from wrong, it’s untrue.
McLaren’s 570GT is one of the best cars the
British firm makes and it’s undeniably the most
multitalented sports car, too. You can probably tell
I was utterly blown away with the 570GT when I
tested it on British bitumen recently. Fundamentally,
McLaren has taken the awesome 570S and has
injected it with an extra dose of civility. The result is
the 570GT – a machine that’s as refined as possible
without swapping for a smaller power unit and
additional seats.
The 570GT even looks like the 570S, but there are
soundproofing, soft-close doors and electric heated
seats. If that’s not enough to start justifying those
letters ‘G’ and ‘T’, the 570GT is equipped with a more
hushed exhaust system and softer suspension. The
steering is also milder than the 570S’.
These changes make the McLaren 570GT a car you
could use every day. The ride is pliable enough
to make our pothole-ridden roads bearable, and
motorway cruising din is subdued enough so that
your ears don’t bleed.
But, just because you could use the GT on a daily
basis doesn’t mean this is a lacklustre McLaren. Oh
no. In every other way, the 570GT does everything
else a full-fat McLaren does. And, most importantly,
it looks one of the meanest, sexiest cars out there.
It’s a major head-turner, that’s for sure.
some major differences
between the models. The
latter’s flying buttresses
have been replaced by
curved bodywork that
comprises a glass hatch.
There’s a respectable
220-litres of load space
under there, meaning
the 570GT has a genuine
practical edge to it. The car
also has a glass roof that
makes the cabin airy and full
of mood-enhancing light.
The engine, normally on
display in the McLaren

76
With just a quick stab of the 570GT’s starter button,
the twin-turbo 3.8-litre V8 lump barks into life.
Depress the gas pedal and the increase of velocity
is hard-hitting, due to the 570 horses under the
lid. And snapping up and down the cogs via the
paddle-mounted gears-shifters is a real smileinducer.
Zero to 62mph is done in an insanely rapid
3.4 seconds, while the top speed is a licence-losing
204mph.
Regardless of the additional luxuries added to the
GT, this McLaren’s cabin stays broadly the same as
in the 570S’. It’s a work of genius in contemporary
sports car interior design and a long way from
the chaotic button-fest of the Ferrari 488 or the
unemotional ambience in Porsche’s 911 Turbo.
You sit near to the ground but erect in the 570GT,
so visibility is very good. And, as mentioned earlier,
it’s comfortable enough to be used as a real-world
form of transport.
Fast Facts
• 0-62 mph: 3.4 secs
• Combined mpg: 26.4
• Engine layout: 3799cc twin-turbocharged V8
• Max. power (PS): 570
• CO2: 249 g/km
• Price: £154,000
While the alterations from the 570S to GT could
be seen as fairly minor, they make a substantial
difference to the McLaren driving experience. The
British sports car maker has constructed a machine
that is as calm as possible, without kicking any of
the theatre to the kerb.

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77
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78
sponsored by
Garswood Park
by David Sudworth
Once upon a time, the way to assure
immortality was to have a statue erected in
the local market square. These days, it’s having a pub
named after you.
Sir Thomas Gerard has that distinction on Gerard
Street (where else?) in Ashton-in-Makerfield.
Despite said pub being housed in an old Kwik Save
supermarket store, it does little to diminish his aura as
a hero who was sent to the Tower of London for trying
to rescue Mary Queen of Scots.
This walk roams around the Gerard family’s old
stomping ground. Part of the estate is still there, but
more of that later.
We park up on Woodedge (postcode WN4 9JZ) and
head north west through Skitters Wood. Millingford
Brook runs through the heart of Skitters, and you
can follow it pretty much to where it goes towards
the M6. For non-aquatic species such as ourselves,
it’s much better to take the footbridge over the
M6. Once across, the path will take you right and
then veer left, past some detached homes and up
towards Low Bank Road. After about five minutes
on Low Bank Road, turn left onto Camp Road.
Without much fanfare, you’ve just crossed from
Greater Manchester and into Merseyside. Follow
Camp Road as it merges into Gibbons Road before

