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Photos of Wigan
Photos of Wigan



Photo-a-Day Archive
Photo-a-Day Archive

Photo-a-Day  (Monday, 2nd January, 2017)

Refurbished


Refurbished
Haigh Hall stables.

Photo: Ron Dawber  (Canon power-shot)
Views: 3,304

Comment by: Mick on 2nd January 2017 at 06:01

Well done Wigan council

Comment by: Julie Bateman on 2nd January 2017 at 07:27

Lovely picture Ron once again of Haigh Hall, thanks Ron.

Comment by: Aubrey on 2nd January 2017 at 09:37

Nice photo Ron, how neat and tidy.

Comment by: Cyril on 2nd January 2017 at 10:53

Great photo Ron, just shows with the right folks in charge wonderful things can happen.

Why the council Mick, when it was in their hands it became run down and dilapidated, have they somehow done a complete turnaround - I very much doubt it, some outside influence involved for sure.

Comment by: Carolean on 2nd January 2017 at 13:29

Cyril. The Council actually did a fantastic job of renovating Haigh Hall during the late 60s and 1970s and developing the Golf Course and Country park. I well remember going inside the hall during the 19650s/60s and it was very run down.

Without being Party political (because all the Parties have done it) a big problem in the last 40 years has been the emasculation of Local Authorities who now get nearly 90% of funding from Central Government. To take Haigh Hall for example for example. If Wigan wanted to spend large amounts of money on renovating Haigh Hall even if this had overwhelming support from local residents it would still need Government support. What happens is that if the Central Government decided it doesn't want Wigan to spend money on such a project it simply withholds that money from its Block Grant to the authority(in other words it holds a gun to its head). If Wigan MBC(and Wiganers) really want Haigh Hall improvement they would have to fing the money by taking it from other budgets such as Education or Social Services.

I know Council Tax seems a lot of money- indeed it is a lot of money but it now only makes up about 13% of what Local Authorities need. Central Government providing about 87% cracks the whip and calls the tune no matter how you vote. So much for "Local Democracy".

Comment by: Mick on 2nd January 2017 at 20:11

Yes Cyril the same Wigan council who paid you all that good money for all them years of skiving.

Comment by: Nadroj on 3rd January 2017 at 07:49

Spent Monday afternoon at Haigh Hall.
A sunny winters day brought the crowds out and it was great to see the place buzzing again.
However, I can't believe that with all the improvements that have gone on that more toilet facilities have been provided - still having to use the toilets at the stables - too small and very few litter / dog bins around.
C'mon get a grip...

Comment by: Cyril on 3rd January 2017 at 10:51

If only Mick, the work I did was productive, I didn't have the same perquisites that was afforded to you on those rigs, so don't go thinking all workers were the same.

Yes Carolean, but we had Gil Swift to thank for that, a lot of folks thought him strange with his flamboyance, but he had vision and commitment for Haigh, sadly a person of the same calibre never replaced him.

Comment by: Carolaen on 3rd January 2017 at 11:28

Cyril. Thanks for the nod to Gil Swift. My parents were quite friendly with him back in the day (nearly 50 years ago now) and I had quite forgotten him as I left Wigan in 1970, but memories came flooding back when I saw his name.

Comment by: truewigana on 3rd January 2017 at 22:13

New year, same old rude comments by Mick

Comment by: Hugh Wilson on 4th January 2017 at 06:39

Cyril,

What are 'perquisites'????

Comment by: Cyril on 4th January 2017 at 13:35

Hello Hugh, 'Perks'.

Comment by: Vb on 4th January 2017 at 14:15

Prerequisites I think you mean Cyril

Comment by: Vb on 4th January 2017 at 21:56

Sorry you are right Cyril.
prerequisites means required as a condition or in preparation for something else.

Comment by: Paul Swift on 30th April 2017 at 23:32

My Dad (Gil Swift) cared dearly about Wigan & Haigh Hall. He's had good and bad press but his heart was in the right place at home & work. I miss Wigan & Haigh Hall and have fond memories as a child, unfortunately I rarely return as I live & work as a Civil Servant on the Isle of Wight. Wigan's a lovely town with genuine folk.

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