01/05/08. The results of the local elections in Ashton were:
| A Jones (BNP) | 178 |
A Rampling (Labour) | 1111 |
P Tushingham (CAP) | 1766 |
M Winstanley (Con) | 238 |
24/04/08. An inaugural meeting to form the Riding Lane & Recreation Avenue Estates Tenants & Residents Association will take place tomorrow. For further details contact Julian Sorfleet.
22/04/08. Later this year Andy Monk will be walking to every Newspaper office and Radio Station in England, UK, about 3,500 miles all told, to raise crucial funds for two Multiple Sclerosis Charities - The Accelerated Cure Project, an American national non-profit organisation which is recognized as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization by the IRS, and The British Trust for the Myelin Project (Registered Charity No.1000614). For further details go to the
website.
20/02/08. Leisure and sports services in Wigan are threatened by a pay dispute. Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust staff have voted to take industrial action to safeguard their conditions of service. The Trust is attempting to remove overtime and weekend payments from staff in spite of its promise to honour the terms and conditions in existence when it took control of leisure facilities from Wigan Council three years ago..
12/02/08. Wigan community groups, heritage societies and interested individuals are being asked to nominate local buildings and structures of architectural and historic importance (BLINTS) they would like to see preserved. Wigan Council is compiling a list and is seeking nominations during the period 19.2.08 to 20.6.08. To nominate your building or structure visit the Council website or email the Conservation and Design Officer.
06/02/08. Wigan Council is seeking the views of residents and stakeholders on the central issues affecting the borough (health, community safety, community development, education, economy, housing, retail, accessibility, landscapes, biodiversity, energy, waste, natural resources, climate change) in years to come. The consultation is part of the planning for the Local Development Framework (LDF), which will encompass the vision, objectives and strategy for the borough after 2010. The LDF will replace Wigan's Unitary Development Plan (2006), and is intended to be more flexible in ensuring how the borough will operate in the interests of the widest number of people. A number of documents setting out the issues involved and the options available are on display at local libraries. Comments can be made direct to the Planning Department at Wigan Council, or via the Council's website.
29/01/08. Ashton Heath Residents' Association have been successful in bidding for a grant from the Co-operative Society Community Fund. The grant of £355 will be used to renew the group's public liability insurance, extend the hedgerow planted by the group in 2006 and carry out some additional planting in the woodland.
21/01/08. The Salvation Army have now moved into their purpose-built centre in Chapel Street from their temporary home at the NUPRO.
15/01/08. Nominations are being sought under Wigan Borough Partnership's fourth 'Big Thankyou' programme. This year's theme is the contribution made by cultural organisations to their local communities, allowing them to showcase their achievements. If your organisation is a group or network that brings people with common interests together in their community through performance, creative writing or visual arts, then your organisation or volunteers can be nominated for an award.
08/01/08. The star of BBC Two series 'Christine's Garden' has agreed to help Town Green Residents' Association with their community garden project. Her plans include benches, flowerbeds, play areas and a central pagoda.
17/12/07. At their annual meeting tonight, Councillor Nigel Ash and John Harrison were elected as Joint Chairs of Ashton and Bryn Township Forum.
23/11/07. Wigan-born Claire Hannah of Rock FM presented Quiz Master Tom Scully and Harrow Inn landlord Tony Morgan with a gold disk to mark the pub's achievement of raising over £5,000 towards a local children's charity in the last three years. Emma Bailey of 'Help a Local Child' said that the Harrow was only the third organisation to achieve this award, and praised the efforts of the staff and regulars in giving the proceeds of the Friday night quiz to the charity.
29/10/07. Members of Town Green Residents Association invited MP Ian McCartney and children from St Thomas' and RL Hughes Primary Schools to be present at the planting of a tree at their new community garden. The tree - a Korean Fir - will be dressed at Xmas as a focal point for the local community.
25/09/07. A small display marking both the 110th anniversary of the opening of Winwick Hospital and World Mental Health Day (10th October) will be held at Warrington Museum and Art Gallery from October 6th to 1st February 2008. In its heyday Winwick Hospital was the largest psychiatric hospital in Europe and this display aims to form an introduction to its history while touching upon some of the issues surrounding mental health.
04/09/07. At the request of Ashton Heath Residents' Association three litter bins have been installed by the pathways leading on to the heath. The intention is not only to reduce the amount of litter deposited on the heath, but to allow dog owners to pick up after their pets, and so limit the damage being done to the heath by dog faeces.
27/08/07. The town centre conservation area is to be extended by the inclusion of properties on the south side of Heath Road from the Cave Browne Church to the Hingemakers' Arms, 2-8 Garswood Street, and properties on the north side of Wigan Road.
17/07/07. Local artist Ulrich West has been awarded second prize in the 2007 West Lancashire Open Exhibition for his painting "Burial Chamber". The Exhibition at the Chapel Gallery in Ormskirk runs until August 29th.
29/06/07. Nicol Mere Primary School is celebrating its 30th anniversary on July 10th. Former pupils and teachers are invited to a tea party at 14.00 to share memories and renew friendships. For more information call Nicol Mere Primary School on 01942 720871.
29/06/07. Local MP Ian McCartney has stood down from the Government after 15 years on the Labour front bench. He has written to new Prime Minister Gordon Brown stating that he felt the time was right for him to step aside and assuring his support. In addition to serving on the front bench Ian has spent 13 years on the party's NEC and a decade as vice-chair and chair of the National Policy Forum.
18/06/07. Wigan Council has decided against sale of the land proposed for access to the planned extension to the South Lancs Industrial Estate. Concern on the increase in traffic together with uncertainty on any real employment benefits were cited as reasons for the decision, which has been welcomed by local ward councillors and campaigners.
30/05/07. Jack Sudworth, retiring Trustee at Captain's Lane Community Centre, was presented with a painting of Ashton Library at the Annual General Meeting of the Management Committee. The gift was in recognition of his many years' service as Chair of the committee, and his pivotal role in its success.
At the AGM, Nigel Ash, Ruth Green, Sue and David McKendrick were re-elected to their officer posts. It was agreed to amend the constitution to name the centre "Captain's Lane Community Centre" to reflect its current role. An application from Ann Rampling to become a Trustee was approved.
29/05/07. At their second AGM members of the Friends of Three Sisters re-elected V Greenwood, J Winstanley and P Browne as officers.
29/05/07. Mad Jack's bar have raised £435 for Wigan Infirmary's Coronary Care Unit at a charity night. The event was staged by the owner, Joe Smith, in recognition of the care he received when admitted to the unit last November following a heart attack.
24/05/07. Last night representatives of community groups held a special meeting to discuss concerns regarding the functioning of the Ashton and Bryn Township Forum.
23/05/07. Family, friends and Labour Party members attended St Helens Crematorium to pay tribute to George Harrison, Labour Party candidate for Bryn, who died suddenly last week. Eulogies were given by his son and a friend to mark his life and achievements.
16/05/07. Following the recent elections there has been a realignment of political parties. Councillor Don Hodgkinson, a one-time member of the Labour Party, who left it to found the Community Action Party with Councillor Peter Franzen, has now deserted this party to become an Independent. Two Liberal councillors have also defected from their party to become part of a group of five independent councillors, led by Councillor Brian Merry. The Community Action Party has now aligned itself with the remaining three Liberal Party councillors to form a new 'Democratic Alliance' in order to retain its position as the official opposition, with 13 seats, in the face of the conservatives.
04/05/07. The results of the local elections in Ashton and Bryn were as follow:
| Ashton |
| W Carney (CAP) | 1423 |
A Rampling (Labour) | 1258 |
M Winstanley (Conservative) | 256 |
V Haslam (BNP) | 195 |
| Bryn |
| G Wilkes (Independent) | 1657 |
| G Harrison (Labour) | 1030 |
| K Haslam (BNP) | 307 |
| J Cartwright (Conservative) | 179 |
06/04/07. A long-running dispute between residents of King George Close and United Utilities appears to be resolved. A sewage pumping station serving the small estate was unadopted, resulting in distress and charges for the residents when it continually broke down, and a potential £30,000 bill to finally end the problem. With the intervention of local MP Ian McCartney and support of Councillor Nigel Ash a long period of negotiation has ensued, which looks now to be happily concluded.
04/04/07. Following discussions with councillors, church leaders and parishioners Wigan Police have agreed to continue to provide support to town Walking Days. However, the police hope to reduce their presence in future, with more responsibility being taken by stewards from the organisations represented on the walks.
31/03/07. Town Green Residents' Association together with Lucy Garrett and Stephen Hodges from Wigan and Leigh Groundwork Trust hosted a consultation exercise at Captain's Lane Community Centre. Members of the public were able to see the proposed plans for the garden by Orchard Street and make comments.