79
designed by Humphry Repton including a large
fish pond survived and still exists today. During
World War II, the estate was used as a Prisoner of
War camp and also as a training base for American
troops preparing for the D-Day landing (more on
this a little later in the walk).
We walk past the gates, onto Millfield Lane, and
head towards Haydock Industrial Estate.
turning left on to Tithebarn Road.
These farm fields are always producing something,
and we could spot the first signs of some green veg
as we wandered up.
If you’ve got a pair of binoculars handy, it’s worth
turning left and getting a good sight of Winter Hill.
On a very clear day, it feels like you could almost
touch it.
We’re now heading towards Ashton Cross (yes
Ordnance, not ‘Aston Cross’ as your maps show). It’s
a busy old junction, close to the East Lancs Road
and the M6. Across Liverpool Road, you’ll see the
majestic Ashton-in-Makerfield Golf Club gates.
These are in fact the original gates to the Gerard
family’s old home, Garswood Park.
The main house, Garswood New Hall, was built in
the 17th century but was demolished in 1921 along
with its associated outbuildings. The formal gardens
were also lost, although most of the parkland
On the left, you will pass a very grand looking black
and white house. Le Chateau, as it is now called,
is the former estate office for Garswood Park. It
looked unloved for many years, and has been
sympathetically restored to its former glory.
You need to keep your eyes peeled at this point as
the public footpath you need to take on the left
is somewhat obscured. The entrance is directly
opposite Millfield Farm, which itself is well signed.
This stretch is pretty much straight for about a mile,
until it reaches the M6 motorway bridge at the
rear of Byrchall and St Edmund Arrowsmith high
schools.
The stretch can get very muddy in places, so this
does slow you down, and you have to ensure you
don’t veer off piste. The trick is not to follow the
deep tyre track grooves in the ground, as you’ll end
up about 100 yards away from the bridge (yes, that
happened to us). Instead, stick to the map and you’ll
arrive at the bridge without an unnecessary detour.

80
At the height of summer, finding the bridge can be
difficult as there is heavy leaf cover, so sticking to
the map is doubly important.
Once across the bridge, turn right and follow the
path round the boundary wall of Byrchall. You
eventually come out on Chelwood Park. Once at the
end, turn left on to Warrington Road. Here, you’ll be
walking along the front of Byrchall. Now, remember
earlier I mentioned about a prisoner of war camp?
Well, it was actually sited where the Byrchall
buildings are today. One famous prisoner held there
was Bert Trautmann, a Nazi paratrooper. After the
war, Bremen-born Trautmann refused to go back to
Germany, and instead played as a goalkeeper for
St Helens Town and then for Manchester City. He
shot to fame when he broke his neck - but carried
on playing - during the 1956 FA Cup Final. As no
substitutes were allowed back then, Trautmann
Low Bank Road
Skitters Wood
Camp Road
Ashton
Strange Road
Woodedge
Gibbons Road
Liverpool Road
J24
Garswood Park
Roman Road
Millfield Lane
M6
FB

81
Length of walk: 4.2 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Accessibility: Fairly straightforward, although
the stretch down the side of Ashton-in-Makerfield
Golf Club is very boggy at colder times of the year.
The route is served by the 156 bus, which stops on
Gibbons Road, near Ashton Cross.
played on and helped City to a famous 3-1 victory
over Fulham. Carrying on the walk, we turn left into
Vicarage Road, then right onto St Oswald’s Road
before heading left, back down Liverpool Road.
Turn right into Woodedge and you’ll soon see
Skitters Wood again on the right hand side. You can
either go through the wood, following the westerly
paths, or carry on until the end of Woodedge and
take the footpath opposite Orton Way, through the
woods and back to where we started.
This is an ideal walk for this time of year - there’s
not too many fields so mud splattering is kept to
an acceptable level, but you still get a decent dose
of local history. It’s well connected via road and bus,
and there’s no shortage of places to stop for a drink
of bite to eat. You could even try the eponymously
named Sir Thomas Gerard close by... although you
may want to change your footwear beforehand!
Please ensure you wear appropriate clothing and
footwear while walking. While every care has been
taken to ensure that the walk is accurate, neither the
publisher or its editorial contributors can accept, and
hereby disclaim, any liability to any party to loss or
damage caused by errors or omissions resulting from
negligence, accident or other cause.
When can
we go back to
Dukes Barn
Farm?
Boarding kennels and cattery.
Heated accommodation.
Recommended by vets & clients for over
38 years.
Local authority licensed & approved.
Open 9am – 6pm Monday – Saturday
Closed to customer visits on Sunday
DUKES BARN FARM
Animal care at its best
Brook Lane, Pemberton, WN5 8JQ
Call - 01942 217752

