22nd July 2010

SCHOOL'S OUT - and across the whole of Wigan Borough loads of activities are being laid on to ensure young people stay Safe4Summer whilst still having lots of fun!

And even though the classrooms are closed for the next six weeks, there’s still plenty of opportunities to learn something new. So whether young people want to sharpen their archery skills in Mesnes Park as part of Operation Windburn, learn body popping in Leigh or go wet and wild in a range of exciting canalside activities across Greenheart Regional Park, there’s bound to be something right up their street.

Over the summer, young people can get involved in youth action groups where they can make positive contributions to the local community or join youth clubs where they can network with other young people. Alternatively for those of a more energetic disposition, outdoor activities such as rockclimbing and windsurfing are also scheduled to take place, together with the ever popular X-Zones on Friday and Saturday nights.

But Safe4Summer is about more than just having fun and taking part in activities across the borough.

Led on by Greater Manchester Fire & Rescue Service, and covering all ten local authorities in Greater Manchester, the Safe4Summer campaign offers young people personal safety advice – with particular emphasis on how to be safe around fire, near water and on the road.

Safe4Summer also gets young people thinking about some of the issues that are important to them, from healthy eating and alcohol to sex education and bullying. And it also prompts them to consider the impact their behaviour could potentially have on the wider community – including the life threatening knock-on effects of making hoax calls to the emergency services.

Neil Gaskell, Fire Station Commander in Wigan, says:

"Sadly, the summer holiday period poses many potential dangers to young people – from the risks associated with the family barbecue, to the often irresistible but tragic lure of dangerous buildings and open water.

"In spring, the borough’s fire appliances were called to more than 500 deliberately set fires, including grass fires, each costing in the region of £1970."

"Our aim with Safe4Summer is to help everyone to enjoy this time of year safely and responsibly, whilst ensuring resources are available to respond to real emergencies."

The Safe4Summer campaign is supported by Linc Online, Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust’s information site which is produced in partnership with the Council’s Youth Service and local young people. Officers from Greater Manchester Police (Wigan Division) and teams from Wigan Council’s Children and Young People’s Services are also supporting the campaign as part of their commitment to the multi-agency Building Stronger Communities Partnership.

"During the long summer break, young people who are out and about could find themselves involved in something that looks like it's just a bit of harmless fun," says Cllr Sue Loudon, Wigan Council’s cabinet champion for children and young people.

"But other members of the community might not agree! So whilst young people may think they’re not doing anybody any harm, their behaviour could upset other people, land them in trouble or put them at risk of personal danger.

"That’s why campaigns like Safe4Summer are so important, by signposting young people to information on personal safety and social responsibility, as well as telling them about all the positive activities available to them."

Superintendent Robert Lomas, of Greater Manchester Police, Wigan Division says:

"Safe4Summer is a great campaign that invites young people to get involved in lots of exciting activities over the summer holidays, whilst encouraging everyone to stay safe. We continue to target those engaging in anti-social behaviour, and we ask young people to look after their friends, have fun and stay out of trouble during the holidays."

Cllr Kevin Anderson, the council’s cabinet champion for neighbourhoods, adds:

"Engagement can be as beneficial as enforcement when it comes to tackling the issue of youth-related anti-social behaviour. We want to assure local residents that agencies are working together and constantly finding innovative and cost effective ways of combating the affects of ASB on local neighbourhoods. Safe4Summer is a great example of this in practice."

So make this summer memorable for the right reasons! Have some fun, keep out of trouble and stay Safe4Summer.

To find out more, log onto www.safe4summer.comand follow the links.

