Market hall/Galleries

Now the Galleries is empty of shops how long before access is stopped through the area Will you still be able to get to the open market or will this be fenced off? Also where will the public toilets be moved too or will they just close them and not build another block elsewhere in Wigan? What is happening with the Market traders in the Market Hall where are they moving too? Are they being moved to another area with reasonable rents or are they being shut down and that is the end of a market in Wigan? No spokesperson from the council seems to know the answers just deadly silence

It's time someone took responsibility for the town centre, it's an absolute disgrace. A friend was walking past Willko and she said that there was a man taking a leak in the litter bin. Disgusting and obscene behaviour in a very public place.

Double post.

Urinating in a public place is also a criminal offence. I've seen football fans being arrested for it. Disgusting. I know toilets are in short supply, but can't these people go somewhere private, like druggies do?

i needed to visit wilko yesterday - being in orrell I went skem concourse instead, fast roads, free multistory by the entrance. Its only small but has more shops those whole of wigan centre. If i need M&S it's Chorley, free parking without the madness of trying to get on/off at Robin Park.

That’s appalling, Jathbee.

PeterP, there’s a *Wigan Watch video from 17th Feb that discusses some of the issues you mention - the outdoor market is going to be completely closed off so to reach the indoor market will mean a lengthy detour. At March’s Full Council Meeting (Link), Con Cllr Michael Winstanley moved that market traders have a reduced rent to compensate for the disruption over the next two years, but this didn’t get the go ahead. Any liaising between the Council and market traders has been an utter shambles, I think it’s fair to say the Council haven’t tried at all.

YouTube Link

*Wigan Watch videos are the work of Wigan town centre trader, Tony Porter, who is so upset with recent events he’s decided to stand as the Independent candidate for Pemberton in this week’s local election.

More videos: here

is Prescotts still involved with Pem?

Yes Basil, yoo will continue to be served by a scouser councillor

they don't represent me.

i wonder if shes still claiming for petrol

'She' is not standing, and they or him, do not represent yoo, they 'serve' as your local councillor

Labour will not get my vote in the local election. Independent for me.

TTS, in principle, councillors are supposed to represent the residents of the ward against the council, in the same way as an MP is supposed to represent the residents of the constituency against the government. After their election, none seem to realise their own purpose.

I totally agree Tonker. But it's not been happening for a very long time.

Peterp you will gain access to market from standishgate and Leigh arcade mon to sat as normal, but this will be short lived due to youths anti social behaviour and vandalism through the centre, in the last few weeks they have caused damage amounting to thousands of pounds, the car park was closed due to idiots throwing fire extinguishers and other objects off 4th floor onto mkt sq, people do not know what goes on with these youths in the evening terrorising market street and bus station area, do their parents know or even care what they are up to.

bambam... Not said it for a few days......
NO DISCIPLINE. IN THE HOME or at SCHOOL. NO DETERRENT. The Left Wing, Civil Liberties, Mamby Pamy, Brigades have RUINED this country. Could see this happening 30 years ago.

When they threw the extinguisher over the side it's a pity they didn't follow it.

Admin I am left wing I am not manby pamby I suspect there's far more right wing mamby pambies as they've been in charge of this country for the majority's of my life time

basil if I could have got up the stairs fast enough whoever threw it would have followed it, that mindless act sickened me to the pit of my guts.

scum

Disgraceful that after only being there for thirty five years, the Galleries is to be pulled down as a result of the Council in its wisdom deciding that Wigan needed to have two shopping arcades in what is only a small town centre and allowing a retail park so near to the town centre.

But, its what you vote for!

In fairness if Wigan council, and indeed every other council in the country knew 35 years ago just how much shopping trends and public attitude was going to change in that period of time I doubt they would have agreed to the development nor would the owners of the buildings have invested huge sums.

Unfortunately these people don’t and never have had a……..crystal ball!!

I would like to know where the council got their information from that the people of Wigan wanted:- another Bowling Alley, an Indoor Golf Range, and another Cinema..

You didn't need a crystal ball when the plans for the Grand Arcade were put forward. The Galleries was half empty then! They were struggling to fill the retail units at that time so what do they do, they go and build another shopping mall. Now I'm not anti council, far from it. But I think a lot of questions need to be answered as to why the Grand Arcade was built in the first place.

As for a previous person commenting about ""what about the toilets""?
Do you honestly believe the ROTTEN COUNCIL of ours are concerned about it's people requiring a toilet? After all do they ever listen to what the ratepayer's have to say ?? I THINK NOT !!!!! GB
P.S. Also what about providing seating in and around this super dooper town centre ??? I can count them on one hand .

You've all got the wrong idea. The 'council' don't 'decide' to do these things. The government have the ideas and the council, being employed by the government, carry out the government's policies.
I've told you before where this has come from. It's the "Cabinet Office - One Public Estate Project", which all councils (including the Wigan one) signed up to in 2013?. Spatial Development Plans.

Look it up.

So Tonks, if everyone voted for an independent in the locals, what would happen?