29/03/07. Hilary Benn, Secretary of State for International Development, spoke to local Labour Party members at Stubshaw Cross Labour Club.
22/03/07. Wellbuilt Construction Ltd have applied for planning permission to build 16 apartments in two two and a half storey blocks at 612 Bolton Road.
14/03/07. Wigan Police are refusing to allocate officers to Wigan walking days on the grounds that the money could be spent better elsewhere. They have offered to police a combined walking day, or to train volunteers as stewards. However, the police's action will make difficulties for churches arranging these events.
01/03/07. Lynda Edmondson, who runs dog training classes at Captains' Lane Community Centre, has won through to the finals of the Crufts' Heelwork to Music category, together with her dog Buzz. Lynda is no stranger to Crufts, having judged the inaugural competition there last year.
08/02/07. The NUPRO club in the grounds of St Oswald's Church will be closing in March following a decline in use. The club's facilities have been popular for weddings and other events, and a venue for activities during the annual Ashton Festival. The closure will leave a gap in provision of local meeting facilities.
06/02/07. Councillor Nigel Ash is asking readers of his blog to vote on whether more or less Brighter Boroughs monies should be spent on Xmas decorations in the town. In 2000 the Ashton Community Forum arranged the planting of a Millennium Ash Tree at the library, with the intention that this could be dressed each year by local schoolchildren, thus providing a decorated tree at Xmas at minimal cost to the town. Unfortunately when Community Action Party councillors gained power in the town, they removed the tree, preferring to return to the previous arrangement to have a christmas tree erected for a few weeks at considerable expense. Ashton residents now have an opportunity to voice their opinion on whether they feel the expenditure is justified.
24/01/07. Since the refurbishment of Ashton library and its opening on Sundays as part of a pilot scheme to offer greater accessibility to Wigan libraries, use of the library has increased by 28%. Sunday opening will now be extended to other libraries within the borough.
13/01/07. The website now has an RSS feed, which means that visitors wishing to keep up-to-date with Ashton news can subscribe to a feed, which provides them with information that the website has been updated. Internet Explorer 7.0 incorporates this facility, indicated by an orange symbol on the toolbar.
14/12/06. A rigorous scrutiny of Wigan Council by the Audit Commission has resulted in a four-star rating. One-third of the country's councils have been reviewed, and only one other has matched Wigan's top marks. Following interviews with service users, the inspectors concluded that Wigan Council provided good value for money and that its services were tailor-made to public demand and the strongest needs. The Council is praised for ambitious, well-planned and designed regeneration projects, attracting £224m of public and private sector investment, and creating and safeguarding 10,477 jobs.
28/11/06. Malcolm Coe, Township Manager, has questionned the constitution of a local group seeking to join the Ashton and Bryn Township Forum. Although the membership of the group - the Friends of Three Sisters - has been agreed by the Forum, it appears that opposition to the group's membership is coming from parties who resent FOTS' wish to keep their meetings non-political.
24/11/06. Local ward councillor Nigel Ash has started a weblog to assist communication with local constituents. The blog can be seen at www.nigelash.blogspot.com.
23/10/06. There was a meeting tonight of the Ashton and Bryn Township Forum, a council organisation created to encourage community involvement in local decision-making. We are unable to report its discussions.
23/09/06. At the Council-sponsored opening of Ashton Festival, Walter Carney and out-of-town members of the "Community Action Party" set up a stall to distribute anti-council leaflets. The Festival, under the leadership of Jack Sudworth, has been an annual event for several years, and has prided itself on being non-political and welcoming to all Ashton people. This crude attempt to gain political advantage from a genuine community event threatens the future of the Festival and its funding. Fortunately, other local political parties have not lowered themselves to this level.
30/07/06. Ashton Festival 2006 will be held from Saturday 23rd September until Saturday 7th October.
15/07/06. United Utilities have completed the work in Bryn Road South as the first phase of the £2m programme to solve flooding problems in Ashton. Work is now being undertaken on Alexandra and Eskdale Roads, and during the school holidays will advance to Hodnet Drive and Hilton Street. This part of the work is expected to be completed by September 4th, when the schools resume, and the whole project is expected to be finished by January next.
11/07/06. Residents from the Town Green area are considering setting up a community association. If successful, this will be a valuable addition to the community groups representing local areas of the town.
10/07/06. Ashton and Bryn Township Forum met tonight in Ashton Town Hall. Unfortunately it is not clear how much of their proceedings can be reported on here. However, the minutes of the Township Forum will eventually be available on the Wigan MBC website.
29/06/06. Committee members of the Makerfield Against Development Group addressed a packed audience at Stubshaw Cross Labour Club Residents, explaining the proposed expansion of the South Lancs Industrial Estate and seeking support from local residents.
24/06/06. Residents from the Stubshaw Cross area and supporters were leafletting in Ashton today to draw attention to the proposed extension of the South Lancs Industrial Estate. A public meeting is planned to organise opposition to the new Sapphire Business Park, which will take up green space and add to the amount of heavy goods traffic already passing through the town.
18/05/06. Wigan Council is funding improvements to Bryn Cross in the form of a new noticeboard and bench, with railings and lampposts being painted a matching black. Together with hanging baskets and planters hung on the railing, the work will enhance the area. The new mayor will officially open the improvements on June 5th.
16/05/06. At their AGM Captain's Lane Management Committee re-appointed Jack Sudworth, Ruth Green and David McKendrick as Trustees and re-elected the current officers.
06/05/06 Wigan Council's Engineering Department is doubling the funds it gives to local townships to £20,000. The monies are intended to be spent on improvements to local communities, selected in conjunction with the residents through the Township Forums. This is in addition to the £15,000 channelled through local ward councillors via the Brighter Boroughs budget, and £15,000 made available through the Twin Ward Risk Management schemes. Will Ashton and Bryn Township Forum now agree the request from Ashton Heath Residents' Association for dog bins on Ashton Heath?
04/05/06 The Labour Party candidate Nigel Ash was returned as an Ashton councillor at today's local elections. He defeated Claire Daington, who was expelled from the Community Action Party in the middle of the election campaign. Results were: Ash N, 1261; Daington C, 1200; Winstanley M, 320. The restoration of some political balance will help Ashton people who have suffered from the actions of the councillors of the Community Action Party.
10/04/06. Ashton Linen and Woollen Stock Charity is seeking to maintain independence from political interference. In the past Wigan Council has nominated seven trustees to serve the charity, but following the 2004 elections the Community Action Party attempted to replace the serving trustees whose term of appointment still had three years to run. The Charity intends to write to the Charity Commission seeking to change its Scheme of Arrangement to remove the ability of the Council to make nominations and thus avoid 'political manoeuvering". While the Council's ruling Cabinet are in agreement with the request, local councillors Tushingham, Daington and Hodgkinson are opposing the plans.
07/04/06. Councillors Wilkes, Merry and Daington have been expelled from the Community Action Party.
04/04/06. Despite their starting a new political organisation, local councillors Merry and Daington are seeking re-election under the banner of the Community Action Party.
03/04/06. Local ward councillors B Merry, G Wilkes and C Daignton are apparently defecting from the "Community Action" Party to form a new political organisation. The "Community Performance First" Party was formed on 24th March, with the three councillors named on the Electoral Commission website as Leader, Nominating Officer and Treasurer respectively. No indication is given of this party's policies, or under which banner councillors Merry and Daington intend standing at the forthcoming local elections.
27/03/06. The Ashton Central Community Association is reported to have folded. Originally an active residents' group represented on Ashton & Bryn Township Forum by Margaret Hughes, who has done much to facilitate local community initiatives such as flower baskets on streets and litter picks, the disappearance of the group represents a loss to the town and the concept of community involvement.
24/03/06. Tony and Mariette from the Harrow Inn have helped regulars raise over £2,100 for charity at the Friday Quiz Nights over the last year. The 'Help a Local Child' charity has written to thank the pub, and a mention will be given on Friday 31st March on Rock FM.
22/03/06. Paschaline and Prosper Donnir have been presented with the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Award for their contribution to St Edmund Arrowsmith High School. The two children, aged 15 and 13, came to the school from Ghana in 2004 and have made an outstanding impression on staff and fellow-pupils for their manners, generosity and demeanour, meritting their nomination for the award.
21/03/06. At a meeting of Ashton & Bryn Township Forum members disowned remarks made by Councillor C. Daington unjustly criticising Captain's Lane Centre on a public message board last August. Councillor Daington is no longer a member of the Township Forum.
Golborne Memorial Stone Commemoration, Sunday 19th March 2006.
