Photo-a-Day  (Thursday, 17th August, 2023)

Good pic Dennis, the big clock and escalators are probably still in there.

Wigan's very own Kew Gardens perhaps ??

Just to say what a complete waste of money. You can't turn the clock back, but nowt up with the old tradition market we all loved. Bury Market is brilliant and attracts very many people.

What ever happens they'll never bring customers back.
Wigan is base on Traditions.

I need to go to Wigan today I’ll investigate what is going on with the giant green house. (Not made my mind up what I’m wearing as yet. Could be Victoria Beckham or Stella McCartney …I do have a few black bin bags of theirs) I don’t have any green socks in my sock drawer.

If bricks and mortar could break down and weep, our town would be saying, "I give up; I'm beaten". Have you ever seen such a heartbreaking scene as this? Despite being regularly told by someone on Wigan World that "this exciting new venture isn't for "old pensioners like me ....it's for the young", I honestly wish I could see that! I would be more than happy to stay away from the "exciting brand new Cinema, exciting brand new Indoor Golf, Bowling Alley " etc and leave them to "the young" if I could sit in my "old lady" armchair with a shawl on in a couple of years' time and read in The Wigan Observer that an "exciting new town" had risen like a phoenix from the ashes and that people were flocking to it. But I just can't see it, and I doubt that most Wiganers can. The Cinema at Robin Park, as well as others over the country, are closing because people can sit comfortably in their homes and "stream" the films they want to see. Restaurants may work for a while but will have to sustain their popularity over a long time to overcome the fact that there are hardly any shops, and will have to provide parking close by their premises; people won't want to park a distance away on a multi-storey and have to walk back late at night to their cars. I don't expect everyone to agree....every one of us in Wigan is entitled to his/her opinion. That's just mine. A good photo, Dennis, but a sad one.

What a mess Wigan is turning into and I don’t mean the rubble.

Pw Wigan has been a mess since the major stores shut

If there are any occupied buildings near this site, they'll be hoovering concrete dust from carpets for the next three years Even if vacuumed twice a day!
The dust will lurk behind fixed furnishings and in light fittings.
Seeing the plant engaged there, this looks an expensive exercise and heavy on local rate-payers.
Another good one Dennis - in future years it will have a certain historical relevance.

You are spot on Irene,like you I would be more than surprised if what is planned is anything like successful.

Had to go to the Linacre this morning..I go to town twice a week .did a bit more shopping from the couple of shops we have left..coming down Mesnes St..that's where you can see most of the devastation..as I looked across ..again..I got really angry with whoever has dreamt all this demolition up..I thought of taking a photo but decided against it,it is so depressing to see all the bulldozing..may God forgive 'em.

Mrs Roberts.
You are right in what you say, it's not for you , in fact Wigans seem to have not been for you for many years now, because you are always coming out with Ive not been for years.
The new cinema won't just be a cinema that you remember from 50 years ago, it will be an auditorium that can be used for movies, it will be able to be used for theatre performances, public gatherings.
The new resident wont need cars, they will be able to use cycles and public transport to get around and I'm sure if they feel like they can buy a modern rocking chair to read the online version of the Wigan Observer, no need for a owd blanket because they will be nice and snug with their under floor heating.
If they get in early and snap up one of the condos with a westerly view they will have views of Mesnes Park and amazing sunsets over the picturesque village of Shevington.

Signal problems on the railway at Wigan. After a 45 minute journey from Daisy Hill to Wigan Wallgate which usually takes 11 minutes, we were stuck on the line. There were hundreds of people waiting for trains. I hope the demolition work isn’t contributing to the loss of signals. All that dust flying about - who knows!

Quote" it will be an auditorium that can be used for movies, it will be able to be used for theatre performances, public gatherings. "
Ha Ha I would presume that is one of your "TONGUE IN CHEEK "observations? We have an auditorium in the town which will hold 2.000. Down Pottery Road. The COURT THEATRE was going to be such a building, according to the "KING STREET REJUVENATION" plans. But has run out of money. So no doubt that will be boarded up for the next 20 years until that's demolished for H&S reasons

Maybe someone will have have a use in mind for the big glass pod for a conservatory or suchlike, as with being above a shopping arcade it won't be ordinary glass and would have been expensive, and something like this glass: https://www.lamilux.com/hub/preventive-fire-protection/shev-in-shopping-centres.html

The photos of the town demolition reminds me of the cover of this book:
https://pictures.abebooks.com/isbn/9781736504017-us.jpg

Thankyou for your reply, Mr. Byrne. Isn't it odd how 99% of comments on here are against what is happening to Wigan , but only mine seem to qualify for a personal reply? I'm sure the people in the "condos", (are we in America now?), will love the view over the picturesque village of Shevington as they get about on their bikes in the middle of Winter. At least the lack of cars due to this sudden dramatic rise in cycling that is apparently to come will ease the parking situation for the people attending the new amenities, unless THEY go on their bikes as well, in their evening clothes? We already have a theatre with a perfectly good auditorium, thankyou, and as for the public gatherings..... WHAT public gatherings??!! The only reference I made to a place "I haven't been to for years" was on the p-a-d of Crooke Village on Tuesday August 15th when a gentleman called John Bull, (I have no idea who he can be), advised me to "be shure to go again as soon has possible". Perhaps you are a friend of his? I wish the people in these wonderful new "condos" all the luck in the world ....I think they'll need it. I would hate to live in the middle of ANY town at night. They're bad enough in the daytime. with drunks and druggies arguing and fighting. I'll stay safe under my blanket, thanks. And so will a lot of other Wiganers.

