Local Life - Wigan - November 2017

LocalLife
Wigan Edition November 2017
WIN £500 to spend at
Northern
exposure
Jack’s Tracks visits Heath Charnock
Test Drive - SEAT Leon FR
Local News Motoring Jack’s Tracks Garden Diary Event2Go Home Services
locallife247.co.uk

Mere Oaks, Standish £550,000 Walthew Green, Roby Mill £350,000
Situated on this small development, this newly-built 5
bed family home, built by Jones Homes, boasts many
quality features including a private large rear garden.
This stunning detached 3 bed property with beautiful
gardens has traditional features combined with a
modern style to make this a magnificent family home.
Eastmede, Shevington £325,000 Shevington Moor, Standish £275,000
Situated on the new Oakwood Meadows development is
this stunning 4 bed detached home consisting of approx.
1529 sq ft of beautifully presented accommodation.
This refurbished two bed bungalow, situated on a large
plot, boasts a breath-taking modern design on the
ground floor, leading to a large rear garden.
Manor Road, Shevington £230,000 Harrington Park, Shevington £230,000
Boasting contemporary and well-planned family space,
this 2 bed detached home also has a dual aspect
lounge, an open plan kitchen-diner and private gardens.
Situated on the new Oakwood Meadows development
is this stunning 3 bed semi consisting of approximately
1143 sq ft of beautifully presented accommodation.
a name you can trust

Almond Almond Pastures, Pastures, Standish Standish £230,000 £230,000 115 Orrell 115 Road, Orrell Orrell Road, Orrell £180,000 £180,000
This modern This 4 bed modern detached 4 bed family detached home, family with home, a stunning with a stunning Offering a Offering wealth a of wealth period of features, period this features, beautifully this beautifully
kitchen-diner, kitchen-diner, is situated is on situated a small on development a small development with presented with presented 3 bed bay 3 fronted bed bay semi fronted has a semi modern has a kitchen modern kitchen
country views country and views excellent and motorway excellent motorway links. links. and a low and maintenance a low maintenance south-facing south-facing rear garden. rear garden.
Mesnes Mesnes Road, Wigan Road, Wigan £170,000 £170,000 Wigan Lower Wigan Rd, Lower Standish Rd, Standish LG £160,000 LG £160,000
This 2 bed This spacious 2 bed upper spacious floor upper apartment, floor apartment, located near located This near modern This 3 modern bed town 3 bed house, town with house, accommodation
with accommodation
to Mesnes to Park Mesnes and Park the town and centre, the town is immaculately
centre, is immaculately over 3 floors, over offers 3 floors, high offers quality high presentation quality presentation throughout throughout
presented presented and finished and to finished a very high to a standard. very high standard. and well maintained and well maintained gardens to gardens the front to and the rear. front and rear.
Bakewell Bakewell Drive, Beech Drive, Hill Beech Hill £145,000 £145,000 Collingwood Collingwood Street Street £130,000 £130,000
This impressive This impressive 3 bed semi-detached 3 bed semi-detached modern home modern This home fully refurbished, This fully refurbished, 3 bed terraced 3 bed has terraced a spacious has a spacious
occupies a occupies generous a generous plot located plot on located a popular on a estate popular estate kitchen and kitchen luxury and bathroom. luxury bathroom. Centrally located, Centrally this located, this
close to open close countryside. to open countryside.
property is property perfect for is perfect first time for buyers. first time buyers.
www.alanbatt.co.uk

2
Back Lane, Appley Bridge - Offers in excess of £425,000
This gorgeous period cottage, tucked away behind an electronic gated
entrance, has three double bedrooms, a high quality fitted kitchen and
exquisitely landscaped private gardens. A truly beautiful family home.
www.alanbatt.co.uk

3
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01942 583 558
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Photo for illustration purposes only