03/03/06. Makerfield MP Ian McCartney has called for the first Labour MP for Makerfield, Stephen "Little Stee" Walsh, to be honoured for his courage in standing up for the working class in 1906 and beginning 100 years of Labour representation in Makerfield. Little Stee, a child of Irish immigrants, was found wandering the streets of Liverpool at the age of four and taken to a home for waifs. At 13 he was working in a local mine, and went on to negotiate on behalf of his fellow-workers and form a miners' federation, before standing against Colonel Henry Blundell, the sitting Tory MP and owner of the pit that he worked in. Ian McCartney told delegates at a recent Labour Party conference, "We can only imagine the sense of joy the miners, the foundrymen, the millworkers and their families must have felt....at having elected one of their own to Parliament".
This year marks 100 continuous years of Labour representation for Makerfield, begun by a working man who was a miner and a visionary. From his eulogy: "There are those who claimed that they could not turn poor stock into good, and that they could not get out of a slum, anything but a slum mind. Thank God Stephen Walsh stood as a witness to the fact that both these statements were untrue."
02/03/06. Golborne Ex-Miners Association has worked to secure a Golborne Colliery Memorial Stone to commemorate the work of the local men and women who worked and died at the Collliery from 1880 to 1989. A short service of dedication will take place on Sunday 19th March.
21/02/06. The modernisation of Ashton Library is due to be completed by Saturday 18th March, when a series of events are planned to mark the re-opening and also the centenary of this Carnegie building.
09/02/06. Local artist Ulrich West has paintings in an exhibition of work by members of the Sefton Guild of Artists at Salmesbury Hall near Preston. The exhibition runs until February 27th.
09/02/06. The swimming pools at Ashton Leisure Centre will be closed for a week from February 20th. The closure will allow work to drain, clean and reline both pools, upgrade the filtration system and repaint the interior of the small pool. All other facilities at the centre will remain open.
08/02/06. Volunteers from numerous local community groups received awards from Mike Hammond, Chair of Wigan & Leigh Council for Voluntary Service at a 'Big Thank You' event at Byrchall High School this evening. One of a series of such events, organised by Wigan Council throughout the borough, the evening was presented by Township Manager Malcolm Coe, and featured demonstrations from Ashton Morris Dancers and Broomfield Academy of Dance.
30/01/06. Captain's Lane Centre has secured a £5,000 grant from the Neighbourhood Renewal Community Chest Fund to put towards replacing exterior doors and windows, which are coming to the end of their useful life. The awarding of the grant has been welcomed by the Chair, particularly following the attempts by local Community Action Party councillors to damage the reputation of the Centre.
12/12/05. Wigan Council has prepared a bid for building and environmental improvements to preserve the character of Ashton town centre. The bid to English Heritage for £150,000 is intended specifically for three areas of Ashton: the open spaces around St Thomas's and St Oswald's churches; Gerard Street and Warrington Road; and Heath Road. These areas represent a Victorian landscape, including historic inns and shopfronts, and early terraced housing.
09/12/05. Ashton Library is closing on Tuesday, December 20th and is planned to re-open on Tuesday, January 3rd. The early closing over the Xmas period is to allow completion of the first phase of a £153,000 major modernisation of the facilities.
02/12/05. Another Ashton landmark has disappeared as the demolition of the Chilwood site proceeds. The chimney of what was known as the 'weaving shed' vanished some months ago, and currently the extension to the factory at the end of Brandsford Close is being removed. Once the site has been cleared, a new housing estate - "Saddlers Park" - will be built, with the main entrance on Windsor Road adjacent to Park View. Brandsford Close will serve as an emergency entrance.
29/11/05. At an inaugural meeting the Friends of Three Sisters established their organisation as a formal community association. Vic Greenwood was elected Chair, Joy Winstanley as Secretary, and Peter Browne as Treasurer. The group was established in September 2003, and the move to a constituted organisation is intended to enhance its work by seeking funding for environmental projects to improve the Three Sisters Recreation Area. Other activities of the association in the form of conservation projects, support to educational events at the Three Sisters, and promoting the site to the general public will continue.
21/11/05. On the retirement of Chair Russell Smith members of Ashton Heath Residents' Association appointed Vice-Chair David Forsyth as Chair and Margaret Forsyth as Secretary. Best wishes were offered to Russell and his wife Josie on their move to Manchester, and to Sue McKendrick for her work as Secretary. The group continues to work with BTCV on the restoration of Ashton Heath, and their forthcoming task day is dedicated to the reseeding of an area of the heath with heather.
17/11/05. An approach to build housing on the land behind Captain's Lane Centre has been refused by the MBC.
06/11/05. Ex-pupils and teachers from Ashton Secondary Modern School are being invited to a reunion. To mark the 40th anniversary of his leaving in 1966 former student Brian Naylor is asking for former pupils and teachers to contact him on 711106 prior to his arranging a get-together.
04/11/05. Fire has damaged the roof space and heating system of St Wilfred's School at Stubshaw Cross. The cause is that to be a discarded cigarette from youths trespassing on the school premises.
02/11/05. Plans to build a fire station in Ashton have been shelved by Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service. Should a site and necessary funds be identified in the future the need for a local station will be reassessed.
31/10/05. Local artist Ulrich West together with fellow artists is exhibiting new work at an exhibition, "Approaching Landscape", at the Rainford Gallery, Victoria Square, St. Helens. The exhibition will run from 1st to 26th November and will demonstrate four very different and distinctive interpretations of the long established tradition of landscape painting.
25/10/05. The Friends of Three Sisters group met and agreed a constitution for the formal group to be established at the inaugural meeting on Tuesday, November 29th at a venue to be notified.
24/10/05. Captain's Lane Centre celebrated their tenth anniversary at Mad Jacks with music from 'Winston'. With the help of owner John Littler and manager Billy Birchall over £380 has been raised to support the work of the Centre, and the Trustees wish to offer their thanks for their generosity in organising the event.
Councillor Don Hodgkinson graced the event with his presence, which is somewhat surprising in view of his wholly unfounded attacks on the Centre over the past twelve months.
08/10/05. At their monthly meeting on Tuesday last the Friends of Three Sisters agreed to establish themselves as a formal charitable organisation in order to permit application for funds to continue to improve the Three Sisters park for the benefit of users. A constitution is being drawn up for agreement by the group in the near future.
07/10/05. Captain's Lane Youth and Community Centre is celebrating its tenth anniversary as a voluntary organisation with a party at Mad Jack's on Monday 24th October. Previously a local authority maintained youth club since the sixties, the Centre was in danger of closure in 1995 due to a lack of Council resources. Through the input of then councillor Andrew Bullen, volunteers and users of the Centre, a Constitution was prepared and a Management Committee was appointed to keep the Centre open. With the continued efforts of this group of Trustees the Centre has reached its present strong position as a resource for local community groups and individuals and continues to work to maintain resources for youth and community groups within the town.
06/10/05. Local MP Ian McCartney is to undergo heart surgery following an unsuccessful angioplasty. Ian is a hard-working MP on behalf of the constituency and the country and we're sure the good wishes of Ashton residents go with him.
28/09/05. In this week's Wigan Observer, Councillor Don Hodgkinson continues his criticism of Captain's Lane Youth and Community Centre despite being censured for previous similar complaints by Ashton and Bryn Township Forum. His comments come at a time when the Trustees of the Centre are again appealing to the Forum about a similar attack from Councillor Claire Daington. It appears the so-called Community Action Party are determined to dishearten the volunteers at the Centre and damage the work being done by community groups there.
22/09/05. Ashton and Bryn Township Forum is to be allocated £10,000 towards resolving problems such as traffic, road maintenance, street lighting and environmental projects. Part of a £100,000 scheme for the ten Borough townships, the cash has been allocated from the highways revenue budget as part of a new initiative to improve local environments and involve community groups in township debates. The cash is in addition to each forum's £6,000 annual budget.
20/09/05. With the support of MP Ian McCartney and their chair Nigel Ash, the Ashton Flooding Forum has gained a commitment from United Utilities for a £9m investment programme. Their three-year campaign followed the severe flooding in 2002 when flash floods overwhelmed the local drainage systems. Work will start next month with preliminary site investigations along Bolton Road, Walford Road and Blenheim Road, with similar work in Abram. £1.1m will be allocated to the improvement of existing sewers and provision of new ones in the Bolton Road area of Ashton.
14/09/05. The 2005 Ashton Festival will be taking place between the 24th September and 8th October. As in previous years the event will start on Saturday 24th with a Town Crier and Market Fun Day.
13/09/05. Following threats of police and legal action from three "Community Action" Party councillors it has been decided to close the message board for the present. The board in its existing format has been running since 2002 and a previous message board existed before this from the early days of the website. The threats appear to be a continuation of a long-running vendetta against this website and Captain's Lane Youth and Community Centre by Councillor Claire Daington and other Community Action Party councillors.