Mick, Mesnes Park is to the ‘NORTH’ of Wigan, not West.
In any case, Wigan Market wasn’t a proper market, just a mall of established shops.

I need a sherry......

Sounds like the new Wigan is going to be the new Shangri La. I can see a new Mayor and his entourage established with his own sweet smelling Parish Council based in the Parish Church grounds. Of course he will only be there to sign autographs at specific times. The town will run itself they will all be cycling mad. Functions will be held in the giant greenhouse with food provided by the the vast amount of Restaurants and Curry Houses. Specialities being the usual cheeseburger.
The ‘ Youngsters’ will be the new ruling class based on the top floor of the jolly giant greenhouse.
No one need apply with grey hair to the amazing apartments fuelled by solar panels. Of course the Mayor’s private country mansion will still be there for his own use and comfort.
Sadly it will be a rare sight to see wheelchairs, walking sticks and mobility scooters or God forbid anyone wearing a hearing aid.
The grey haired warriors of old will be banished to Wigan Park where an enormous WorkingMan’s Club will be erected.
There has to be somewhere for them to play dominoes and cards.


greenhouse.

Looks like a news shot from Ukraine. Agree with absolutely everything you've said Irene. The old saying - if it's not broken, don't fix it - seems apt. New doesn't necessarily mean better.

Wigan Mick, I shall keep you to your comments of the Bright New Dawning of a Utopian Wigan rising from the Ashes.

Wigan is Central.
Leigh is East and Parbold West.
Ashton is South and Aspull is North.

As I said on the 14th August, I prefer Leigh Market, it still has tradition like the old Wigan market had. It doesn't matter how old you are or what time you get up in the morning, Wigan will never get the glory days back, what ever they build.
(If there's any spelling mistakes, sorry, I've just finished off two bottles of sherry)

AAh, but will the new mayor still be able to sign his expenses as “Ye Olde Parish Peacock Pouncer” Veronica?
Perhaps he will rename the whole area as Mickulous Towers and crown himself as “Mickulous The Ridiculous III” Rightful ruler of Wigan.
Anyone found stealing the king’s duck eggs on Wigan Pier will be thrown into the dungeons of Mickulous Towers and King Mickulous will have his own Luxury Mobility Scooter with a big bell on the front to scare the bijasus out of little old pensioners if they forget to doff their caps or tug their forelocks when he passes. All together now!
God save King Mickulous The Ridiculous III

Heard on the Grapevine The council have issued copies of the Film LOGANS RUN to all senior planners.. Its the next step to cut carbon dioxide emissions..

I believe Peacock Pouncing will be the new sport and Rugby will be banned. Anyone found kicking a ball will be clapped in irons
( wearing green socks!)
His first tour of duty to meet the people as King Mickulous will start in Standish and wheel his way around all HIS boroughs ending up in Scholes where a huge bun-fight will take place in the Flamingo. There will be a ceremony to rename the Flamingo as Ye Olde Peacock Pub. The only pub left with a coat of arms.
That’s if the Flamingo is still there!
God save the King!
Hip hip hooray!

So ! Are we to understand that Northern Rail stand accused of having stolen 34 minutes of your valuable consumeristic oriented
lifestyle Veronica?
If this is in fact the case, then may we suggest that you contact Claims Direct immediately, or alternatively don’t hesitate to email us directly at
p&g_railldelayclaim.com
and we will take this matter up on your behalf.
We operate on a no win no fee basis, as despite what they say we can’t live in a world without love.

Who’s first for the carousel Ron?

Weatherman, stick to weather predicting, owd lad. You’ve no sense of direction.

A bit pointless though P& G I would just get another ‘ticket to ride’,,
Same thing would happen again..

DTease and Veronica, those yarns were laugh out loud, though calling him a king will make his collection of hats useless, as he won't be able to get them on.

The Weatherman is absolutely spot on!
Very good predicted.
Wigan Market was the best in the North-West.

He always has a different hat on, he gets them from the charity shops, maybe he thinks nobody will recognise him when he is out, I know he uses different pie shops to protect his identity some as far away as Chorley

If yoo think it is bad now, just wait till they have built those blocks of high rise flats on the bottom part of The Galleries, on basically what was the old Market Square car park, which was there before they built The Galleries, because they will be as high as the College buildings if not higher, a real blot on the landscape.

Wigan market was never a proper market. Not in my lifetime anyway.