82
New pjs and slippers
by Angie Barker
Happy New Year everyone! I hope that
Father Christmas brought you everything
you wished for? Hubby excelled himself this year in
the present buying department – although I didn’t
get the trip to Hampton Court Flower Show that I’d
kept dropping hints about – but he did remember
my pyjama size!
At this time of year I love curling up in front of the fire
- in my new pjs and slippers - and browsing through
a good gardening book or magazine. It gives me
some inspiration for the forthcoming year and helps
to take my mind off the impending credit card bill.
(Well, Hubby is worth it). This is the perfect time
of year for planning ahead and one of the biggest
problems I hear about from clients when they are
assessing their garden, is the lack of seasonal interest
and colour.
All garden designers have a favourite list of plants
which will appear in their designed gardens time
and time again. To some extent this will be down
to personal preference but it will also be because
those plants bring something to a planting scheme,
whether this be structure, colour, movement or
scent.
Award Winner
I thought I’d give you a glimpse of my own list of
plants which I simply could not be without in my
own garden and which I include in many of my
planting plans;
Buxus sempervirens or Box – can be topiary or
hedging for evergreen structure
Bergenia ‘Bressingham Beauty’ – good seasonal
interest, colour and texture
Hakonechloa macra ‘Aureola’ – a beautiful, low
mounded grass which looks amazing under Acers
Heuchera ‘Palace Purple’ – good texture and colour
Lavandula angustifolia ‘Hidcote’ – has scent and
makes a lovely small hedge
Rudbeckia fulgida ‘Goldsturm’ – long lasting late
summer colour and fabulous for bees and butterflies
Sarcococca confusa – strong scent in winter – just
when our spirits need a lift
These are just a handful, there are so many other
brilliant plants to chose from. I feel inspired already
– roll on spring!
Angie is a qualified
award-winning garden
designer who will
plan your garden to
your needs from start
to finish, supplying
reputable contractors
and the ideal plants.
Call Angie now for your free consultation!
Angie Barker Dip GD
(Inst GD) BA (Hons)
Garden Design For All Seasons
Tel: 01942 522 405
Mob: 07857 008 383
Award Winner
www.angiebarker.co.uk

Upvc Windows & Doors I Conservatories,
Soffits & Fascias I Composite Doors I Bi-Fold Doors
Established in 1984 as an emergency glazing service, today Dennis Goulding has grown and moved
forward to offer all you need to maintain, enhance and expand your home. We continually invest in and
embraced the latest changes in energy efficiency regulations, and still remain a local family business that
cares and takes pride in what we do. We don’t employ pushy salesmen, but pride ourselves on working
with and listening to our customers to give them exactly what they want. We will treat you with respect
every step of the way and on that you have my word! Stuart Goulding
Don’t forget, we also offer all of these services daily...
Glass Cut to size, Sealed Double Glazed Units Manufactured on site, Same Day Service, Safety
Glass, Toughened Glass, Mirrors, Greenhouse Glass, Glazing Service, Misted Units Replaced
Unit 16, Ainscough Business Park, Mossy Lea Road,
Wrightington, WN6 9RS
Dennis Goulding
(Drive onto ‘Ainscough Building Supplies’)
Telephone: 01257 427 000
Open Hours: Monday - Friday 7:30am - 5:00pm; Saturday: 9:00am - 12:00 noon
www.dglwindows.co.uk
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Standish
B5250
Open:
J27
Shevington
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and we’ l provide you with a
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Give your garden a makeover!
We offer high quality landscaping, garden
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Quality work and reliability
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01942 510 986
07710 405 214
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Garden Design • Landscaping • Maintenance
Professional & reliable service
For a free quote, call Andy on
M: 07814 133 690 T: 01942 588 628
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Our aim is to deliver a creative, personal
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87
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Suite 1A Kirkless Ind. Est
Cale Lane Wigan
01942 836 937 or 07557 914 788 www.ghewigan.co.uk