12/09/05. A new Heritage Lottery Fund initiative organised by registered charity Greenspace is looking for community group partners to put on park events in summer 2006. Called Park It!, the scheme invites 12 parks and community groups around the UK to work with Greenspace to help organise community-led events in parks to raise awareness of green spaces. Further details are available from the Park It website.
11/09/05. In the Wigan Evening Post of September 9th, Ashton Central Community Association continue their opposition to the proposed skatepark in Jubilee Park. However, the article states that 'Ashton Township Forum... has also voted twice against the plan'. According to the minutes of that Forum, two votes have been taken, one in March 2004 approving the skatepark, and a recent one registering the opposition of that Forum to any planning application made. It will be interesting to see if the Township Forum corrects this mistake.
What is more concerning is that the article states that the Ashton Township Forum 'represents the voice of the majority of the population of Ashton'. As has been pointed out on our message board, this body is advisory. The people representing our town are the local councillors, who can be voted in, or voted out. An advisory body bringing together representatives of community organisations can be an asset when it acts in a responsible manner, but should never be able to allow a collection of unelected individuals to claim to speak for the town, no matter how well-intentioned they are. This particular principle had at times to be stated and re-stated at the original Ashton Community Forum.
08/09/05. Following spoof and party political posts on the AiM message board which originated from two Wigan Council IP addresses, both addresses have been barred from accessing the message board. Details of these posts have been passed to the Council and the office of local MP Ian McCartney in the hope that action can be taken to stop this apparent misuse of Council resources.
07/09/05. People have been saddened to hear of the sudden death of local street cleaner Kevin Mulkeen. Kevin was a cheerful and well-liked member of the community, and gained the award of "Greater Manchester Street Cleaner of the Year" in 2000 after being proposed for recognition of his quarter of a century of service to Ashton by the Ashton Community Forum.
07/09/05. A lino print "Derelict Houses, Ashton in Makerfield" by local artist Ulrich West has been awarded the Print Prize at the 84th Annual Exhibition of the Society of Graphic Fine Art in London. Ulrich, who is an Associate Member of this prestigious society, is showing three pieces of work at the exhibition, which runs until 17th September at the Menier Gallery, Southwark, London.
He also has two mixed-media paintings in the Annual Exhibition of the Manchester Academy of Fine Art(
of which he is also a Member) which opens at Gallery Oldham at Oldham on September 10th.
06/09/05. With members of the Ashton & Bryn Township Forum continuing their libellous attacks on other represented organisations, and a membership system that ends up with 'non-core' members being denied a say in decision-making, we ask if this Council initiative is going off the rails, at least in Ashton. A local councillor (who is happy to sit on the Forum) states, "Township Forums (are) no more than a pretence at consulting local people, and in reality a cynical attempt to control the local agenda". Community groups are achieving progress in Ashton without the expense and time-wasting of this organisation. Is it time to call it a day with this experiment in local democracy?
06/09/05. A fund-raising evening is being organised on Friday next for former miners from Golborne colliery. The event is intended to raise money for a permanent memorial to the ten miners killed in an explosion at the pit in 1979, in the form of a sandstone plinth to be erected at the site of the pit gates.
06/09/05. BBC's Greater Manchester Radio is looking for a local person to assist with a forthcoming item. The 2001 census results are due to be released tomorrow, and reveal that the place in the North West with the least number of people who were born abroad living there is Makerfield East. GMR wish to interview someone who was born abroad, irrespective of nationality. If you know of someone who fits this criterion and is willing to record a short (five minute) interview then please email us.
24/08/05. After three years work, Wigan Borough Partnership has published the Community Plan - a vision for the town people would like to see over the next 10 - 15 years. It sets out eight goals and five principles and defines key issues facing the Borough, as well as the Government targets which have to be met. Further information can be seen at Wigan MBC Partnership page.
20/08/05. Councillor Claire Daington has expressed her concern that the Ashton & Bryn Township Forum is suppressing free speech. In a post on the BTT website she states: "Incidentally, although I have seen you (Ashton youth representatives) at Township Forum meetings, where you were under the surveillance of your so-called friends on this (skatepark) project, I have never had a meeting with any of you at which we were all free to speak our minds, without fear of political repercussions". The Forum was established by the Council in an attempt to bring community groups together in the interests of the town, but the Councillor's comments strike at the very heart of local democracy.
20/08/05. Manorcroft Developments have submitted plans to build a three-storey block of six apartments on the site of a bungalow in Liverpool Road. Local residents are in opposition due to difficulties of access to the site.
14/08/05. 'Past Forward', the thrice-yearly magazine from Wigan Heritage Service, is available online from the Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust website.
13/08/05. Wigan Council has released a series of Supplementary Planning Documents expanding on the policies set out in the Unitary Development Plan. The latest of these - a Design Guide to Residential Development - is set out in draft form for public comment up to 26th September prior to its adoption.
10/08/05. Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust is planning to spend £150,000 on improvements to Ashton Carnegie Library to make it more accessible and user-friendly. Changes include enhancements to the children's library and creation of a community meeting room in the Lecture Hall. The Trust has pledged to preserve the fabric of the building, one of the three Carnegie library buildings in the Borough. However, the six local ward councillors are reported to be opposing the plans.
The library is also scheduled to begin opening on Sundays 09.00-13.00 as part of a Trust plan to increase takeup of services.
07/08/05. Representatives of local community groups met to agree the setting up of a new community network forum intended to facilitate active funded programmes to improve the town. Nigel Ash, representing Captain's Lane Centre, was made Chair, and the group will continue to meet monthly.
20/07/05. A striking sculpture (the 'Wigan Wishbone') has been erected at the motorway access roundabout at Landgate to provide a gateway to the town for visitors coming from the M6.
18/07/05. Members of Captain's Lane Centre management committee surveyed local residents on proposals by a developer to build housing on the land behind the Centre. Views were mixed, but the majority wished the land to be retained as a community green space. The Committee will be meeting in early August to consider the responses.
28/06/05. The Big Lottery Fund has teamed up with ITV to launch the People's Millions initiative. Community groups are eligible to apply for £50,000 for one year projects which make communities better places to live by improving their environment. Priority will be given to local environment projects that also get people involved in their community and help people who are most in need.
02/06/05. Wigan Council is proposing to allocate £2,500 to Ashton and other townships towards the cost of Xmas decorations.
25/05/05. A new all-weather pitch has been installed at St Edmund Arrowsmith's School following lottery funding of over £340,000. The floodlit pitch is will be welcomed by students at St Edmunds and Byrchall High. It features car parking and disabled access, and is available for the schools and for the local community. A further £250,000 is to be spent over the next twelve months on changing facilities. Bookings for the pitch can be made on 728651.
11/05/05. Ashton Heath Residents' Association held its first AGM. Russell Smith, David Forsyth and Irene Benzeval were re-elected as Chair, Vice-Chair and Treasurer respectively. Sue McKendrick was appointed to the vacant position of Secretary. A proposal to change the name of the group to 'Ashton Heath Community Association' was withdrawn after discussion.
29/04/05. Owners of the Rockleigh Hotel have applied for planning permission for construction of homes on 0.31 hectares of land adjacent at the site on Bolton Road. Plans are on display at Council offices and Ashton Library.
14/04/05. The Chair of Ashton Heath Residents' Association has received assurances from the Charlton Homes developers that now the proposed access to the site is being changed, proposals to take part of Ashton Heath for access purposes have been dropped.
12/04/05. According to the developers, the current planning application for the Chilwood site has been withdrawn and will shortly be replaced by a revised application which will have its vehicular access from the
present access on Windsor Road. Brandsford Close is now proposed as being controlled by bollards for access by emergency services only.
16/03/05. The webmaster of the Ashton Towntalk website has been asked to remove the link to the AiM.i - Ashton Community Information site which links these Ashton websites. Apparently this is due to the alleged
'political content' of the site and the Council has taken a decision to disassociate itself from the site.
Presumably the Council is responding to the political pressure placed on them in a similar manner last year when the link to these pages was deleted from the Council's website.. No doubt readers of this and associated sites can make up their own minds of the content, not to mention these continued attempts to suppress free speech.
26/01/05. Last weekend Geoff Hughes and Kevin Hesketh helped to organise a Charity Water Carry in aid of the Tsunami appeal. A 10 man relay team carried two large water bottles 15 miles from Winter Hill Moors to Ashton in four and a quarter hours, ending at the Pit Pony in Lowbank Road.
The team included a dozen volunteers who helped collect on the day and three support vehicles, The event concluded with a night's entertainment of raffles and fund raising in the Pit Pony.
  
The goal was to raise £3000 and to date they have raised just over £5,100. The team wishes to thank all those who contributed to this worthy cause.
12/01/05. The work of local artist Ulrich J West is featuring in an exhibition at Central Art Gallery, Ashton-under-Lyne from 21st January to 19th March.
