Photo-a-Day  (Thursday, 18th February, 2021)

They're all going one by one ... I wonder which building will be the last to leave ..... don't forget to turn the lights out!

Poor planning by the Post Office to move into a shop that would be closing after a few months.

How very sad what will people do for a post office when it shuts down? maybe this pandemic has not helped, because people haven't been going into Wigan the last 12 months, its a shame there isn't going to be anything left in the near future.

Soon be pulling the grand arcade down along with the galleries both white elephants

Grand Arcade next?

A very sad looking town centre. Goodness knows what it will look like in the wake of this awful pandemic.

Come friendly bombs and take a bow
Nothing else can save Wigan now.

How sad. Wigan was heaving at one time but everywhere is going the same way now. Retail Parks and internet shopping. We used to have a ride to Southport on the train from Wigan Wallgate station years ago, and feel quite in awe window-shopping in posh Lord Street. The last time I went, long ago now, Lord Street had gone to the dogs. A very sad sign of the times. At least we have our memories.

Did it do Slough any favours?

I'm sure the Post Office did due dilligence before moving out of their HQ on Wallgate to the WH Smiths site. If it can happen to M&S and Debenhams then who's safe. The pandemic hasn't helped and the acid test will be in what form ' shopping ' returns as in the future. I agree Irene, last time we went to Southport I was shocked at how very down at heel it seemed, Lord Street especially. Good to see the bikes at the carousel though

People need a reason to visit a town like Wigan, and there is no longer any reason to visit. The big shops have gone, there is no Market to speak of, there is no entertainment, the train stations are halfway down a steep hill which puts a lot of older people off visiting the town, anything of historical interest in the town has been pulled down and replaced with modern junk buildings and, apart from Standishgate and Market Street the rest of the town has been given over to road traffic, most of which is just passing through on the way to somewhere else.
If Wigan wants to stage a revival it will have to give people a reason to visit.

It seems the only site left will be Wigan World. The empty buildings will be hotspots for vandals and druggies. There'll be no need for the nightclubs on King St.
Will there be a bus service to Vandal Village , Doomsville ?

As i've said before, it's CLICKS not BRICKS now unfortunately and it won't get any better. That is UK wide, Wigan certainly isn't on it's own in the demise of the traditional stores.

Ive complained to the Postmaster general, and hes just emailed me back saying that Wiganer have no need to worry because the Post Office will be relocating into the Bank of Scotland, which is in the market place

A new bus station not long built, and nothing to come for, like everyone says.Yes we all have our memories, But what memories have the young ones coming up now got? Zilch!!!

That's good news then. Until the Bank of Scotland goes back to Scotland! Will anybody come to Wigan to post a letter though... ?

Julie asks - "what will people do for a post office when it shuts down? "

There's a post office on Wigan Lane and another on Whelley. One on Beech Hill Avenue. Two or three in Pemberton. There's Ince, Hindley, Platt Bridge ..... Standish, Shevington ....... Good God, how many post offices do you want?

A Spokesperson says dont worry there will be a post office within 10 miles from Wigan. So thats Ormskirk/Salford same wth the banks?????

WN1 Standisher - I've wondered about Southport. Not been since 1980. As others have said, the problem is a national one.
Where I love, pre pandemic, delis and cafes had taken up a lot of retail slack. Post pandemic? I wonder how many will survive.

Weighing machines inside the door,
Broken biscuits, collect once more.
Waiting place to meet a date,
Saturdays weekends, excitement state.
Up through Millgate,
To the baths ,
Return to Woolies
full of laughs,
Down the arcades
to the Hall,
place to wander,
every stall,
now the lament upon its fall,
and a change we lost so much..

James Hanson, there is no post office in Whelley, and it depends on where people live.Older people, especially those with mobility problems don't want to be traveling miles for a post office... Have you not heard the mantra, during this pandemic " Be Kind"

Like James has said, there's at least three post offices in Wigan. There's dozens within five miles of Wigan, Peter, nevermind ten. There's three in Hindley.

Edna, "Older people, especially those with mobility problems don't want to be traveling miles for a post office.."

Exactly, Edna. So, what use is a post office in Wigan shopping centre where nobody lives? There's three in Wigan, without having to travel to the town centre and dozens in the surrounding area.

Has anybody ever seen James Hanson and George (Hindley) in the same room?? Both sound extremely cantankerous.

The Post Office in the town centre was always considered to be the General Post Office. In fact it was so-called the General by everybody. In other words the main one for Wigan.. it does not seem right not to have Post Office in the
Centre of Wigan, even if the shops are all closing. It's still the Town Centre until everything else has gone. The Post Office should be the last to go - IF it gets to ground zero! I am sure the Council Offices and indeed the Town Hall.
will remain. There will always be business premises such as Solicitors etc. That's my view anyway

George we know there are other post offices around Wigan. It was just a quote that some person could say whether it be one mile or twenty.Like I have also said with the Yorkshire bank which is closing/closed the nearest branch being at StHelens.say it quick but at least 5 miles from Wigan

Actually the Post Office seems busier than ever with all the parcels handled. Be they 'returns' or from people selling items on eBay etc. There's always queues in my local post office, if it's not car tax, it's Passports and the like. It seems to me we really need the Post Office. Whichever building it finishes up in, its here to stay, even if the town centre ends up with people living in Apartments.

PeterP, the Yorkshire Bank in St.Helens is over 10 miles from Wigan. Saying it quick doesn't bring it any closer.
There's one in Leigh, 7 miles from Wigan.