21st July 2010

 WIGAN town centre is the place to be thist week as the sounds, scents, tastes and textures of exotic North Africa come to town.
As part of its hugely successful themed-market series, the council’s town centre team will be welcoming a Tunisian Market to the town centre from Wednesday July 21 onwards.
Market Place in the heart of the town centre will take on the appearance of the Grand Bazaar or ‘Souk’ as it’s known in Tunisia, with brightly coloured stalls down the length on the busy street.
And there will be a veritable cornucopia of quality goods on offer from the mystical desert state.
There will be handmade garden pots and clay-baked barbecues, leather goods, handmade glass and ceramic ware.
For food lovers there will be speciality olives, honey-layered baklava, dry fruit and nuts and some very ‘moorish’ paella.
Wigan Council Cabinet Champion for the Economy Cllr David Molyneux, says: “Over the past few years our themed markets have really captured the imagination of shoppers and they’ve helped bring a lot of business back into the town centre.
“We would like people to come into the town to enjoy the Tunisian market and maybe visit our very own market for a few homegrown bargains at the same time.
“I am really looking forward to saying hello to the Tunisian traders or As-salam alaykum as we say in Ince!”
The Tunisian Market will run from Wednesday July 21 until Saturday July 24 between 9am and 5pm.

19th July 2010

WIGAN Borough has seen the largest drop in unemployment in Greater Manchester over the last twelve months.
The June figures show a fall of nearly 5 per cent in those claiming Job Seekers’ Allowance since last month. Since last summer the fall has been over 12 per cent.
The data, just released by Wigan Council’s economic regeneration office, once again shows unemployment in the borough falling for the fifth successive month, and at a faster rate than UK averages.
“This is excellent news,” says Cllr David Molyneux, the cabinet champion for regeneration. “The council continues to work closely with business leaders, banks, advice groups and our own economics experts to support jobs, people and businesses.”
June’s claimant count reduction was largely a result of a reduced number of people moving onto Job Seekers Allowance. This is seen as a strong indication that fewer people are being made redundant.
It was recently reported that the Intensive Start Up Support (ISUS) Business programme is creating one new business every day and is expected stay above target.
Susan Gambles, head of the council’s regeneration agency, says: “The good news is that since the beginning of the year 5,235 people have found work. This compares with 4,300 over the same time period last year. What we are seeing is a 18 per cent increase in people finding work since 2009 performance.
The work of the council’s economic regeneration office and its partners continues to help Wigan weather the financial storm.
The council has pledged to continue its work alongside local businesses and through funding streams to ensure these strong trends continue to benefit locals and the wider economy.

19th July 2010

INTERESTED in running but not sure how to get started or improve your performance?
Wigan Phoenix are an adult running club who organise weekly sessions for runners of all abilities. If you would like to find out more then come and join us at the White Lion, Mossy Lea Road, Wrightington on Sunday 25th July at 10am.
Runs of varying distances and paces followed by bacon butties at the pub. What better way to spend a Sunday morning!
If you can’t make the Open Day we meet at the Britannia Hotel, Standish on Mondays at 6-15pm and Thursdays at 7pm. Feel free to come and join us. 

19th July 2010

ONGOING high traffic volumes and road safety concerns at a Wigan recycling centre has prompted the council to temporarily close the facility.
The Frog Lane Household Waste Recycling Centre will remain open until Sunday 18th July and be closed from Monday 19th July, until further notice.
Residents are now being directed to the nearby alternative recycling facility at Kirkless, Makerfield Way, Ince, just past the Morrison’s supermarket.
Wigan Council’s Waste Disposal and Recycling Manager, Gail Robinson, says: “In the interests of the health and safety of both members of the public and staff using the site, and the impact that traffic volumes is having on nearby residents, we have decided to close Frog Lane while we investigate. We are sorry for any inconvenience this will cause to residents.”
“We are really grateful to everyone who takes the time and effort to recycle and we want people to continue to do so. Our site at Kirkless has excellent recycling facilities and plenty of capacity. It’s fully undercover and there are no steps for residents using the site.”
“As well as Kirkless we have facilities at Slag Lane in Leigh at the Chanters Industrial Estate in Atherton.”
As well as the Household Waste Recycling Centres the borough has a network of more than 170 local recycling centres. These handy roadside facilities can be found at many pubs, supermarkets and other public buildings, allowing for a wide variety of materials, such as glass bottles and jars, cans and paper, to be easily recycled. Many sites also offer facilities to donate items, including clothing and books to charity.
For more information on recycling in Wigan Borough visit Wigan Council’s website: www.wigan.gov.uk/recycling