General   (General discussion, talk about anything.)

What has happened to town centres? Not just Wigan but many more. I acknowledge that Wigan’s town centre now resembles something like a town bombed during WWII but we are assured that it is the right choice. Although we have to ‘wait and see’ - for the next couple of years or more there are some questions to be asked. Firstly, if units in the Galleries were empty prior to the Grand Arcade scheme and subsequently many more in the Galleries abandoned as a consequence, then I can’t imagine a mad rush to occupy units in the new town centre arrangements… unless the main stores from the Arcade and main streets move there… rendering the Arcade into another ghost town.
However, this is just a scenario and as a chap who has lived his whole life here I do have concerns and do hope for a favourable outcome, but with reservations.
Many towns have suffered but Altrincham employed a good consultant who turned the town around very favourably. My take on our national and international ‘progression’ is that progression in technology, etc may have favourable outcomes but does have a side effect, very often detrimental.
So, as that as a scenario I look at my childhood in Wigan – the 50s through to perhaps the eighties when the town was like a beehive; much activity and an incredible number of shops. There are even films from the turn of the century with steam trams and the centre occupied by vast crowds, all in their best Sunday dress! In the early 70s Woolworths was so packed that people struggled to enter; most department stores too were well attended. The shops were unbelievably numerous and actually radiated well out of the centre – up Scholes and down Wallgate, compared to today’s shops. I remember the old (now long demolished) arcade where it was stated that you could buy anything from the numerous tiny units and stalls. There was everything for everyone.
I guess the internet and online shopping has affected trade, also the retail parks just out of town with free parking. As for online shopping, there was always the popular option of mail order, often by major companies such as John England overlooking Mesnes Park and GUS at Martland/Marsh Green. Yes, it’s easy to say that the internet is to blame (and perhaps retail parks may just sway people away) but; I travel the county regularly and although I see the familiar boarded up stores and derelict buildings, there are many towns, villages and rather small cities that are prospering. I recently enjoyed visits to Poole, Southampton, Bournemouth, Winchester, Salisbury, Marlborough and many more which thrive and sensitively accommodate the high street stores into their historic architecture. Oh, I here you say – “yeah, in the bloody south!” – but no, I can mention lots of towns and cities in the northwest, Cheshire (Chester is an excellent example) Yorkshire, Derbyshire, North Wales, Cumbria, Northumberland , Scotland, etc… and I can tell you that there are many towns down south that have suffered and they need to look at the initiatives from the towns that have had favourable consultation/diagnosis are thriving. There is a resolution apparently if you look for it.
So, this is a foundation for discussion rather than a personal solution or opinion. I have merely given a rough, basic evaluation and I would love to hear your thoughts.