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Leigh Life Centre – Getting the most from My Council

A new one-stop shop in the heart of Leigh is open for business and ready to provide all the answers to Life’s big questions.

Many people in our borough will now be aware of the exciting Life Centre development in Wigan Town Centre, which will provide a 21st century contact point not just for the council, but other organisations such as the health service.

Well it doesn’t end in Wigan because the council is bringing new ‘Life’ to townships across the borough in the shape of brand new customer service centres.

The first one to open was in Marsh Green and it’s already proving to be a big hit with the community. This week, it was followed by Leigh’s very own Life Centre based at Leigh Town Hall.

Gone are the cash offices – they’ve been moved to another part of the building – in their place on the ground floor is a brand new information ‘hub’ where customers can get quick answers about how to access a wide range of council and other public services.

Wigan Council’s Cabinet Champion for Customer Service, Cllr Chris Ready says: “The local Life Centres are community vers...

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Issued by GMP Press Office

A man was taken to hospital for treatment to a head injury after being assaulted outside a Wigan beer festival.

At about 9.40pm on 30 January 2010, the victim, a 24-year-old man, was assaulted outside the festival at Formby Hall, Alder Street, Atherton.

During the assault the victim was hit with a glass object that caused a cut on his forehead. He is awaiting further surgery to treat the injury.

Detective Constable Katherine Andrews, of Wigan CID, said: "The festival attracts a huge crowd and I am certain there would have been people in and around the venue who saw what happened.

"I would urge those people to get in touch. Please don't rely on others to pass on information and tell me what you saw."

Anyone with information is asked to call Wigan CID on 0161 856 7259 or call the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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WLCT - Issued 05/02/10
 

A TRIO of celebrated crime writers are heading to Wigan and Leigh later this month for a “literary festival of felony”.

Libraries will delve into the dark underbelly of society with a special series of events organised in recognition of one of the borough’s most read genres.

Organiser Carole Ogden from Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust said: “We know crime novels are hugely popular in our libraries, so this is a really exciting opportunity for people who enjoy these books to hear from the authors themselves.

“I think crime fiction is popular because, as readers, we’re fixated with trying to unravel the clues and work out who the murderer is long before the end of the book.”

Manchester-based Chris Simms, whose Detective Inspector Jon Spicer series has been described as “thoughtful and exciting crime fiction at its best”, will be at Leigh Library on Tuesday 23 February at 7.30pm where he will be discussing his novels. Two actors will also recreate a scene from his spine chilling book “Savage Moon”. Chris was picked by Waterstones as one of their “25 authors of the future” and is considered one...

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Issued by GMP Press Office


An arsonist set fire to the home of a couple in Wigan.

At about 10.45pm on Saturday 23 January 2010, an unknown offender lit a sponge that had been soaked in accelerant and pushed it through the letterbox of a house on Manchester Road, Astley, Wigan.

The husband and wife are both 73-years-old.

The fire was quickly extinguished but caused some damage to the porch.

Detective Constable Paul Clayton, of Wigan CID, said: "Had the occupants not discovered the fire and put it out we could be dealing with the murder of two completely innocent people.

"I am astonished that anyone would be prepared to target a couple in such an indiscriminate and gratuitous way and I am doing all I can to bring this offender to justice.

"I would urge those in the community who may have information about the person responsible to think about what could have happened.

"If you know anything at all, regardless of how insignificant you think it might be, please do the right thing and call me before this person strikes again."

Anyone with information is asked to call Wi...

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Wigan And Leigh Remember Holocaust Victims     28/01/10


Wigan and Leigh united on Wednesday (January 27) to remember those killed in the Holocaust and other genocides.

In a packed atrium at Wigan town hall, Rector of Wigan, Rev Ray Hutchinson spoke of the “common humanity” we all share that goes “beyond race and nation” as the borough’s tenth Holocaust Memorial Day was held.

At Leigh’s Turnpike Centre, Bill Hampson, director of the Epiphany Trust and Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust Board Trustee, spoke passionately about the continued suffering of the Burmese people at the hands of the military junta.

In Wigan children from the Deanery, Shevington and St Peter’s High Schools read poems and literature about the holocaust.

Wigan Pier Youth Theatre produced a powerful performance about the concentration camps.

In Leigh Father Kevin Crinks spoke about his visits to the concentration camps. Hesketh Fletcher and Lowton High both performed drama productions about the holocaust while Westleigh and St Mary’s students read out poems and reflections on the holocaust.

The borough’s reader-in-residence, St...