People like to blame the council for everything they dont agree with in the borough and it seems the less they understand about the situation the more they want to blame them

Platty, in relation to the topic, Wigan town centre development, it doesn't matter who 'gets in' at ward councillor level.
If everybody voted for a telegraph-pole the result would be the same.

As from saturday 7th may there will be no access through Leigh Arcade or standishgate entrances into the Galleries.

Thank you for that information, bambam.

Stardelta

The pulling down of the Galleries has nothing to do with shopping trends but the folly of the Council wanting two arcades in what is only a small town centre compared to that of Bolton.

The way you are always defending the Council make me sometimes wonder if you are a Councillor or a Officer of the Council.

And the way you keep banging on about things Old Todger, attempting to appear all knowing when its clear have no knowledge of the subjects whatsoever makes me think you are one of, if not the most, opinionated, arrogant and all together self righteous contributor to this forum

And the way you keep banging on about things Old Todger, attempting to appear all knowing when its clear have no knowledge of the subjects whatsoever makes me think you are one of, if not the most, opinionated, arrogant and all together self righteous contributor to this forum

Stardelta

He's like an 'Howling Dog' he will be writing poetry next, and giving after dinner speeches

Yep…. And he needs to up his meds too!

I agree with Stardelta and tonker,lots of criticism of the council when in fact the government are in total control.
The council just oversee the services we need which have been cut by 120 million at least since austerity was introduced, meaning loss of libraries etc.

Suuuuuush!.......dont tell everyone

No names but if a certain number of people in here find out its not all the council/councillors fault they will have nothing to moan and whinge about

As the council are the government, it is the council's fault.
It isn't the councillors fault, as they are not the government, they are us and, as such, are powerless.

Yeah yeah yeah.............whatevs

So, whoever is in charge and responsible for the decisions, flattening a street and demolishing a cinema to build a shopping arcade, then after only 30+ years after construction, knocking down a shopping arcade and Market to replace it with, among other things, a cinema. Inspired !!

So go tell the developers, investors and land owners who as a result of their business decisions and desire to make profits decide they want to do these things.......or are you another one who thinks the perceived failings are ALL down to the council and that its OUR money that has and is being wasted?

If i was on the council planning committees I would be all for these schemes. I would be thinking if it all goes t***s up in 30 years so what......its not our money going down the pan.

fossil,

You are indeed correct about the Tories cutting Council Budgets, but the fact remains that Wigan Council themselves waste a lot of public money as I found out when before retirement, I was in employment with them.

Tonker

Most of the Councillors on Councils now are only interested in the financial rewards they now get and not the least bit interested in the minority who still vote for them. In fact, some of the Labour Councillors on Wigan Council are anything but Socialist!


Stardelta

No need to get personal and sarcastic with anyone who makes adverse comments about the Council and in my case, making the suggestion that the way you are so defensive of the Council, is that you could be a Councillor or Councillor Officer which I might add, you have not denied.

'
We are not all sheep at local election time in Wigan!

Tell you what old Todge, you made this claim…..

“but the folly of the Council wanting two arcades in what is only a small town centre compared to that of Bolton”

I am going to give you a chance to prove you are not just another moaning old know-nowt with a chip on his shoulder who thinks the world owes him a living and ask you to PROVE that claim is true.

Convince me the council sat down and all agreed that because Bolton have two we will have two and for no other reason.

And along the way you can convince us it was nothing to do with….

Encouraging outside investment
Creating jobs locally and nationally
Boosting the economy locally and nationally
Effectively managing redundant buildings and land.
And.. absolutely nothing to do with central government policy and legislation.

Leave it with you

Star Delta

Your last paragraph just sound like those of a Councillor, perhaps even a Cabinet member.

Pity that in Wigan, it has been nothing like that of Warrington over recent years!

Nothing even approaching a sensible answer to my questions there Todge

Do you need more time?

“Your last paragraph just sound like those of a Councillor, perhaps even a Cabinet member”

You mean someone who (unlike yourself) knows what they are talking about?

Maybe I should give it a go sometime

Warrington Market is very new.
LINK

The 2020 Market
Construction of the new permanent market, as part of the larger Time Square redevelopment that included new council offices and 13 screen cinema, commenced soon after demolition of the old market.

The new state-of-the-art market opened on the 6th July 2020, during the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic, and consists of around 60 business units on the ground floor and mezzanine levels.

The Cookhouse is a a new 14 outlet food court, able to serve 400 customers and stay open into the early evening to form part of a new space that offers dining and entertainment.

Keeping the old façade that fronts onto Bridge Street, the market maintains part of the towns history and ties it back into the main shopping street, hopefully being part of the regeneration for that area.

The market hall is split between the main hall on the ground floor and the mezzanine level that runs around the top. On the ground floor we have traditional market businesses such as butchers, fishmongers, greengrocers and clothing stalls, while the upper floor offers more personal services such as as nails treatments, hairdressers and a tattoo and piercing studio.

Hmmmmm........sounds just like what Wigan council are doing

My thoughts also Stardelta.

Residential

Wigan's new development is not going to be like Warrington's development, in fact Wigan council should go and have a good look at how Warrington has transformed its town centre, and look and learn at how it can be done properly

Have yoo been back to the future?

Not yet, no.

Wots it laaaake.