Photo-a-Day  (Thursday, 6th August, 2020)

Nice one again, Dennis.

Tell me, has Millgate disappeared as well?

Looks like its going to rain way they are all rushing past

As a non resident of Wigan, it seems to me the only relation the 'Grand Acade' has with its surroundings is it's pointy roof, totally out out of place & looks like it was squeezed into a very limited space. Obviously a non starter dreamt up by the planning department.

Prefer how it used to be I know that things move on but its ruined wigan that is my opinion.

Brilliant way of taking the photo with another of how it was. I know which I prefer...the Wigan that was. For a change it's a busier scene today.

Helen and Julie I think the Grand Arcade looks great, its weather proof and fits in very nicely with the old surroundings.
Veronica you might think the photos with in another look good but Ive been told, that some viewers dont like them, and in some cases have been putting some Wigan snappers off from submitting there own point and click efforts.

I agree Mick - the girl on the right in quite a hurry.

In all fairness, The Grand Arcade could be a lot worse; I've been in some much more soul-less shopping centres but I miss the Wigan shown on the small photo. I think those of us who remember it will always miss it.

If it's any consolation, Helen, you'll be pleased to know that the present Government is 'streamlining' the planning system to give Councils and local folk even less of a say in what gets built where - not that I think Wigan's planners had that much of a say about the design of private developments such as the Arcade. It is worth noting that house builders are sitting on a million building plots already granted planning consent....

Thats fine with me Mick, we all have different opinions on what we like & don't like....I personally don't like it.

I can't see the harm in showing the same scene as it used to be Mick, but each to his own... anyway there are still photos of today.

I don't mind the inside of the arcade, it's the outside that lets it down , it looks like a glass menagerie. I think Station Rd could have had a better design with the other shop fronts retained, as 'The Ship' frontage was.

Come off it Mick, the place is awful and once inside you could be any mall in any town anywhere as they're all alike. I'm surprised too that you are praising it when security threw you out by the scruff of the saddle for cycling in there.

I’ve been told Mick, by more than a few viewers that they don’t like some of the comments that you make, indeed, some of them have been put off making comments of their own.
Just like your mysterious viewers have appointed you their spokesperson, mine have bestowed myself with the same honour. I did tell them that no harm would come to them if they sent in their own comments but, like yours Mick, apparently they just couldn’t face it.

Yes David I heard that yesterday, that will probably open another can of worms.
Surely councils do have some say in what private /commercial money wants to erect in your town....I think very few people can be bothered till its to late . Where I live Tesco wanted to build a store, the NNDC rejected their plans for the usual square box, they had to come up with several designs before they produced one to suit.

Looks a tight fit to me. Was it dropped in from above or did Wigan Council employ elephants to push it in with their bottoms ?

I think it’s great, need to move with the times.

Dennis, Yes, Millgate is still there, turn right immediately after
the Yorkshire Bank building. Cheers, Ray.

Good one Dennis.
Nice bit of documentary photography showing the current times.

Just been on Google Earth and can see that Millgate is indeed, still there. Great stuff. I wonder if the chippy is still there?

My comment regarding Millgate should have been for Fred Mason. Ray.

Dennis, great photo, like the Now and Then approach, just love them, great reminders.

Really hard to see Woolies ,
The Ritz now places long gone,
To realise they were a part of your being,
a time , a friend, a someone..
Places you grew with through childhood,
places that always seemed there,
now we are left with the rewind
recalling, a moment .... somewhere ...

Oy no its not a nice bit of documentary photography showing the current times. what its doing is spoiling what was a photo of Wigan as it it is today

Good photo Dennis ,I for one like the here and now photos, simply because I was only a youngster or not even born at the time.
Looking at the photo the arcade as took quite a bit of room up , well done.

Give it up Mick, it's sounding like sour grapes now.

I suppose it is Teasy to the camera club boys

Cheers, Ray.

Mick I thought you were the Chairman (on a bike) of the Camera Club for Wigan World.

According to Cyril he's been de-seated as far as the Grand Arcade is concerned Veronica.