Established in 1984 as an emergency glazing service, today Dennis Goulding has grown and moved
forward to offer all you need to maintain, enhance and expand your home. We continually invest in and
embraced the latest changes in energy efficiency regulations, and still remain a local family business that
cares and takes pride in what we do. We don’t employ pushy salesmen, but pride ourselves on working
with and listening to our customers to give them exactly what they want. We will treat you with respect
every step of the way and on that you have my word! Stuart Goulding
Glass Cut to size, Sealed Double Glazed Units Manufactured on site, Same Day Service, Safety
Glass, Toughened Glass, Mirrors, Greenhouse Glass, Glazing Service, Misted Units Replaced
A5209
B5250
Dennis Goulding
J27
Shevington
A49
Standish
Unit 16, Ainscough Business Park, Mossy Lea Road,
Wrightington, WN6 9RS
(Drive onto ‘Ainscough Building Supplies’)
Open Hours: Monday - Friday 7:30am - 5:00pm; Saturday: 9:00am - 12:00 noon
www.dglwindows.co.uk
Unit 4a,
o f Miry Lane,
Wigan.
WN6 7TP
or
88
Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning
• traditional service, state of the art results •
Mr Soot
CHIMNEY SWEEP
Woodburners Open fires Stoves
Wigan Good
Trader Of
The Year
2015
5 star rating with
Wigan Trading
Standards Good
Trader Scheme
mr-soot.com
07724 311 992
• Carpets • Rugs
• Fabric & Leather Upholstery
Call today for a free consultation & no obligation quote
Call - 01257 251221
Mobile - 07908 770808
Crease
www.manorhousecleaning.co.uk
Free
Ironing Service
Steam Ahead
With More Pressing Issues
• Ironing services
• Free Collection & Delivery
• Reliable Service
• Flexible Hours to Suit
• Excellent Rates
• Free Visit and Consultation
Telephone Gemma today
for a free consultation
07886 422 688
Want to promote your
company in Local Life?
Call Sally: 01695 627 999
locallife247.co.uk
LocalLife
Providing professional carpet &
upholstery cleaning since 1993
Carpets Upholstery Curtains
Leather Oriental Rugs Hard Floors
For more information call:
01942 470 081
Visit our website and check out the testimonials.
www.alliancechemdry.co.uk
Design & Print
Lashes
Spray Tan
Sunbeds
Acrylic & Gel Nails
Natalies @ Studio 84
Upvc Windows & Doors I Conservatories,
Soffits & Fascias I Composite Doors I Bi-Fold Doors
Gel
Nails
normally £20
now £15
84 Rainford Road, Bi linge WN5 7PG
Telephone: 07814 619 400
Open:
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 10AM - 7PM, Saturday 10AM - 6PM
Closed Thursday & Sunday
Mo sy Lea Road
Solar Thermal
& Solar PV
Wind Turbines
Heat Pumps
LED Lighting
...and general
Energy Savings
Don’t forget, we also offer all of these services daily...
T
Y
R
E
S
Book
your FREE
home survey
Telephone: 01257 427 000
and we’ll provide you with a
detailed report showing the
returns available from your
own solar panels
CAR & VAN SERVICING
...and motorcycles too
FREE
Car Health Check
(10% typical return)
Visit our showroom at
Cricket Street Business Park
for all residents of Croston and Bretherton
Keep me until you need me!
Book your FREE Car Health Check
Call now on
TwinLakesMotorEngin ers
01772 603923
REPAIR & WELDING
Saving money is
the clear benefit!
Slash your electricity and
water heating bill
Protect your household from
future energy price rises
Reduce your household’s
impact on the environment
E
X
H
A
U
S
T
S
Call us now
0843 224 9555
07595 420237
Email: info@docsolarelectrical.co.uk
Website: www.docsolarelectrical.co.uk
Flyers, postcards, brochures
and distribution service.
For more information call 01695 627 999
LocalLife