4
Unvarnished
Snapshot
We’ve all got a view on Ol’ Big ‘Ed, the
sculpture at the top of The Wiend, which is
10 years old next year. As someone who remembers
how the Wiend looked like back in the 70’s, I’m a big
fan of The Face, and I also love how it illustrates that
a single piece of art can transform a whole area. It’s
surely worth a higher ranking than its current 18/45
placing on Trip Advisor’s ‘Places to see in Wigan’,
which incidentally, includes delightful sightseeing
must-haves such as The Galleries, but that’s another
story altogether.
But whilst The Face of Wigan looks great on the
corporate brochures for the town, does it honestly
represent the people of Wigan?
I would suggest that our main feature this month is
a more faithful replica of local life in Wigan. ‘All Roads
Lead to Wigan Pier’, an exhibition currently running
at the Turnpike Gallery in Leigh, is one man’s picture
story of today’s Wigan, as captured through the lens
of ex-pat Wiganer, Timothy Foster. One thing you
can guarantee, these pictures won’t be appearing
on a corporate brochure anytime soon; it is, as our
Editor puts it, ‘an unvarnished snapshot’ of local life.
Don’t miss it, it’s running until 11th November.
Also in this month’s magazine are a couple of
chances to win prizes; a £500 voucher for goods from
OD’s stores in St Helens is on offer, and you can also
win an afternoon tea for two at the new Patisserie
Valerie in the Grand Arcade. With an enhanced
Puzzle pages and our Christmas Events2Go and local
Bonfire Guide, there’s a lot to read in your Local Life!
See you next time
Chris Pearce, Publisher
chrisp@locallife247.co.uk

5
In this issue
WIN a £500
voucher
17
Northern
exposure
Regulars
40 Planning
54 Class from the past
56 Puzzle Corner
Sections
6 Property
58 Health
62 Travel
68 Legal & Finance
70 Business View
95 Test Drive
98 Garden Diary
114 The Lump
74 Food & Drink
82 Events2Go
94 Pets
98 Gardening
102 Home Services
32
WIN afternoon tea
for two!
66
Local bonfires &
fireworks displays
guide
88
Jack’s Tracks visits
Heath
Charnock
91
Next issue - December 2017
Advertising deadline - Thursday, 9 November
Published - Wednesday, 22 November
Local Life 247 Ltd, Unit 8, Hewitt Business Park,
Winstanley Road, Orrell, WN5 7XB
Telephone: 01695 627 999
Publisher: Chris
Sales: Chris, Sally
LocalLife
chrisp@locallife247.co.uk
sales@locallife247.co.uk
Editorial: David, Niamh wigannews@locallife247.co.uk
Design: Peter, Dylan design@locallife247.co.uk
Distribution: Sally
sallyb@locallife247.co.uk
Accounts: Sam
accounts@locallife247.co.uk
Local Life is published every month and distributed into
the following areas on an alternate monthly basis.
This issue is delivered to 13,034 private homes and
businesses in Orrell, Billinge, Winstanley, Up Holland,
Highfield, Marus Bridge, Roby Mill and Pemberton.
The next issue is delivered to 13,039 private homes and
businesses in Standish, Shevington, Whitley, Appley
Bridge, Standish Lower Ground, Aspull and Haigh.
You can also pick up a free copy of Local Life at Sainsburys
or Tesco Extra in Wigan.
Whilst every care has been taken to ensure that the data in this publication is accurate, neither
the publisher or its editorial contributors can accept, and hereby disclaim, any liability to any
party to loss or damage caused by errors or omissions resulting from negligence, accident or
other cause. No part of this publication may be copied or reproduced without the prior written
consent of Local Life 247 Ltd.
locallifemagazine247 @locallifemedia events2go

6
Heyes Road,
Orrell
Traditional 3 bed semi offering
stylish presentation throughout,
with a surprising amount of
living space. Located in a highly
desirable and much sought after
area of Orrell
OIRO £235,000
Parliament Street,
Up Holland
This stunning three-bedroomed
modern stone mews house,
situated in a conservation area,
is designed over three storeys
and offers panoramic views over
nearby countryside.
OIRO £220,000
Hartley Green
Gardens, Billinge
An immaculately presented
modern three-bedroom
detached property with a large
rear garden and situated in
a much sought after area of
Billinge.
OIRO £210,000
We sell more homes in the WN5 area than any other estate agent
Dorchester Road,
Up Holland
This three bedroomed
traditional semi-detached
property with an integral
garage and front and rear
gardens is situated in a popular
area of Up Holland.
OIRO £175,000
Alma Parade,
Up Holland
Four-bedroomed, surprisingly
spacious, semi with vacant
possession boasting stunning
views over a large, low
maintenance rear garden and
ample parking.
OIRO £132,500
St James Road,
Orrell
This centrally located vacant
two bedroom terraced
property also has a lounge,
dining room, kitchen and
modern bathroom. Viewing
recommended.
OIRO £95,000
2 Sefton Road, Orrell
01695 632123
www.borronshaw.co.uk
Source: Zoopla survey of Sales Subject to Contract from 1/1/2015-9/10/2017 for WN5 postcode district.

