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

Well done Wigan council

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

Nice photo Ron, how neat and tidy.

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.

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".

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

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...

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.

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.

New year, same old rude comments by Mick

Cyril,

What are 'perquisites'????

Hello Hugh, 'Perks'.

Prerequisites I think you mean Cyril

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

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.