89
as seen
ON TV
Ovenclean will transform your oven and
put the sparkle back into your kitchen!
• Ovens
• Grills
• Extractors
• BBQ’s
Orrell Laundry
11 Sefton Road, Orrell, WN5 8UP
01695 623 796
• Bedding & duvets • Domestic washes
• Commercial washing • Ironing services
• Dry cleaning • Team sports kits welcomed
Open 7 days
see website for
opening times
Free pick-up
& drop off!
• Hobs
• Ranges
• Microwaves
• AGA’s
Call today to book your oven clean
0800 840 7127 or
07724 694337
www.ovenclean.com
www.orrell-laundry.co.uk
Serving the
community for
over 50 years
Free pICk-up & DrOp OFF
service to/from Orrell, Billinge, Winstanley, Highfield, Marus Bridge,
Kitt Green & Up Holland
UPVC CLEANING
• Windows, Fascias, Gutters etc.
CONSERVATORIES
• Exterior & Interior (Cleaning)
• Glass roofs / Orangeries
JETWASHING
• Driveways & Patios etc.
ROOF CLEANING
• Moss Removal
(No Jet washing/No mess)
• NEW Soft Wash Cleaning
SPECIAL OFFER - 20% OFF
ALL CLEANING PACKAGES
Call Clint for a free no obligation quote.
01942 470 089 / 07834 241 642
www.justcleanpropertycare.co.uk
Wigan’s premier
domestic
cleaning service
Cleaning in the
Wigan area for
10+ years
We only use reliable, vetted staff
• £10.75 per hour - minimum 2 hrs
• Same cleaner each visit
• All domestic duties provided
Call or email Joanne 01942 203442
joanne@acleanbreak.co.uk / www.acleanbreak.co.uk/wigan

90
Arley Cabinet Company Ltd
• Kitchens & Bedrooms since 1952 •
We measure
we make
we fit
and have done for 60 years.
Visit our showroom or call us
today for a FREE estimate
www.arleycabinets.com
Arley Cabinet Co. Ltd
214a Gidlow Lane
Wigan
WN6 7BN
Mon-Fri: 8am - 4.30pm
Sat: 9am - 12pm
tel: 01942 246190
J&P
MOORCROFT
LTD
Professional Painting and Decorating
• Domestic & Commercial Work
• Interior & Exterior work welcomed
• Old/listed buildings a speciality
Call us today for a free quotation
Home Service available
Choose from 1000s of paint & paper samples
in the comfort of our own home
01942 212096 07831 102 511
www.jpmoorcroft.com
Award Winner
Exterior & Interior Decorating
Domestic & Commercial work undertaken
Competitive rate
Contact Graham now - free estimate provided
01257 426 234
graham@topcoatdecoratingservices.co.uk
www.topcoatdecoratingservices.co.uk
TV Aerials installed & repaired
Sky, Freesat, Talk Talk & BT
Setup Service
Telephone/Broadband repair
Tv Wall mounting & CCTV
Ring Paul on www.wiganaerials.com
01942 514532 - 07709 490095
Need a new look
for your home?
Skilled interior and exterior work
undertaken at reasonable prices!
Chris Smith - Painter and Decorator
01942 518126
or 07545 065119
Orrell based business
SG
PAINTING & DECORATING
Interior painting & decorating
Specialise in standard wall coverings, extra wide vinyl, lincrusta & coving
Free estimates. References available upon request
07714 363 377 / 01942 749 971
Sefton Road, Orrell, WN5 8UP

91
Boost your Business
in 2018
We are looking for;
Builders
Cleaners
Decorators
Fuel suppliers
Garden Maintenance
Gates & Railings
Joiners
Landscaping Companies
PC Doctors
Plasterers
Removals
Tilers
Upholsterers
Waste Disposal
To join our growing group of
classified advertisers in our
Wigan magazine
Why Local Life?
Save time and fuel costs by
working in the Wigan area
Delivered regularly to over
26,000 private homes in the
Wigan area. Also available
for pick-up FREE at Tesco and
Sainsbury’s
Free professional artwork
Advertising starts from just
£39 + VAT
LocalLife
Give your company a BOOST in 2018, call us
today on 01695 627999 for further details.
locallife247.co.uk