24/12/04. Members of Ashton Flood Forum have hit out at local ward councillors attempting to take over the group and assume credit for their two years' work.
18/11/04. Ashton and Bryn ward councillors are spending almost £16,000 from their Brighter Boroughs allocation for Xmas decoration in Ashton. Presumably this explains why the Millennium Ash tree has been uprooted.
09/11/04. Following objections to Wigan MBC by Community Action Party Councillor Walter Carney, Ashton Heath Residents' Association has been asked by the Council to suspend conservation work on the heath. So far over 200 hours voluntary work have been invested in restoring the heathland in line with a management plan based on advice from the Council's Senior Ecologist Roz Park, in addition to regular litter picks. Unfortunately the work has aroused the ire of people ignorant of the need for regular management of the heath in order to prevent invasion by trees and scrub and gradual loss of the native plants, which is dispiriting for the small group of volunteers.
04/11/04. The Millennium Ash Tree planted by the Mayor and local schoolchildren in January 2000 has been removed from the front of the library.
28/10/04. Ashton & Bryn Township Forum has written to Captain's Lane Centre management committee in response to their complaint regarding Councillor Hodgkinson's attacks on the Centre in the local press. The Forum has written to Cllr Hodgkinson advising him that his behaviour is a breach of the Forum Code of Conduct and asking him to commit to this in future.
16/10/04. Members of Ashton and Bryn Township Forum were on the market today in order to seek views from the general public regarding the proposed skatepark in Jubilee Park. Whilst residents around the park are generally opposed to the idea, the Forum is keen to make progress on this proposed facility for young people in the town.
15/10/04. The actions of Cllr Hodgkinson in relation to Captain's Lane Centre have now attracted the attention of the press (Wigan Evening Post, today). The Chair of Ashton and Bryn Township Forum has assured the press that the complaint made by Captain's Lane Centre management committee on August 2nd is being investigated.
07/10/04. Ashton is under consideration to receive more than £150,000 over the next three years to improve the town centre conservation area. Wigan Council has been invited to apply for English Heritage Funding and had submitted bids for both Hindley and Ashton. However, Hindley would be eligible for a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund, leaving the the council to push ahead with the Ashton bid.
04/10/04. As a result of the attacks on Captain's Lane Youth & Community Centre in the press by a Community Action Party Councillor, the Captain's Lane representative has withdrawn from Ashton & Bryn Township Forum meetings until this matter has been considered by Captain's Lane Management Committee.
02/10/04. The ruling Community Action Party are now attacking this Forum website (Wigan Evening Post, September 22nd and October 1st). Councillor Daington's letter also makes false accusations against Captain's Lane Youth and Community Centre Management Committee. This matter is being taken up elsewhere, but the Forum website will continue to report events within Ashton in the face of this intimidation.
03/08/04. This year's Festival will be held from Saturday, October 2nd to Saturday, October 16th.
05/07/04. Ashton & Bryn Township Forum met to discuss the skatepark project, the work of the environmental
sub-group, progress towards achieving a Township Action Plan and other matters.
28/06/04. Stubshaw Cross Residents' Group is leading the way in showing how local groups can make a difference to
their community. Work has started on a project developed by the group to transform the park in Golborne Road.
After gaining financial support from a range of organisations work is underway to create a play area for toddlers,
a multi-sport ball court for teenagers, and a woodland area with pathways, seating and picnic area. In addition, they
have secured funding for a scheme to improve two public footpaths in Stubshaw Cross and work on these is to start soon.
26/06/04. The Wigan Replacement Unitary Development Plan Inquiry will start on 7th September. The principal issues
to be resolved are: housing land requirement and the adequacy of the housing land supply; the need to identify additional
housing sites; the protection of existing employment sites from housing use; the need for additional employment sites;
the proposed A5225 road; major developed sites in the green belt; and possibly the Ashton town centre retail site.
16/06/04. Representatives of voluntary groups in the township attended a 'Big Thankyou' event hosted by the MBC at
Landgate Community Centre.
14/06/04. Ashton Central Community Association has been undertaking the brightening up of the town with flower baskets.
Following their scheme to provide local residents with displays for their house fronts, they are now looking to install
hanging baskets on the main roads through the town and at key spots in the town centre.
11/06/04. At the local election of Ashton councillors the three Community Action Party candidates were elected, pursuing their stated aim of 'booting New Labour out of Ashton'. This marks the end of a period of consensus politics in the town, supported by Labour councillors, and demonstrated by the work of the Ashton Community Forum. Whether genuine community action and the new Ashton & Bryn Township Forum can now succeed remains to be seen in the light of the conduct of those purporting to be 'friends of Ashton'.
11/05/04. Officers elected at the AGM of Captain's Lane Youth and Community Centre were Jack Sudworth (Chair),
Ruth Green (Vice-chair), Sue McKendrick (Secretary), and David McKendrick (Treasurer). The Centre agreed to participate in a partnership to achieve provision of a skatepark in the town.
19/04/04. At the regular meeting of the Ashton & Bryn Township Forum the report of the sub-group examining the
provision of a skateboard park in Jubilee Park was accepted after debate. Captain's Lane Youth & Community Centre
has been asked to consider taking the project further.
15/04/04. The steering group of Ashton Heath Residents' Association met to discuss environmental management of the
heath, antisocial behaviour, proposed summer fair and a residents' newsletter.
17/03/04. At a public meeting held tonight the constitution of the new Ashton Heath Residents' Association was
formally adopted and Officers elected.
23/02/04. A sub-group of Ashton and Bryn Township Forum met to discuss the 'Cleaner-Greener' initiative and identified
areas of the town for landscaping, litter picking and provision of additional litter bins.
05/02/04. Wigan Council has now produced a revised version of the Unitary Development Plan, which will govern
the policies for use of land within the Borough until 2016. Copies can be viewed at public libraries, or on the
Council's website. Objections or representations in support of the
changes to the plan must be made by 18th March 2004.
29/01/04 Residents bordering Ashton Heath met to discuss setting up a local residents' group and
a management plan for the heath. It was agreed to leaflet local residents with an invitation to a meeting to
discuss plans, and to set up a litter pick on the heath on Saturday, March 13th.
Community Forum Reports
27/01/04. At the sixth Annual General Meeting of the Forum no members came forward to fill the vacant officer posts. It was
therefore agreed that the body be dissolved. The funds from the Forum, amounting to £4,111, were to be disbursed
to local community projects, mainly the continuation of the annual Ashton Festival.
The new Township Co-ordinator, Emma Taylor, was introduced to the group. Emma was replacing
Annette Root as the local co-ordinator between community groups and local businesses, and the retiring officers
wished her well in continuing the valuable work of her predecessor.
12/12/03. Community Forum members were saddened to hear of the death of Peter Winstanley, a member of
Ashton-in-Makerfield Community Forum Festival Committee. Peter played a strong part in the choice of programmes for each of the Festivals organised by
the Forum and worked smoothly with other members of the Committee on the planning, promotion and delivery of the Festivals. His contribution will
be missed.
06/12/03. Members of the Forum and supporters joined groups from the new Ashton and Bryn Township Forum
in carrying out a litter pick, clearing several grot spots of accumulated rubbish in areas in and around
the town centre.
The litter pick was carried out in conjunction with a Victorian Christmas day organised by the MBC.
November 2003.
Jack Sudworth reported that the 2003 Festival had been a resounding success with sufficient funds being raised
to ensure that the plans for the 2004 Festival could proceed.
20/11/03. On Saturday, December 6th our local area bobbies will be raiding the police museum once again to join in the festive fun on
Ashton Market for the 'Crime Free Christmas' Victorian Fun Day. Featuring Father Christmas, street entertainment,
free face painting, music, lots of crime prevention information, and free giveaways and surprises, the
event promises to be a fun-packed day.
Ashton & Bryn Township Forum are joining forces with the People & Places Team on the day
to organise litter picks in the town centre. All interested should meet on the market at 09.45 on the 6th December.
03/11/03. Ward councillors, officers and community representatives attended the second full meeting of the new
Ashton and Bryn Township Forum. It was planned to run for six months before its mode of operation would be reviewed and the initial meetings
were intended to foster the growth of the Forum and demonstrate its practical use within the local township.
The initial part of the meeting focussed on reviewing the Terms of Reference for the Forum and
the appointment of a Chair and Vice-Chair. In the absence of a nomination, the temporary Chair, Cllr N Ash, was
appointed. K Barston was elected Vice-Chair. Both positions would be open to election each June.
The meeting then split into four groups to consider priorities for action at the next meeting.
Suggestions were: community safety; audit of youth services; a township clean-up; and fostering volunteering. It was
agreed that a sub-group would meet to plan a clean-up to coincide with the Victorian Day on December 6th, when the
police would be in Victorian costume, and each community representative agreed to seek support from their group to
share involvement.
