Biggest jobs boost for last 40 years kitchens & bedrooms
SUMMER PROMOTIONS See Page 7
EIGHT HUNDRED JOBS are set to be created in Wigan after P o u n d l a n d announced plans to build a new multimillion pound distribution centre at South Lancs Industrial Estate in A s h t o n - i n Makerfield.
Poundland intends to service all its stores in the North West of England from the new centre.
The development, the biggest single jobs boost for Wigan since the borough council was founded in 1974, has been warmly welcomed by local government and business officials in the town. Deputy council leader Councillor David Molyneux, Wigan Council’s cabinet member for economy, said: “This is fantastic news for Wigan borough and shows why we are a major player in the creation of a Northern Powerhouse. “Wigan Council is very pro-
July 7th 2015
Issue no 256
Architect’s impression of the massive proposed Poundland depot
business and has worked closely with the developer DB Symmetry and Poundland to ensure that the plans come to fruition. “Major investments in Wigan are crucial to our local economy.”
Application
A planning application for the site has been lodged with the council, and if it gets the green light, the site will cover more than 30,000
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square metres on the former land of Georgia Pacific on Lockett Road. The development will create a range of skilled jobs, both full-time and part-time, as well as apprenticeships. Wigan was picked by Poundland following the company’s analysis of three potential homes for the new depot in the north west. Councillor Molyneux added : “We beat some high quality competition to land this investment, and are delighted that Poundland have chosen Wigan. “Wigan is ideally located for business between Manchester and Liverpool and is at the heart of the motorway network. “Earlier this year we launched the Wigan
Works vision to create a place where people want to invest, live, work and visit. “This will be the largest single employment creating application we have dealt with since the authority was formed in 1974, and ranks alongside Heinz coming to Wigan in the 1950s.
Support
“Giving people in Wigan the opportunity to access good quality jobs is a top priority of the borough council. “We will also support young people through this development to access apprenticeships. “The icing on the cake is that there are more positive announcements to come on the local economy.”
Wigan’s Masons dig deep to help Wigan Hospice
MASONS from the Wigan and District Masonic Group have gifted a donation of £750 to Wigan and Leigh Hospice. Members from the 19 lodges and eight chapters in the Group raised the funds by holding charity collections at meetings.
Chris Reeman, Charity Steward for the Group, said: “We have supported the Hospice for many years now and this donation is additional to other fundraising individual lodges do throughout the year. “We regularly donate because it’s such a worthwhile cause and because the Masons are strong supporters of the Hospice movement nationwide.” Julie Dennis, Fundraising and Events Officer, said: “I’d like to thank the Wigan and District Masonic Group for their ongoing support and the significant contribution they have made to the Hospice over the years.” Our picture above shows (left to right) Group Secretary Stewart Blagg; Group Chairman Malcolm Taylor; Julie Dennis; Community Fundraiser for the Hospice, Christine Edwardson; Vice-Chairman Geoffrey Porter and Charity Steward Chris Reeman.
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