Wigan Album

People don't realize how much steel work goes into these type of buildings, there's probably more steel erected when it's completed than Blackpool tower. After saying that, I still prefer Wigan back in the 50s,and 60s. Much better shops, people and buildings then. You can't window shop these days because of the shutter doors, but you could then. (and i'm not mourning)

Garry , glad to hear that nobody has died. Or do you mean I'm not moaning?

We all know what Garry means, and he's right Wigan was better then!

Totally agree with you , Garry.
Mick..I am going off topic again but I found your recent video containing the little green bridge between Standish Lower Ground and the railway line.
It brought back some very happy memories. I think it has been renewed at some time though . The old one was less sturdy and as very small girls my friend and I used to run backwards and forwards on it to see how much we could make it shake! Quite scarey at the time. Thank you for that.

why o why did they have to build this monstrosity!!! just walked around Wigan town and it breaks my heart to see the terrible state that it is in , there are more shops boarded up every time i go into town , it just isn,t the same . the simply have ruined our town .

Spot on, Tricia and Daisy.

The second worst thing they built in Wigan the first one being The Galleries .

To Roskiewigan .i agree with what you say , WHY could,nt have saved all the wonderful places in Wigan,

because the council knows best and you lot don't matter, unless its a certain day in may,sorry to upset anyone.

It was really hard work crossing that road back then....

baker boy
What has any of this got to do with the council,they neither built or own the grand arcade or the galleries.

So, Grez, are you saying this monstrosity was built without planning consent ???

Spot on again Tricia.

Yes I know, Garry. I have always had a keen eye for the obvious ! lol

Daisy, You are so right. What have they done to the Wigan that was. Modern Wigan? You can keep it!!

tricia
Please tell me on what legal grounds the council had to deny the plan.In the end that is what matters,they like all councils are bound by the planning regulations and cannot deny them just because a few people may not be happy with the aesthetics.If they don't break the planning regulations and are not overly out of place for the area,then the council are obliged to grant the application.In simple terms,They had no choice.

Nonsence grez, of course they have a choice. It's all about money not quaility. The council here in Wigan are good at demolishing lovely buildings only to build an eyesores like this one.

I've had a look around the Album for pics of this site, to confirm my memory that there was a far uglier car park on this site before this rather more interesting set of buildings was constructed. I also found a pic of the area from 1972, before River Way was cut through in 1985. All that was visible then was the ugly rear of the Ritz, and a scruffy grass bank. Well done Wigan Council for facilitating the improvements here - whatever else they may have allowed elsewhere, on pain of suffering legal expenses in futile attempts to stop the developers.

gres
I don't think it is 'just a few people' and it depends by what you mean by 'out of place'.
As an example, although the idea was a good one in theory, Messrs Ainscough and Whelan should, in my opinion, be ashamed of the eyesore of a building that now stands opposite the Thomas Linacre Building. Nothing wrong with modern buildings as long as they are pleasing on the eye and blend in with what is there already.

Rev Long, with respect, your a Liverpudlian, I'm a born and bred Wiganer, there's nothing at all wrong with Wigan at the time your talking about, Wigan town was a great place to visit, it had lovely shops, pubs and picture houses, we boast 3 railway stations etc etc etc.I could go on for ever.

I agree with you Rev David Long , it was in need of something to be done , a complete eyesore ,but Why did they have to build shops !!when we had the galleries,which now is an eyesore because all shops are boarded up.

Here here Gary

Daisy. It is the same in all major towns, a lot of shops have put up the shutters, one major factor, is ,on line, shopping. It will progressively get worse. A great deal of the public want convenience, and, cheapness. Working people have little spare time, to shop around. It is O.K. for us retired folk, except for the question of the cash flow.

Well said Daisy and Garry. Obviously Wiganers like us know better than newcomers to the area. I am not saying that we should not move with the times. There are so many buildings and features that are now lost to us for ever. I don't suppose people like the Reverend know what we are talking about when we mention things like the Old Arcade. He is entitled to his opinion, but is not a Wiganner after all...lol We do not have to check back for pictures...WE WERE THERE...

yes !! we were there Tricia ,and we know what were talking about.

Tricia and Daisy, again spot on. We know what others don't lol.

Thirty years ago when the Council executive became planning driven instead of the more effective rounded approach you could have given them an instruction. ' Right lads make a complete ****s of the town'. The lack of such an directive didn't stop from following the same path.
To be fair to the people defending change most of the new developments are a recognition that the social make up of Wigan has changed with the loss of a significant slice of the aspirational classes and the associated spending power.

Wasn't it under Central Station that they found the Roman baths? Wigan seems to have been 'improving' on the past for a few centuries!
So, which did you prefer on this site, Garry - the scruffy grass mound, or the ugly 1980s car park?

I prefer Wigan from the past than today. It's not just the Grand Arcade, it's the bigger picture. You're missing the point, David Long. OH, and I prefer Central Station and the Ritz and Woolworths etc etc etc.

Rev. David, the issue is not to do with grass mounds or car parks.It is about losing some of the character of our beloved home town and replacing it with ugly edifices that stick out like a sore thumb. They also seem Hellbent on using up any square inch of green space in the Borough.
Wigan is now faceless.

Garry, I think you would be a perfect candidate for election to the council - is it something you would consider?

True Wiganers care, others don't!

Garry your right, for a small town, Wigan in days gone by had a lot to offer.

If the Council do not have the right to ban this kind of building then they should be banging the table and demanding they be given the right. How can they pretend to be representing the people of Wigan when they have no say on what is built in the town they are supposed to represent?

So you think Wigan Council should demand that Westminster change English planning laws to suit a section of the public that don't like certain developments in Wigan.Yeah,that'd work.

Yes grez I do, otherwise what is the point of having Local Councillors. We could leave it all to Westminster and that would really improve things wouldn't it?

If that's how you think local/national politics works then fine,I'll leave you happy in your ignorance.This is my last word on this matter.Goodbye and good luck.

Grez you won't be missed.

Oh dear, grez has left the building ! Hmmm, wonder if he works for the Council ?

Tricia, Den's. Even though I agree with what you say I'm afraid Grez is correct. When such a building is erected the Council has to consult those people it will affect. It is the duty of those people to object as with all planning. If the Council ignores the views of the people then they must challenge the Council legally. Of course the Council can challenge a building as well but it has to show on what grounds. If thousands of Wiganners opposed this then the Council would have to listen, clearly this did not happen. When this became a proposal was the time to make a noise. Many such buildings around the entire country have been rejected when enough people objected. I also get emotional when I see the Wigan of today but to stop these constructions it has to be done legally by the people, according to planning procedures. If you felt strongly enough then it should have been taken to the courts.