October 2003.
The meeting centred on a discussion on the future of the Forum. This year had seen several Council initiatives
to enhance community participation in local government and the rise of local pressure
groups to pursue various agendas. Members debated the role and future of the Forum, especially in view of its
ownership of the annual Festival. A main concern was the commitment of members to fill Officer posts to ensure
the continuity of the Forum in keeping with the Constitution. No firm conclusions were reached and
it was agreed that the subject would be pursued at the November meeting.
23/10/03. A draft plan released this week by Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service proposes the building of
a fire station in Ashton and moving one of the two pumps currently in Leigh. However, no funds are available to
achieve this in the first year of the action plan.
13/10/03. Ashton Festival 2003 presented 19 events over the Festival fortnight, featuring street theatre, crafts, music, drama,
local history and dance. Support from local businesses and the public was the best yet, and the Committee is confident
that the plans for next year's Festival will start on a sound footing.
13/10/03. With reorganisation of fire services in Greater Manchester, Ashton is set to have its own fire station.
08/10/03. NWP Spectrum have submitted plans to the MBC for installation of a new phone box in Gerard Street.
08/09/03.
Representatives of local community organisations, Council officers and local ward councillors met at the
YMCA for the inaugural meeting of the Ashton and Bryn Township Forum. The Township Forum is part of a borough-wide
initiative to make it easier for residents to become involved in planning the future of their communities.
The meeting heard a presentation from Malcolm Coe, Township Manager, on the aims of the new group, and took part
in group exercises to determine the focus of the first meetings. The next meeting of the Forum is planned for
the end of October/beginning of November.
August 2003.
Andy Ford, Senior Ranger at Three Sisters, discussed his role and his plans for the
future of the site to enhance its relevance to the local community. Members were pleased to hear that plans were
in hand to reopen the Visitors' Centre. Attendance at the meeting was very
limited, but there was an interesting discussion, and topics discussed included the Forum noticeboard, policing,
and the forthcoming Festival.
01/08/03.
Add A Voice, an independent advocacy service for Wigan and Leigh, is looking to recruit new Management Committee
members, particularly people with experience of marketing or fundraising. Contact: Lucy Whiting at Add A Voice on 01942 601563.
July 2003.
Joan Unsworth gave a presentation on the Library Services and Learndirect. Other topics
discussed were community organisations, environmental audit, the flower baskets, the Forum notice board,
Millingford Brook, and the promotion of the Forum. People and Places had asked the Forum for suggestions for
environmental projects in the town, and it was proposed that a key task was the eradication of Japanese Knotweed
which was infesting a number of areas of Ashton.
June 2003.
Malcolm Coe, Township Manager, outlined the role of the new Township Forum. The forum was being implemented by
Wigan Metro as part of a government strategy for engaging people in improving their local community. Meetings
would be commencing at the beginning of September, and initial membership was planned to incorporate ward councillors and
representatives from the police, housing, education, the faith network and community associations such as Ashton
Community Forum.
May 2003.
Catherine Schofield, Emergency Planning Manager at Wigan MBC, outlined the role of the local
authority in emergency planning, and Malcolm Coe, Township Manager for Ashton, offered to give a presentation at
a future meeting outlining his role. Other topics discussed were policing, environmental projects, twinning, public toilets,
the Library surrounds, and footpaths.
April 2003.
Following concern expressed by Council officers after a local residents' "action group" pressed households
throughout Ashton to attend the Council's planned presentation of the replacement Unitary Development Plan at
the joint Forum/Ashton Traders March meeting in the Library, Officers of the Forum decided to cancel the meeting
in the interests of public safety.
March 2003. The meeting was attended by Nick Burdekin of People & Places, who updated Forum members on current
environmental improvements in the town, including a 400 metre extension of Skitters Wood footpath. Other topics discussed were improvements to the pavements and library
grounds and interior, nuisance behaviour, CCTV and Central Watch, and policing. It was noted that the town's
noticeboard which the Forum had been working for over a long period had now been erected in the Gerard Centre.
February 2003. A lively and positive meeting which discussed the forthcoming Unitary Development Plan,
Street Scene initiatives and other environmental projects, the 2003 Festival, the Borough Partnership convention
at Robin Park, policing, Pub Watch and other licensing matters, youth concerns, and forthcoming
speakers. The format for this year's meetings would consist of agency, councillors' and other reports and talks on specific subjects
relevant to the town..
January 2003. Cllr Nigel Ash said that public consultation on the Wigan Unitary Development Plan was
scheduled to take place between 2nd April and 13th May, and that it was important for the Forum to be involved in
promoting discussion of the strategy for future development of the town. It was agreed that the Director of Planning
Martin Kimber be invited to a future meeting to explain the Plan to members.
January 2003. At the Annual General Meeting the Acting Chair, Jack Sudworth, emphasised the need for members to support the
letter and spirit of the Constitution in order to avoid the dissension and ill-feeling evident during the year.
A proposed replacement Constitution was rejected by the Officers. Amendments to the Constitution were agreed,
whilst a proposed name change to the association was defeated. Officers were elected for the coming year and a
revised membership fee agreed.
November 2002. Discussion took place on the arrangements for the AGM. The Chair noted the difficulty
experienced in the past in filling Officer posts, and said that should insufficient Officers be elected at the
AGM then he intended to move the dissolution of the Forum.
October 2002. Members heard of the success of the bulb-planting on October 19th, when 3,000 bulbs were
planted opposite Ashwood Residential Care Home. The Chair expressed his concerns regarding the future of the
Forum because of declining attendance and interest.
03/10/02.
Councillor Nigel Ash is looking to start a Stubshaw Cross park user group to help improve the facilities. Interested local residents
should contact him on 736205 or email him..
September 2002. Members discussed plans to brighten up areas of the town by planting bulbs on Saturday
19th October. Also discussed were other environmental and town centre improvements, current police issues, CCTV,
and an update to proposed plans to build a new supermarket.
Annette Root reported that the town notice board should be erected shortly, following agreement
on licensing between the MBC and the Gerard Centre.
August 2002. Nick Burdekin of People & Places and Paul Dandy, Street Scene Co-ordinator, Wigan MBC, addressed the meeting,
explaining the Street Scene initiative and discussing the results of the recent walkabout in the town centre. A small
project group was established to examine this and other environmental improvements.
05/08/02.
People from Stubshaw Cross supported by local councillors met at the Stubshaw Cross Independent Methodist
Church to discuss setting up a local Residents' Group. Six people agreed to form a committee to consider how
best to represent local issues to the local councillors, MBC and other agencies.
July 2002. Members and guests discussed creation of a local database of community volunteers. A report was
received on a new 'Borough Wide Network' of community organisations, organised under a Community Empowerment Programme
run by Wigan Council for Voluntary Service as part of a governmental Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy. The intention
was to secure a number of representatives from community associations to provide representation of local views on
the Local Strategic Partnerships formed by representatives of Wigan Council, the NHS, the Police, the private
sector, Wigan & Leigh College, and the voluntary and faith sectors.
Captain's Lane Youth & Community Centre had received funding for security fencing to
reduce the costs of vandalism, and a further programme of clearing and landscaping the surrounds was being undertaken.
25/07/02. Representatives of Wigan community groups met at Leigh Library to discuss a Community Empowerment Programme.
The programme, part of the Government's Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy, is designed to help local people
become involved in resolving community issues, such as poor health, housing, crime, environmental issues, etc.
Led by Brian Watson and Sarah Mumby of Wigan & Leigh Council for Voluntary Service, those present
considered the benefits of participation in the Network by local community groups, and agreed to continue to meet
to share experiences and select a panel of volunteers to represent community groups within Local Strategic Partnerships
such as the Leader's Forum.
June 2002. J Sudworth was elected as Acting Chair until the next AGM. New signatories to the bank
accounts were appointed. Sally Clunan, Lifelong Learning Officer from Wigan MBC, attended to promote the
opening of the new computer suite in the Library and seek ideas for use by local groups.
May 2002. The Chair, Cllr JD Hodgkinson resigned, and Past Chair JT Sudworth was elected as Acting
Chair. The meeting proceeded by attempting to resolve issues created at the previous meeting. The matter of election
of Secretary and signatories to the Forum's accounts were priorities which the Acting Chair hoped could be
resolved at the next meeting.
April 2002. The Secretary, Treasurer and Press Officer of the Committee stated that they could no longer
work with the Chair, JD Hodgkinson, as the latter was seeking political office, which the other Officers considered
contravened the spirit of the Forum constitution and therefore detrimental to the future of the Forum as a
non-political organisation. The Chair rejected this argument, and the Secretary then resigned.
The Treasurer and Press Officer put the matter before the meeting for resolution, but none was achieved.
