4.5.2000 News from Wigan

News Report Archive 4th May 2000

HUB OF THE NORTH

A �300m jobs-boosting scheme to revolutionise transport systems is set to be unveiled in Wigan.
The privately funded project, which has taken around fifteen years to formalise, will see Wigan Wallgate and Wigan North Western railway stations combined with bus facilities.
There will also be a new Manchester Airport rail link station and massive park and ride facilities.
Metro planning chief John Sloane says the scheme, which will be unveiled this summer, will 'suck cars off the motorways' and help the borough embrace a new era of transportation.
The scheme forms the heart of an even more ambitious 180-acre leisure, retail and business project stretching from the former Westwood Power station site to the southwest corner of Wigan town centre now including a canal marina and housing.
The "Hub" will remove the age old problem of suburban passengers having to cross town for the national services along the West Coast Main Line.
And it means that commuters to Manchester, Liverpool or Bolton will be able to catch a bus home after leaving their trains, allowing them to leave cars at home completely.
Historically two seperate stations were built by the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway (Wallgate) and the London, Midland and Scottish Railway (North Western), respectively because they were rival operators.
Confirmation of the plan comes in letters from Wigan Metro Planning Department to planning consultants TPK of Manchester leaked to the Evening Post by anti-link road campaigner John Vickers of Hindley Green.
He fears that the 'transport hub' could mean that the on-ice M6-M61 link road, the A5225 from Orrell to Westhoughton, would be back on the agenda even though the Department of Transport have officially dropped it from their schedules- because people will drive into Wigan as a major boarding for public transport in all directions.
He says such a major public transport interchange, which may also eventually boost industry with a possible Channel tunnel road/rail freight interchange, could help re-instate the highway.
In one of the 'leaked' letters from Wigan Metro to Bolton Metro, Mr Sloane points out; "The council is entirely supportive of the entire proposal for the A5225 and has been very actively campaigning for it's retention as a major highway proposal..if the 'hub' is successful then this may find a significantly large part of the route. The whole issue of the 'Hub' and the A5225 has recently been considered by the Board of the North West Development Agency and they have resolved to support a call to the Highways Agency to protect the route.
The 'Hub' proposal is private sector led and will form the subject of a planning application to be submitted later this year and until that time there are no plans available. The concept is very site specific to Wigan, because of Wigan's location, the existing rail connections and because of extensive brownfield opportunities.
"Combined with a direct link to the M6(via route A5225) this will facilitate modal interchange to public transport for a wide range of regional and inter-regional destinations."

FIVE YEAR PLAN TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE ON HEALTH

A new fitness team has been set up to whip Wigan's couch potatoes in shape.
The borough has an unenviable health record with some of the highest heart disease and coronary fatality rates in the country. Obesity is rife and chest complaints dog many a resident.
This week Wigan Metro set up it's Active Living team to promote a five year plan to increase people's participation in physically active lifestyles.
Research shows that people who are not regularly active are twice as likely to suffer from heart disease and three times more likely to have a stroke. Physical activity helps with tackling stress and in maintaining a healthy weight and good bone health. In fact, it is an important way of staying healthy and improving quality of life. But despite this, national surveys show that three quarters of the population are not active enough to benefit their health.
The Metro has already demonstrated it's commitment to keeping locals fit. Since 1997 the popular Steps to Health scheme-a partnership with local health services- has helped more than 2,000 people with special health needs to find an activity programme that is appropriate for them.
Betty Green, a 69 yr old from Marsh Green said, "I was stiff in my joints and couldn't get up. I had high blood pressure and pain, but since starting the classes I feel great."
Bickershaw 66 year old Sheila Hodgson said, "I have definitely noticed a difference in my flexibility and suppleness. Even though we used to go walking before we started the scheme, I have noticed a difference in other areas, like when I'm cleaning and have to get up from kneeling on the floor. We really enjoy the classes and everyone is very friendly."
The Active Living team co-ordinator, Nick Colledge said, "We will be providing an even wider service, working within the council's Active Life centres to extend the provision for local people and set up new opportunities to suit all ages and fitnes levels. This isn't just about gyms and exercise classes. It's about everyday activity like walking, cycling and using the stairs instead of the lift. we will be trying hard to tackle the factors that stop people taking part. New initiatives with schools, workplaces and local communities will help us to support and expand the effects of the Steps to Health scheme."

TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE

Three Wigan streets have undergone a massive transformation to feature in a new Jimmy McGovern period drama.
Dozens of modern terraced homes in Bird Street, Keble Street and Hook Street, Higher Ince have been altered to create the illusion of 1930s Birkenhead for the drama, "Liam".
The 90-minute feature will star actor Ian Hart who has appeared in films such as Backbeat, Enemy of the State and End of the Affair, and Ann Reid who starred as Ken Barlow's wife in Coronation Street and more recently as Jean in Victoria Wood's Dinner Ladies.
False shopfronts, complete with pre WW2 merchandise, have been installed on some of the houses and an imaginary coal merchant's yard has appeared on waste land. There are also period posters depicting cinema listings and news headlines.
All the houses in the cobbled streets have been given authentic-looking wooden window frames and the look is completed with Victorian street lamps. Bird Street has also been renamed as Lowrie Street.
The 90-minute drama, which is the work of Liverpool based Liam films in conjunction with the BBC will centre on the disintegration of a working class family through the eyes of their seven year old son Liam, played by youngster Anthony Burrows.
The drama is penned by Jimmy McGovern, famed for television hits such as Cracker and Hillsborough. It is being directed by Stephen Frears, who has worked on Dangerous Liaisons and My Beautiful Launderette and produced by Colin McKeown who worked on the Liverpool One series featuring Samantha Janus.
The remainder of the cast is made up of relatively unknown actors although Drew Schofield, who appeared in Boys from the Blackstuff, will also make an appearance.
No date for the screening of the drama has been confirmed.
Sarah Best, from Liam Films said, "Filming has started and is expected to take six weeks. We are also filming on location in Liverpool."

SECOND TRAGEDY TO HIT FAMILY IN TO YEARS

A tormented family are grieving for the second time in two years after their teenage son was found dead in their front garden.
Murder squad detectives were initially called to the Wigan home of Scott Gadd over fears that he had been attacked, but have now ruled out crime.
His death comes just two years after his brother, Roy, was found dead following a heroin overdose. A police source has said that investigations are centering on a drug-related death-similar to that of Roy.
An inquest into the death of 29 year-old Roy, recorded a verdict of misadventure.
A police source has said that investigations into 17 year old Scott's death are also probing a possible drugs link. Scott's death is the latest in a catalogue of tragic disasters to befall his parents. Another brother, Jason, was jailed for life in 1993 for the knife murder of 34 year old Terry Murphy of Worsley Hall. Roy, who was also known as Stephen McKray, was also charged with the murder but later acquitted.
Scott, who was unemployed, lived with his parents John and Frances. He was found dead by a visitor to the house in Ormskirk Road Newtown on Monday morning.
Suspicious circumstances have been eliminated from the inquiry and police have also scotched rumours that he suffered fatal injuries in a fall as he climbed up a drainpipe having found himself locked out of the house.
A post-mortem examination is set to be carried out and the source said it was likely that blood samples would have to be sent off for analysis before a final cause of death could be proved.
The Gadd family were too distressed to talk about their latest loss.
A police spokesman said that an inquest into Scott's death was likely to be opened on Wednesday morning.

NOTE FROM CAZ

Sorry there was no update to the newspage last week, but some kind soul sent us a virus via the internet that completely wiped out the hard drive on our PC. It has taken us almost a week to retrieve what files and stuff that we could.
What these people get out of this, which is just a form of mindless vandalism, is totally beyond me.

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