92
Boiler & Central
Heating Experts
A Genuine Family Run Business
With Friendly & Courteous Staff
SPECIALISTS IN CENTRAL
HEATING INSTALLATION, BOILER
REPLACEMENTS AND UPGRADES
Accredited Installer & Service Partner
• Annual Boiler Servicing
• Landlord & Home Owner
Gas Safety Checks
• Gas Fire & Cooker Installations
• Under Floor Heating Specialists
• Home Efficiency Control Upgrades
10 YEARS
EXTENDED
WARRANTY
ON SELECTED BOILER
INSTALLATIONS
Registration No.
88604
Telephone:
WE REPAIR
ALL MAKES
OF BOILERS!
01257 421 660
TEL: 01942 504 429
MOB: 07515 505 501
www.fgwelch.co.uk
• Repairs & installations
• Maintenance & servicing
• Power flushing
• Mechanical Ventilation
• Gas Safety Checks
For an effective and friendly
service call Haigh Energy
01257 424 166
www.haighenergy.co.uk
Unit S7, Standish Court , Bradley Lane Trading Estate, Standish, WN6 0XQ
Plumbing & Heating Specialist
Complete Bathroom
& Tiling service
John Bailey - 01942 495785
or 07721 040620 & 07710 153238
Based in Kenyon Road, Wigan
• Bathroom Installation, Full Bathrooms & En-Suites
• Plumbing Services • Wall & Floor Tiling • Ceiling Panelling
01942 397173 / 07803 057940
Douglas Drive, Orrell, Wigan
www.ljplumbingandbathrooms.co.uk
Elite Bathrooms
Installation & Tiling
• Bathrooms
• Wall Tiling
• Floor Tiling 07703 448890
FREE Estimates 01942 208926

93
IAIN LOWE
01695 623236
• Central Heating
• Plumbing
• Gas Appliances
• Gas Safety Checks
• Landlord’s Certificates
• Maintenance/Breakdowns
No
call out
fee
• Central Heating Installations
• Boiler Installations
• Maintenance & Servicing
• Power Flushing
186237
Your one stop shop for central heating
434 Ormskirk Rd, Wigan, WN5 9DF
01942 221221
info@premiergas.com / www.premiergas.com
Free Nest with
a new boiler!
• Repairs • Installations • Services
Smart control specialist – save £££’s
www.wiganboilerrepair.co.uk
01942 387006 / 07539 449 006
569287
C&
D
Plumbing and Heating
Heating & Bathroom Specialist
Chris Heaton M.I.P.H.E.R.P
07973714222
01695625171
Great Value Bathrooms!
Full Bathrooms & En-Suites
Showers, Trays & Cubicles
Relocation of Bathroom Suites
25 years bathroom experience
Call Chris now for a free quotation
C L Bathrooms
01942 749085
or 07801 295483
www.clbathrooms.co.uk
brand New bathrooms
boiler + Central Heating
Installs, servicing + Repairs
Extended warranties available
24 Hour Call-out
Domestic + Commercial
Freephone 0300 3030121
Dave 07769 942218 / Matt 07969 183809
21 Naburn Dr Orrell wN5 8sb
Email: info@orrellheating.co.uk
www.orrellheating.co.uk
Specialists in boiler installations, repair & maintenance
All work fully warranted
Email ops@hotmail.co.uk
506515
Book a boiler health check for £65
& get a carbon monoxide
alarm (RRP £29) FREE!
Call the team on
01744 892437

94
Complete Driveways
& Landscapes
Landscapes
Gardens designed. Paving laid, artificial turf
fitted, garden walls built, all aspects of fencing.
Driveways
Block paving, flagging, printed concrete
driveway specialist.
‘the complete answer
for driveways & landscapes’
Call Gary for a free, no obligation quote;
01942 355 993 07712 352 411
GDR Driveways
Flagging • Block paving
Concreting • Fencing
Call Gareth for a FREE quotation
01942 217 113 | 07715 177 754
JJ Driveways
Imprinted Concrete Specialists
Huge range of colours & patterns
• Resin Driveways • Block Paving
• Indian Stone • Flagging
We can also revive your old drive!
Ask about our sealing service
Call Joe for a free quotation on
01942 621 959 / 07867 697 972
www.jjdriveways.co.uk
Brickwork & Property Maintenance
M
Marc Mulligan
01942 248 537
07749 806 566
• Brickwork, Extensions, Re-pointing
• Garden Walls, Decorative Walls
• Platform Steps, Paths & patios
Disabled Adaptations & Access
• Wall to Floor Rails, Floor to Floor
Rails & Path Rails
Fully Qualified - 28 Years Experience
• Conservatory repairs
• Locks, handles and hinges
• Replacement glass
• Windows and doors installed
• Replacement conservatory roofs
Call MARK now on
01942 737 381 / 0776 315 1720
conservatoryrepairs@gmail.com
www.fixmyconservatory.com