February 2002. Cllr Nigel Ash led a discussion on developers' plans to build a major supermarket and ring road
in the western part of the town. Mixed views were expressed to him, though a significant group opposed the
proposals. Debbie Gaynor agreed to co-ordinate an action group outside the Forum, whilst it was agreed
that further discussions should take place on the gains to the town of elements of the proposals.
Local input was requested by the Council on the logo for new township signs.
09/02/02. Over 150 representatives of local organisations and the general public attended a plenary session and workshops at
Cansfield High School to discuss and make recommendations on the Government's plans to improve services to older
people.
17/01/02. Wigan MBC have set up a Citizens Panel to glean the views of Wigan residents on a range of issues affecting
the town. The results of the first workshop and discussion with other parties such as local businesses have led to
the council producing a list of priorities for 2002 as the beginning of a 10-year improvement programme.
The top four issues identified in the first survey are litter, dog-fouling, pavements and litter bins.
Street lighting is to be included because of its contribution to making the Street Scene safer at night and reducing
the fear of crime. Gateways - the main roads into the Borough and the railway stations - are also to be included
because of their importance in attracting new business and visitors to the town.
The Council also aims to establish a 'street scene charter' setting out the nature and quality of the services to be
provided, and a 'street scene' call centre will be created to make it easier for residents to contact the Council.
Street Scene plans are commencing with a high profile promotional and awareness-raising litter and dog-
fouling initiative encouraging people to Bin It. 35 penalty notices (£25 fine) have already been issued.
The second survey of the Panel gave further information on the priorities of local residents and a picture
of life in the borough. 81% of panel members had visited a local park in the last year, and one in four reported that
Haigh Hall was the one they visited the most. 88% of panel members felt that there should be more street patrols to
confiscate alcohol from underage drinkers. 37% felt that young people causing a nuisance was a major problem, and 44%
had experienced a problem with young people in the past 12 months. Panel members were asked what they viewed as the
priorities for the Community Safety Partnership, and reported these as:
- House Burglary (34%)
- Sexual Assaults (15%)
- Young People causing a Nuisance (14%)
- Misuse of Drugs (13%)
Measures that the Panel thought would actively reduce crime were:
- More Police Patrols (69%)
- Harsher Penalties (66%)
- More CCTV (56%)
- Improving Security in People's Homes (53%)
- Targetting Known Criminals
92% felt that the nine priorities identified by the Community Safety Partnerships were the right ones.
12/12/01. Wigan Library Service has secured £17,700 from the New Opportunities Fund's Community Access to Lifelong
Learning Programme in order to install a public access learning centre at Ashton Library. The money will provide seven
PCs for the Lecture Hall and minor alterations and enhancements to the building.
If additional revenue funding is approved the Library will also employ a part-time facilitator
to support new learners at the Library.
November 2001. Cllr Ash reported that a township manager was being appointed for Ashton, and he hoped she
would be attending future Forum meetings.
October 2001. The 2001 Ashton Festival has concluded with success and a selection
of pictures are available here, A report on the Festival was given to the Forum.
P Fairhurst reported from the planning topic group that they were investigating the possibility of Ashton Town Hall
becoming a listed building.
The meeting heard that a small group of Officers and Past Chairman would be reviewing the Forum
Constitution with a view to presenting amendments to the AGM.
September 2001. The installation of the information cabinet (noticeboard) at the Gerard Centre was
expected in February next, following the completion of the CCTV scheme for the town centre expected later this
year.
August 2001. J Sudworth outlined the Festival 2001 programme and said that the next meeting hoped to involve
members in the distribution of publicity for the Festival. The Forum was pleased to see the support of local
businesses for the Festival, which would be acknowledged in the programme.
Funding of the town noticeboard had now been secured, and the MBC would now be liaising with HMG
to arrange installation.
July 2001. In the light of some opposition to the format of Forum meetings including topic groups a
vote was taken, and the meeting agreed 15 - 6 that groups should continue to be a feature of the monthly meetings.
June 2001. As a result of an initiative by Councillor Nigel Ash it was now feasible for the noticeboard
and map to be located on the Gerard Centre adjacent to the Age Concern shop. The next stage would be to confirm
funding. Progress would be dependent upon the proposed fencing of the Centre. It was agreed that the Treasurer
should continue efforts to secure the noticeboard.
May 2001. Discussion took place on the siting of the proposed notice board and map to publicise both
the Forum and community activities within the town. It was felt that ideally a free-standing display board would
be preferable, but in view of the ongoing work with Wigan MBC Planning Department to site a notice board and map at the
side of the Golden Lion and difficulty in finding other sites in the short term it was agreed that the Treasurer
would follow up the existing scheme.
15/06/01. The results of the recent poll of electors on three proposed forms of local authority management including
an option for an elected mayor have been announced. Altogether 5,131 members of the public voted for a
leader and cabinet, some 56% of the total votes cast. 2,478 wanted an elected mayor and cabinet (27%), and
just 1,333 favoured an elected mayor and council manager (15%). The council will now endorse the result of
the consultation exercise and apply to the government to have its preferred choice approved. This
will allow the Cabinet to assume real decision taking powers.
14/06/01 Discussions are taking place with Wigan MBC regarding the siting of the new town map and noticeboard.
Siting adjacent to the Golden Lion and on the entrance to the Gerard Centre is being considered, and it is
intended that the display panel will be installed before the Ashton Festival in October.
April 2001. Ruth Green was appointed as Secretary. Three Topic Groups discussed the future of the
Forum. It was agreed that future meetings would incorporate working groups researching particular areas
and reporting to the main Forum. Guidelines for the groups would be prepared for the next meeting.
March 2001. David Thomas, an independent consultant, presented proposals initiated by the government
under the Local Government Act 2000 for three possible structures for local government beginning in May
2002. The options were: elected Mayor with a mayorally selected council cabinet; elected Mayor acting in
conjunction with an appointed council manager; and a leader elected by councillors and cabinet, as at present.
Members of the public were being asked to vote on their choice, and the Forum was invited to give its views
also.
P Fairhurst presented a discussion document on the future direction of the Forum, to be
discussed at the next meeting.
Don Hodgkinson was proposed and elected as Chair for the remainder of the current year. Ruth
Green agreed to act as Secretary for a trial period of two months.
February 2001. The meeting split into two groups to consider future direction and structure of the Forum.
Each group proposed that part of future meetings should incorporate topic groups, allowing members to select
their area of interest, and to develop a structured approach to progress within each group. Several members
agreed to act as co-ordinators, and initially the following groups were agreed: Environment (Don Hodgkinson);
Market & Traders (Annette Root); Planning and Development (Ruth Green). It was also suggested
that further attention should be given to promoting the Forum and increasing attendance. It was also agreed
that the Forum would take over the planning and execution of the annual Ashton Festival, and Ethel Glover,
Ruth Green, Trevor Green, Don Hodgkinson, David McKendrick, Sheila Onions and Jack Sudworth agreed to serve
on the planning group.
January 2001. Darren Crossley, Area Recreation Manager, spoke on the MBC Leisure Services. Responsibilities
included management of the Borough's Leisure Centres, sports development for schools, and excercise referral
programs initiated by local general practitioners. Ashton Leisure Centre served as a sports centre for
Cansfield High School during the day, and a leisure and fitness centre for the community in the evenings and
weekends. Running costs were considerable, and the Council had a long-term program for managing the Centre. In
recent years £340,000 had been spent on refurbishment of the swimming pool, roof, lighting and internal decoration,
and current priorities included increasing disabled access.
November 2000. Following the Forum's support to local primary schools funded by a Millennium Awards for
All grant, and exhibition of 'Ashton - Our Scene' is being presented by the schools in Ashton Library during
December.
The local Rotary Club will have their Xmas float on the market on Saturday, 16th December.
18/11/00. People in Wigan are invited to assist in drawing up a plan to improve the economic, social and
environmental fortunes of the area. This week Wigan MBC and its partners are publishing a report setting out
progress, and inviting public comment for the plan, the interim version of which will be published next April.
The report shows seven strategic partnerships embracing a wide range of local organisations, covering the fields
of culture, community safety, housing, the environment, health, lifelong learning and the economy. Community networks
similar to the Ashton Community Forum are being set up across the Borough, and young people are being invited to
offer their suggestions for the future of the town.
Anyone wishing to have a copy of the report or offer their views can contact
Simon Dale at Wigan Council.
October 2000. Chair Jack Sudworth reported on the completion of the project to involve local schoolchildren
in promoting awareness of the town. The project was funded as part of the Millennium Snapshot competition with a grant
from the National Lottery Charities Board. A cheque for £35 would be forwarded to each of the eight primary schools
participating, with the Community Forum contributing a small amount to this.
Joan Jones reported back on a meeting of the Ashton Primary Care Group.
