Wigan Album

It would be good to see the Hotel being used for what it was built for

It's certainly full of "TOURISTS" now

Ron, that's a good pun about those boat immigrants becoming the UKs booming tourist trade, and having all the luxuries there too courtesy of the British taxpayers.

Even in the 1980s folks I remember would still view Cassinelli's as being somewhere upmarket to go for a meal or stopover, and the venue became famed throughout the north west for their popular Jazz Club, music nights and discothèques.

Wonder what the past clients from the 1960s, 70s and 80s would think of these immigrants or what we now have to refer to as being "people displaced as a result of persecution, conflict, generalized violence or human rights violations", now staying and dining there and also for the foreseeable future. I don't think this government knows what is going to happen to these people, as there isn't enough housing or infrastructure even for the people born here to be able to cope comfortably as it is, and I doubt the other political parties having any viable ideas on how to deal with the situation.

I used to go to the FOLK nights I think they were on a Thursday night?? At one time I think it was used as an Overnight Stop for coach trips going to Scotland. There always coaches parked outside.

Don't worry folks, there is new accomodation going up in Wigan that I'm sure the residents here will soon be moving into. Why didn't they leave the market as is, find the owner of the mill behind the park then convert that into flats/student accomodation ?

Or for the ‘tourists’ as already said. I can see them now queuing up for the comfortable lodgings.

Never seen a woman or a child here . 100% beards everywhere.
There used to be a pool and gym for locals before the sailing enthusiasts came . People got laid off . Appalling.
At least Bargain Booze are doing well .

Oh, for goodness sake - they came to seek asylum - not to be herded into hotels by an inefficient government which can't process their (mostly legitimate) applications. Once approved, they can move out and make their own way in our unequal society. Don't blame them for the way our government treats its citizens.
Why should they patronise Bargain Booze when Aldi and Lidl are far cheaper?

Rev. I think most people are UP IN ARMS about all these so called ASYLUM SEEKERS when the majority aren't from war torn countries they are POLITICAL MIGRANTS mostly from Albania.. And these people are treated better then our own people. They can see a doctor or dentist straight away no waiting weeks or months. I know someone who has been with the same dentist for over 40 years and because they haven't been for 2 years have been struck off their list. Now they have to go Private as no dentists are taking on any new patients. Unless of course you are an Asylum Seeker then you are pushed in.. AND I know this happens.. Two friends have been in the Doctors and the Dentist when "these people" have come into the waiting rooms with some documentation. or other...... I bet the people staying in Cassinellis haven't been turning their heating down of forgoing one of the three meals a day they are provided with.. And as already been said "WHERE ARE THE WOMEN AND CHILDREN"

They're not mostly Albanians at all. Single men come first - as in all migration - taking risks women and children couldn't. If their asylum bid is successful, their families can hopefully join them later and they can play as full a part in our society as have past migrants - why - they might even get to be a Prime or a First Minister of one of our nations!
As for your friend - why should a dentist keep someone on their lists who doesn't turn up for regular checks? How the Government organises medical treatment for asylum seekers is up to the Government - the asylum seekers have to take what they're given - and can't control the heating in their hotels, and nothing would be gained if they didn't eat whatever is presented to them - they're not being offered a la carte menus.
We wouldn't have so many asylum seekers sitting around in hotels if the Government had been doing its job and getting their applications sorted. Most asylum seekers from places of conflict or persecution are accepted in the end. The sooner they're processed, the sooner they can contribute to society - which is what they come to do.
Don't ask me why there are so many Albanians coming over at present - but again, prompt processing would see any who don't qualify as refugees returned home.
I repeat - don't let this Government off the hook - they have destroyed our economy - not asylum seekers. We're a rich country - but, as the last budget showed, only the rich are getting a good deal out of it. The rest of us have to pay more tax for worsening services with the real value of our incomes dropping all the time.

I think the majority of this country is against what is going on. There’s an outcry if they suggest they are put in military bases or tents. In France they are in tents but no outcry about that. I am not against immigrants coming to this country as they have always been welcomed here but it’s gone beyond the pale. Whoever is to blame the government or not, it just cannot go on. We haven’t the resources and the money being spent daily makes me quiver and think why can’t it go into the NHS and to hard working people who have to go on strike to get a decent wage. We all know what is lacking and it’s time something was done. That’s not to throw money to the French and money to keep immigrants in hotels. This government is a waste of space but is any government going to solve this problem?? I think we are a laughing stock to the rest of the world. The waiting lists for people having operations are scandalous. I know two people who are waiting for hip operations and they have been cancelled twice one of them is in so much pain she can hardly walk and has resorted to going private and that has been cancelled. Unbelievable.

Many countries - especially those close to areas of conflict etc take many more millions of refugees than we do. I repeat - we're a rich country - we can afford to pay our teachers, nurses, doctors what they're worth, pay for our health service etc - and still have money left to support refugees. It's how the cake is divided - and who does the dividing. Getting folk at the bottom of the pile to fight one another over a single slice while you keep the rest of the cake to yourself ensures the dividers get the best of the spoils.

The voice of reason. Probably speaks for 95% of the UK population...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSu6SuTgNbQ

Without getting into a political debate about the present use of the Standish Britannia Hotel and having a dig at it's current residents, I believe the problem purely resides with incompetence of the Home Office (and a incumbent Home Secretary who shouldn't be in the job after last year's shenanigans) and the greedy Britannia Hotel group who are making a fortune in revenue from the British tax payer to house Asylum seekers. I last went inside the Standish Britannia in 2018 and the conditions were appalling (even then!) - certainly no place for people to reside with young children for X number of months.

CJ

Thank you Rev Long you are spot on. We need to embrace and get to know these people, not shun them.

Gill, you're avin a laugh.. How many are you putting up???

Just can’t help saying our town has gone downhill radically in the last 10 years….any coincidence with “asylum seekers “ coming to town….must be the litter capital of the north

We held our wedding reception there, 19th October 1974. It was a classy place in those days and we often went to the restaurant in subsequent years and to the night club. It's quite a dump these days!

Just noticed all the comments on immigration/asylum seekers, legal or otherwise.
I think it is the sheer volume of them in and around Wigan that causes anxiety and in many cases misguided prejudice, particularly when many are single young men, all well dressed and with mobile phones talking loudly with others, and one might speculate telling others to come to this wonderful country for free housing, food and benefits of all kind.
I was talking to five young men on a bus the other week, asking what language they were speaking, they said they were from Namibia. Don't recall any issues in that country!
This country (as was America built on immigration) in our case dating back to the Roman times pushing the celts back to Wales Scotland and Ireland with waves of Scandinavians and Anglo Saxons and then the French for a few hundred years, Huguenots and Jews fleeing religious persecution.
That said, I think it appalling that the Britannia and Kilhey Court should be used for this purpose providing incentives for more people to come. We have three hotels closed in Wigan, The Grand Hotel, The Victoria Wallgate and The Bellingham on Wigan Lane that should be sufficient for this purpose or caravan parks with limited luxuries.
I have nothing against them as individuals many are polite and speak good English, its the volume of them and queue jumping in boats across the channel when they have refuge in France bringing true deserving refugees into disrepute.

PS What has happened to the Oak Hotel in Wigan?
When I travel past the Oak sign has gone down and there are clothes and curtains billowing out of open windows?????