13 minute read
Orrell Survey
Your Views Tell us
A message from Orrell RUFC, Brighter Better Orrell and Councillor Michael Winstanley
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A few months ago, Wigan Warriors moved their training base from Edge Hall Road to Robin Park as part of a deal with Wigan Council. Since then, there has been much speculation about the future of the Edge Hall Road site.
Different options have been mentioned on how to make use of the site, including Orrell Rugby Union Club returning to their former home, the possibility of it being used by the local community, or using the land for housing development. The land being sold for housing is something that may happen, but many local people feel that this would be the worst possible outcome.
Over the last six months Orrell RUFC have been in discussions with Wigan Warriors about various options for use of the site and have been given first refusal to come up with a proposal.
It has been suggested that Edge Hall Road could become a true community hub with the site being leased to the local community. This would include the pitch being used by Orrell RUFC and other local sporting teams, whilst the Club House could be turned into a much-needed meeting place for community groups and associations to use for various activities.
With this in mind, Orrell RUFC and Brighter Better Orrell have joined together to examine how much interest there would be in such a proposal. They have established a small working group with key people from both groups and support being provided by Cllr Michael Winstanley.
They would like to hear your views about these proposals. A survey has been created and they would very much like to hear from you. The more people that respond will show how much support there is in the local community for such a scheme.
You can complete the survey until Friday 19th February here; https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/7ZL6WKC Commenting on this proposal Gill Eyre, Chair of Brighter Better Orrell, said “With all the amazing work, already being done, by all the volunteers in Orrell, not just the BBO but Friends of Orrell Station, Ellen’s garden, the Water Park, Holgate Park, this is a golden opportunity to enhance our beautiful community further. We all need to get behind this for the benefit of the whole community, the possibilities are endless, but we need the people of Orrell to drive it forward.”
Tony Havlin, Chair of Orrell RUFC and Orrell & Winstanley Community Sports Club said “We are delighted to be working with BBO on a proposed community project
that could see Edge Hall Road (the former home of Orrell RUFC) returned to the community as a community hub. Recent events have raised the awareness of the importance of sport and community and this facility would bring the two together at a time when it is much needed and wanted”.
Tony added “We believe the idea will complement our own vision of a community sports hub (as Orrell & Winstanley Community Sports Club) at the heart of the community used by all ages, offering a range of participation sports, health and wellbeing activities; all of which will be a great addition to the locality – making it a much better, brighter Orrell!”
Councillor Winstanley commented “This is a real opportunity to build a long-term facility that can be at the heart of the local community which will help to provide a real asset for improving health and getting people fit and also providing much needed facilities and activities for the young people of Orrell and Billinge”.
Once all the responses have been received then these will be analysed and incorporated into the business case that will be presented to the Wigan Warriors.
This project can only succeed with the backing of the local community. If you want this project to succeed, then please complete the survey at https://www. surveymonkey.co.uk/r/7ZL6WKC and encourage your family and friends to do the same. If you do not have access to the internet, then please make your views known to the working group by writing to Councillor Winstanley at 111 Bolton Road, Ashton-inMakerfield, Wigan. WN4 8AD.
Thank you
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Glenys to the Rescue
Her deep affection for animals inspired Billinger Glenys Rhead to plan a project that would raise £1,000 to help a dog rescue centre through the Covid-19 pandemic.
73-year-old Glenys, from Tracks Lane in Billinge, is a retired NHS worker who is well known locally for her creations of a diverse range of craft products. During the 2020 lockdowns, Glenys created a range of washable cotton face masks, both for adults and children, mainly adorned with images of dogs. She then sold the masks from a display table outside her home and in November, Glenys presented the RSPCA at Ormskirk with a cheque for £1,000.
Glenys said, “I was originally aiming to raise £100, but I never thought I would sell so many masks. It’s kept me very busy indeed throughout 2020, but I would like to thank everyone who bought them and helped me raise £1,000 for the RSPA.”
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Homes for Hedgehogs
Residents of Appley Bridge are hoping to welcome a new housing development to the village - for hedgehogs to move into!
Appley Bridge Community Association are raising money to build a hedgehog village to rehome previously injured hedgehogs.
Located in the Meadows, near to the canal, members of the Community Association, who are working alongside Chorley Hedgehog Rescue Centre, think this is the perfect home for our spikey friends. Kate Rossington from the Appley Bridge Community Association said, “We are hoping with your help to build homes to keep them safe from predators during their hibernation period. This will also hopefully encourage the mother and her hoglets to feel safe there in the warmer months.”
The hedgehog village will also provide feeding stations, which will encourage the hogs to remain in their designated area.
Kate added, “We need to plant some more hedgehog friendly trees such as firs which we don’t have in The Meadows currently, buying mature trees is much more expensive than growing them from scratch but we want image: Gibe, Wikipedia to be up and running in the next few months so we can start helping sooner rather than later.”
The team have a goal to raise £600 to pay for supplies and have currently raised £252. Kate continued, “Hedgehogs are declining and are near extinction, so every penny counts and is much appreciated to save these lovely creatures.”
If you would like to make a donation you can go online at www.gf.me/u/Zbg9wi or if you would like to volunteer to help the Community Association please send them a message on Facebook.
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New Future for Galleries
Wigan Council announced last month that Galleries25 has been appointed as the Strategic Development Partner for the £130 million redevelopment of the Galleries Shopping Centre in Wigan. The proposed scheme will see the existing 440,000 sq. ft shopping centre transformed to provide:
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Galleries25 is a joint venture partnership between Cityheart and Beijing Construction Engineering Group International (BCEGI). Cityheart, a North West based property development and investment company, has a 15-year track record of successfully delivering significant projects across the country, working almost exclusively with the public sector. UK based BCEGI will lead the construction programme for the new scheme.
Following consultation with residents, retailers, traders and visitors, the proposals have been designed to transform Wigan town centre into a vibrant, attractive and accessible place. Currently the centre is dominated by retail units, but under these plans there will be a much wider and diverse offer, including improved hospitality, leisure, and residential opportunities.
The Leader of Wigan Council, Councillor David Molyneux, said: “These proposals very much reflect the feedback we got from residents about the importance of vibrant town centres during the Big Listening Project in 2018 and the more recent consultation held earlier this year”.
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The redevelopment will create 475 construction jobs and a further 190 jobs when the scheme opens. Galleries25 has committed to recruiting local people to the jobs, including 25 apprentices annually, providing work experience and education visits and to supporting the local supply chain through a spend of £52m. The new scheme offers the hope that the redevelopment of the Galleries site can revitalise the wider town centre economy by attracting residents back into the town centre.
Back in November 2013 the then owners of the site, Vale Retail, announced a £60m plan to redevelop and expand The Galleries, which failed to materialise.
In March 2018 the Council bought the site, which includes Makinson Arcade, Marketgate, the indoor market hall and the former Morrison’s site, for an undisclosed sum from its former private sector owners due to concerns about the viability of The Galleries and the negative impact it was having on the remainder of the town centre area.
Wigan Council will work with Cityheart and BCEGI to agree the final details of the development with construction expected to start in early 2022 with an anticipated completion date of 2025.
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