David McKendrick informed the meeting that Captain's Lane Youth & Community Centre was running a
pilot "Introduction to Computers and the Internet" on Thursdays at 20.00 hrs, and Forum members were welcome to attend.
September 2000. A panel of officers from Wigan MBC attended the meeting to discuss the following points:
1. The delay between the MBC agreeing improvements and their implementation seems to be excessive
(e.g. yellow lines in town roads, litter bins, cycle stands, pedestrian crossing in Bolton Road).
This leads to public expectation being frustrated, with both the Forum and the Council being seen as
ineffective. What steps can be taken to reduce such delays?
2. Development within Ashton appears to be piecemeal. Is there a vision for Ashton's town centre? If so,
what is the timescale, and if not, how can such a vision be achieved?
3. Many local people want to promote Ashton as a shopping centre and place to visit.
Could the town have a programme of events, for example a summer programme of activities,
with a small budget to facilitate this?
4. A high profile issue within Ashton is the presence of litter on the streets, precincts and waste ground,
exacerbated by market days, race days, and the number of food outlets in the town. What Borough-wide
initiatives are in place to reduce the amount of litter, and how best can these be applied to Ashton?
5. Vacant properties and derelict spaces in the town give a poor impression to visitors and residents.
How can these be improved?
6. Following contractors' work, roads and pavements are often in a poor condition.
What steps are the Council taking to combat this?
7. Residents are concerned about the amount of new housing in the town over recent years,
particularly where this has encroached on the green space between Ashton and Golborne.
Will local people have input to the Urban District Plan review process?
8. Is there any further information on the proposals for a bypass and commercial development between
Liverpool Road and Ashton Library?
9. Cleaning of the market place on Saturday starts and finishes too early, and waste is accumulated after cleaners leave. Could an industrial bin be provided and emptied on market days?
10. What is the timescale for implementation of CCTV?
11. Visitors drive around looking for car parking space. More signs are needed for the Gerard
Centre and Hilton Street car park. Signage relating to litter has been under consideration for over
three years, but is yet to come to fruition. It would appear also with the advent of the recent yellow
lines, some Parking signage is perhaps inappropriate or redundant.
12. Greensway (Poolethorpe Developments) land besides the Cross Keys has been an eyesore for years,
and is dangerous in winter. Are there any powers to compel the owner to tidy the area?
13. To ease traffic could the town have a bus station, as exists in Earlestown, rather than another supermarket?
14. Are there any programmes for offenders sentenced to community service to undertake improvements
in Ashton, eg. litter collection?
15. Facilities at Ashton Leisure Centre are showing signs of wear and need improvement,
e.g. showers, toilets and changing rooms. Also the soccer pitches need upgrading to more modern materials
to prevent injury.
16. What proposals are there for Cycle Path Routes within Ashton, and how will they link with Regional and
National Cycle Path Routes?
There was lengthy discussion on the points raised. A number of issues were in the process of being resolved, whilst
the officers present agreed to take away others for consideration. Generally, the Council welcomed the formation
of local community bodies such as the Forum, and wanted to maintain continued dialogue to ensure that the Council
provision met the needs of local communities as much as possible. To achieve this they envisaged further meetings
such as this, as well as more informal dialogue at regular intervals.
Ashton Festival Trevor Lucas asked members to assist in the distribution of the Festival programmes.
May 2000. Trevor Lucas reported that a Millennium play would be presented as part
of the forthcoming Ashton Festival, and a venue was being sought.
February 2000. Following his nomination by the Forum for the Tidy Britain Group's North West Silver Broom Award, street cleaner Kevin Mulkeen from Bryn has won a cash prize, certificate and trophy as Greater Manchester's 'Street Cleaner of the Year'. The award was presented at a ceremony at the JJB Stadium.
January 2000. The Mayor and local schoolchildren took part in the planting of an ash tree outside
the library on behalf of the Forum to mark the new millennium. 
November 1999. Trevor Lucas reported that the Festival
Committee had been very pleased with the results of their efforts, with increased
attendance at the Festival events. After Christmas plans would be going ahead for the 2000
Festival, scheduled to begin on October 14th.
24/08/99. A special plaque has been set up in the Gerard Centre to honour the
contribution made to Ashton by Crompton's, the hinge, lock and fastener giant, which
previously occupied the site before relocating to Haydock.
Local historian Walter Carney was instrumental in securing the
memorial by approaching Ashton Probus Club, explaining that the Gerard Street Works was
founded as a tiny backyard forge in 1806 and grew to a huge operation employing thousands
of Ashton folk down the years.
July 1999. Land Rover fan Tony Cornthwaite has applied for
planning permission to turn 1.28 acres of poor agricultural land at Locker Lane Farm into
an off-road course for four-wheel drive vehicles.
11/05/99. Bryn Baptist Church raised over £1,000 for the Kosovo appeal at their stall in the Gerard
Centre and wish to thank local residents and traders for their support.
April 1999. The Forum is seeking funding to establish a
Community Award scheme, in which local residents can nominate a local individual or
organisation who has made a significant contribution to the improvement of the town.
March 1999. The Ashton Festival Steering Group continued to
meet, and the next meeting - open to all - is planned for 27th April at 4.00 pm in the
Library. The Festival would take place in late October, and the meeting heard suggestions
for marking the event.
03/03/99. Local bands and entertainers have met to organise regular Thursday
night shows at the NUPRO. Beginning at Easter, the showcases will feature local bands,
DJs, poets and comedy acts and dancers. Russ Winstanley, founder of the Wigan Casino,
hopes that local creative people will come forward to show their work, and asks interested
parties to contact him on 07970-295081.
January 1999. At the first Annual General Meeting of the
Town Centre Group it was agreed to change the name to Ashton Community Forum to
provide a better description of the nature and purpose of the meetings. The group
originally began as a sub-committee of the local Labour Party Branch, and the change of
name completes the transition to a non-political community forum.
September 1998. Ian Winstanley reported on the trip to
Wigan's twin town, Angers.
January 1998. The Ashton Town Centre Group received a donation of £10 from
Ashton & Golborne Labour Party Branch to assist with secretarial expenses.
October 1997. Matters discussed included the proposed housing development at York Road/Heath Road;
provision of six new litter bins; the need for 'Keep Ashton Tidy' signs and an anti-litter campaign; traffic
wardens; CCTV; and the launch of the Pub Watch scheme. S Onions, Mrs Bradshaw and colleagues, and Bob Stoeman
were visiting local businesses to secure funding for an Xmas tree and Cllr Millington would liaise with the
Council regarding installation and lighting.
July 1997. A meeting had been arranged with market personnel at Trencherfield Mill. Other items
discussed were litter bins and benches, a traffic survey in Walford Road, environmental work on Ashton Heath,
concern at on-street drinking, parking restrictions on Gerard Street, and the provision of an illuminated tree
in the town centre at Xmas.
June 1997. Matters discussed included litter in the town centre, the new Pelican crossing, and market
improvements.
May 1997. Recycling facilities were to be sited at the Gerard Centre. Letters of concern from residents
regarding traffic on Walford Road were passed to Councillor Hilton. Other matters discussed were off-road motorcycling
on Ashton Heath, the results of the meeting with Market officers, and the future direction which the Town Centre
Group should take.
April 1997. Local police officers began attendance at the monthly meetings. A meeting was being
sought with Rodney Hill to discuss matters affecting the market. A response from Poolthorpe indicated that the
site was to be developed. PC Bridgeman gave a report on the crime scene in Ashton, stating that a particular problem
was theft from and of cars on the Gerard Centre car park, and remarking on the need for security cameras. Other
topics discussed included on-street drinking, manning of the police station, the state of Millingford Brook, provision
of recycling facilities, the new pelican crossing on Gerard Street and plans for new crossings at the Library junction,
and traffic calming measures in Walford Road.
March 1997. Jackie Gordon of the Market Traders' Association attended the meeting. Matters discussed
included an update to correspondence, litter and toilet cleaning on the market place, rebuilding of market stalls,
installation of security cameras in the town centre, on-street parking, and police liaison.
February 1997. Meetings commenced at the Commercial Hotel, Heath Road, attended by local councillors and
core members. Matters discussed included widening attendance at meetings, clean-up of the Poolthorpe site, vandalism and
repairs to market stalls, and Wigan's cycling strategy.
21st January 1997. Members of the Ashton and Golborne Labour Party Branch met to discuss how best
to create an inclusive community group to co-operate in helping to improve the town centre and surroundings. In
attendance were Harry Jones, Paul Kirkwood, David McKendrick and Ian Winstanley. It was agreed to establish a
non-political Town Centre Group open to all interested people in Ashton, with Alan Wood as Chair and Harry Jones as Secretary, meeting on the fourth
Tuesday of each month in the Commercial Hotel. The four main areas of discussion were: litter; traffic; the Market;
and Law and Order.
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