7
Properties of Distinction
NEW
Milton Grove, Orrell
Impressive detached family home providing some 2147 SQ. FT. of living space.
Asking price £350,000
5 bedrooms
Immaculately maintained
Generous & mature plot
No chain
3 reception rooms
Freshly decorated
South-facing rear garden
2147 SQ.FT
www.reganandhallworth.com

8
NEW
NEW
PARK ROAD, BILLINGE £235,000
Spacious two bed detached true bungalow located in
the village of Billinge.
NEW NEW
TRAFALGAR ROAD, SWINLEY £210,000
A great family home on one of the most popular streets
in Swinley.
ASHRIDGE WAY, ORRELL £229,950
Superb detached family home tucked away in a lovely,
quiet little cul-de-sac.
NEW
COLERIDGE AVENUE, ORRELL £200,000
Generously sized semi-detached family home with large,
south facing garden & no chain.
NEW
SWINLEY ROAD, SWINLEY £195,000
A stunning Victorian bay fronted terraced home in ideal
location.
HEATHERLEA CLOSE, UPHOLLAND £165,000
An immaculate freehold semi-detached true bungalow
offered to the market with no chain delay.
www.reganandhallworth.com Wigan town centre showroom 01942 205555

9
NEW NEW
NEW
WARMINSTER GROVE, WINSTANLEY £150,000
Offering a fabulous interior, this gorgeous 3 bedroom
semi-detached house is a must view.
SUNNYFIELDS, WINSTANLEY £139,995
Traditional semi-detached true bungalow tucked away in
a lovey & quiet cul-de-sac setting.
NEW
SANDY LANE, ORRELL £145,000
No expense has been sparred on renovating this
stunning stone cottage.
NEW
REEDSMERE CLOSE, NEWTOWN £130,000
A modernised 3 bed semi with stylish open plan living.
TO LET
GATHURST ROAD, ORRELL £120,000
A superb end terrace property with stunning open views
plus ample parking to rear.
ECCLESTON STREET, WIGAN £650PCM
Great sized three bed semi-detached property located in
a popular area of Wigan.

10
Trust in £1.7k fraud probe
s
Wigan hospital whistleblowers
helped anti-fraud specialists recover
more than £1,700.
In 12 months, a total of 28 matters were formally
recorded under whistleblowing procedures; 24
of which were probed by the Local Anti-Fraud
Specialist.
Of these, 13 were allegations about staff working
while claiming to be off sick. Five reports related
to allegedly making false representations, two
allegations of theft, two allegations of abuse of
power by an individual and one allegation of salary
overpayment.
The allegations led to one matter resulting in
money retrieved with no action as the individual
Wigan based
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had left the Trust, and three matters were resolved
as the employees resigned ahead of any evidence
identified or action required.
The Wrightington, Wigan & Leigh NHS Trust report
said: “The number of formal cases raised suggests
that staff still feel comfortable to raise matters.
Although at times evidence is not always found to
progress concerns, particularly in matters referred
to the Anti-Fraud Specialist, there is no evidence to
suggest there is malicious intention by individuals
but rather to ensure malpractice is not occurring.
We are always grateful of those staff who are willing
to report a concern they are worried about.
“Freedom to Speak Up/Raising Concerns and
Whistleblowing continues to be part of the National
NHS agenda and WWL continues to respond
proactively. “
Beautifully furnished
Stone Cottage
Holiday Let
– sleeps up to 4
Situated near Sedbergh,
in the Yorkshire Dales,
and also within easy
reach of the Lake District
Children & pets welcome
Call 01942 216 058 / 07792445257
E-mail janemillthrop@yahoo.co.uk
www.millthropcottage.co.uk