95
Home Improvements
• Fitted Kitchens & Bedrooms
• Garage & Loft Conversions
• Floors, Doors & Windows
• Garden Gates
For all your home improvement needs call David on...
01942 203 804
07851 225 876
DS Joinery
Number One for House Maintenance!
• UPVC WINDOWS, DOORS & ROOFLINE
SUPPLIED AND FITTED MISTED UNITS
REPLACED
• GUTTERS AND UPVC CLEANING AND
REPAIR SERVICE
• FLAGGING, FENCING AND POINTING
• GARDENS CLEARED
No job too small!
Call Mike Darbyshire on
01942 513 584 / 07917 352 181
Orrell based
PLANS TO IMPROVE
• Plans drawn and submitted.
• Extensions, conversions, structural alterations.
• Structural calculations.
E mail info@stuartsplans.co.uk
Call Stuart on 07973143289
Easy Mix
Easy Mix
Ready Mixed Concrete
• Delivered or Collected • Perfect for builders & DIY
01942 224571 for advice
Lamberhead Ind. Est., Pemberton
TELEPHONE: 01942 832747
Mobile: 07747 725999
01257 422317 or 07852 202867
www.mtjoinery.co.uk
Ashurst Building &
Roofing Services
All types of building and roofing
work undertaken including;
Brickwork, Joinery, Flagging
Plastering & Renovations
Family run business with
25 years of experience
Call David today for a free quotation
TELEPHONE: 01942 832747
Mobile: 07747 725999
PLASTERER
Re-skims Dot & dab Rendering
2 coat work Unwanted artex
For a free quote, call Ian Ridley on
01942 218 160
or 07958 695 116

96
• WILSON BROS •
Est. 1985
Roofing & Roofline Specialists
• All aspects of maintenance & repair
• Fascia & soffit installation
• Guttering and felting services
Call us now for a free estimate
01695 633173
Colin: 07958 302 166
Brian: 07760 160 988
www.wilson-bros.co.uk
All our work is fully insured & guaranteed
References available on request
Call now for a free quotation
House Extensions
New Kitchens
& Bathrooms
Garage Conversions
Full Refurbishments
All aspects of roofing & roofline
NEW ROOFS REPAIRS
FASCIAS, SOFFITS & GUTTERS
Rubber Cover
Roofing Specialist
Guaranteed 50 years
T: 01942 864 624
M: 07894 687 384
M: 07868 713 520
K Stone
Building Services
All types of building
work undertaken
25 years experience
Dormers
and Garages
Call for free
quote
• Brickwork
• Pointing
• Garden Walls
• Patios
• Roof Repairs
• Flagging
• Alterations
• Driveways
01942 495412 / 07974 496676
Don’t Move – Improve!
I’m Stuart Collier, a local
builder with over 25 years
experience in house
renovation.
I can design and create extra
living space in your home.
Call me for advice and a free quotation
01942 561 848 | 07725 909 257
www.freshbuildconstruction.co.uk
01257 251 534
07973 143 289
www.sjcollier.co.uk

97
M H Roofing
Established over 15 years
Friendly advice and competitive rates
No job too small
• High Performance Felt Flat Roof Systems
• Storm Damage and Insurance Work
• Slating and Tiling full roofs
• Poiniting and Guttering • Fascia Boards
Call 01744 884117
or 07702 693225
www.mhroofingltd.co.uk
B.A. Berry
Building & Roofing Specialists
•All building work undertaken.
• From a broken tile to a full re roof.
• Flat roofs renewed and repaired.
• Extensions, Alterations, Structural repairs
including Lintels.
Your local fully qualified tradesman with
30 years experience
Call us now for a free,
no obligation quote
01695 622 704 / 07968 652 320
www.baberry.co.uk
Fully Insured & Insurance
Backed Guarantees
First Class Workmanship
• All types of re-roofs
• Strip & re-slate or re-tile
• Built up felt/flat roofs, dormers etc.
• Insurance work undertaken
• Roofline uPVC fascias, soffits & guttering
W.Newman
ROOFING & REPAIRS
01695 627 212
MOBILE: 07774 943 706
52 HALLBRIDGE GARDENS, UP HOLLAND
Established Over 30 Years

98
A View From
The Lump
Local gossip, gripes and goings-on
Pass the Peppa
As many readers of a certain
vintage will know, the best thing
about having grandchildren is
the ability to hand them back to
their parents at the end of the day.
That’s not to say we don’t enjoy
having the heirs to Lump Towers
around every so often. In fact, it’s
opened up a whole new world of
televisual pursuits. I’m not quite
sure how I ever got by without
having Peppa Pig in my life. Poor
Peppa though, she appears to
have copped for the blame as to
why doctors’ waiting rooms are
packed full. This is because Peppa,
when she has even the mildest
sniffle, has the family GP, Dr Brown
Bear, at her bedside in a heartbeat.
Some officious GP says that such
story lines are “putting unrealistic
expectations and encourages
inappropriate use of primary care
services.” Quite apart from the
fact I’ve no idea what a ‘primary
care service’ is, how the heck
can a cartoon character impact
anything, other than making 10
minutes of the day go quicker? But
why stop at Peppa? Let’s blame
The Sooty Show for making kids
believe a panda can talk. Let’s
blame Bill and Ben for convincing
a generation of baby boomers that
flowerpots could move of their
own free will. Let’s blame Postman
Pat for promoting the idea that
your mail will arrive sometime
vaguely before 4.30pm. It’s 2018
ladies and gentleman, and the
world has finally gone mad.
Let that be a lesson
Speaking of the kids, I do enjoy a
cold snap of weather, as it brings
out the moaners who claim we’re
breeding a nation of wimps when
a few schools shut for the day. “It’s
health and safety gone mad,“ said
one exasperated retired General.
“Our school never closed, even
when we had 1ft of snow,” claimed
another person with too much
time on their hands. What these
self-appointed experts seem to
forget is the reason schools close
is because, unlike in 1950 when
teachers lived close by, these
days some travel up to 30 miles
each way to work. I’d imagine
its fairly difficult to teach a class
when you’re stuck in traffic. Then
again, maybe the moaners, who
are clearly so concerned about
the plight of education in this
country, might step forward and
cover a few classes. They’d have
to prise themselves away from the
Daily Mail website for a few hours
though...
Lay of the land
12 months on and the Sword of
Damocles remains hanging over
Green Belt land in Winstanley
and at The Bell in Orrell. We know
that the Greater Manchester
Spatial Framework Strategy (the
volumous document which
absolutely no-one has fully
read) is being rewritten, but the
timescales are still somewhat
up in the air. The whole process
has been a mess up to now, with
the Greater Manchester council
leaders rushing ahead - before the
Mayoral elections - and producing
a document which set more hares
running than a Boxing Day hunt.
And surprise, surprise, when
the new Mayor took office, he
immediately ordered a review into
the whole thing. The people I feel
sorry for are those whose homes
are being blighted by this will
they/won’t they debacle. At least
with straightforward planning
applications, it’s pretty much
done and dusted one way or the
other within three months. Here,
we’re one year down the line and
no closer to finding out what the
endgame will look like. No wonder
we’ve got a housing crisis and
plunging trust in the powers-thatbe...

99
Come and visit the largest
showroom in the North West
®
Happy New Year
Quality installations of windows,
doors, fascias, soffits and gutters
First for quality • First for service • First for reliability
No contractors • No salesmen
Just a smile and a honest price from a family run business
®
Rockdoor
Approved
Installer Reg No
02767596
SISTER COMPANY OF FOXWELLS BUILDERS
Established 16 years
Call us for a Free Quote
Office Number: 01942 871 777
Victoria Industrial Estate, Victoria Street, Leigh, WN7 5SE
warmlightwindowsltd.co.uk • info@warmlightwindowsltd.co.uk