11
Players’ walk on TV part
Walking footballers from Wigan
graced primetime TV.
Wigan Walkers were shown on Sky Sports at an over
50s session, which is provided by Inspiring Healthy
Lifestyles in association with Wigan Council.
The team, sponsored by Age UK, have won regional
and national trophies, including representing Wigan
Athletic Community Trust, and have successfully
applied for National Lottery Funding.
In three years, Wigan’s first walking football team
has grown in popularity with even more exfootballers
putting on their boots once more.
Wigan Walkers member Paul Carr was so inspired
by the rapidly growing sport, he decided to get
involved at a national level, as chief executive of the
WFA.
“Being a member of Wigan Walkers, I know how
passionate the Wigan players are about the sport.
Orrell flats underway
Work on former Orrell civic buildings has begun to
convert them into flats. The ex-council offices on
Orrell Road have been empty for five years since
several older premises were closed by the local
authority to make way for new life centres. In
2015, the building was sold at auction for £400,000
and Robin Park Lettings was given the green light
soon after to convert the property into four flats.
Permission was also granted to build 13 houses
at the back as part of the same application. The
site, which was the Orrell recycling centre, was
controversially closed by the council six years ago.
And following the closure of Frog Lane tip, – which
is also being made into a housing estate – residents
need to make a 15-mile round trip to Kirkless tip in
Ince.
The sessions at the Soccerdome are truly inspiring
and I couldn’t think of a better group to help
promote the sport.”
For more information about Wigan Walkers FC visit
http://wiganwalkersfc.co.uk/
£10 OFF*
any colours
with Lauren
* On production of this advert; offer expires 25/11/2017
Every Generation
Please book appointments on
01942 223 129
Every Generation, 259 Orrell Road, Orrell WN5 8NB

12
Peter celebrates 50 years
A rotarian from Up Holland has been
honoured for 50 years of service.
At a lunch meeting recently, Wigan Rotary president
Gwyneth Millard presented Peter Ratcliffe with his
Long Service Certificate to celebrate half a century
years of membership of the Wigan branch.
He became president in 1979 and his over -riding
theme was fellowship within the Wigan Club and
District 1280.
In 1981, he led the Group Study Exchange Team
from District 1280 to Japan in 1981.
A few years ago, Peter was presented with his second
Paul Harris Award as further acknowledgement
of his continued dedication and service to Rotary.
In actual fact he is the holder of four Paul Harris
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Fellowships. He was also awarded the Rotary
Foundation Citation for Meritorious Service by the
District, when he was active at district level.
Married to Jean with four daughters and seven
grandchildren, he worked in quarrying in Up
Holland and is a very keen gardener; magnolias and
rhododendrons being his greatest interests. He
has created a garden with collections of plants and
trees which he opens to fellow Rotarians and others
twice a year when blooms are at their best.
Peter said:” I will be content with memories of a
year in which we all enjoy our Rotary and our Wigan
fellowship, and a year in which we made new and
lasting friendships”.
Peter went on to pay tribute to the”terrific support”
he has always had from his wife who has backed
him up and helped in every way possible through
all their married life.

13
We are celebrating our
25th Birthday
Christmas Gift Sets now available instore
Check our website for further details
Expressions Of Beauty
01744 894214 www.expressionsofbeauty.co.uk
161, Main Street, Billinge, WN5 7PA

14
Allotment group’s growing success
St. Teresa’s Allotment Group (STAG) is looking
for new members as plots become available.
It was set up on farmland owned by the parish
church in 2011, with 36 plots to members on
College Road, Up Holland. The idea came from
St Teresa’s Church to promote food growing
and its health benefits within the parish. The
church approached the Community Food
Growing project and they have been working
closely together, as well as the residents who
volunteered on the Steering Group to plan the
site and get it up and running.
Anyone interest in joining can contact Graham
on 01695 632372 for further information.

15

16
116 new homes for village?
Over 100 new homes could be built
in Up Holland.
Official proposals have been unveiled by Morris
Homes Ltd to build on land at Chequer Lane, near
the M58 and adjoining Tower Hill Road.
The application to West Lancs Borough Council
is for 116 homes, in a mix of “mews” and semi
detached properties with three or four bedrooms.
However, some people are not happy. One letter
to the council’s planning department says: “You
will no doubt be aware of local residents’ concerns
from the previous Wain Homes development on
Chequer Lane - this planned development is twice
that size and is going to have an ever growing
negative impact on the small village of Up Holland,
putting further strain on local services. Lack of
parking in the village is a big problem; doctors,
dentists and schools are still finding it difficult to
cope with increased demand. Businesses such as
shops, garages and pubs have all closed in the last
few months so no commercial improvement has
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17
Christmas Competition
WIN £500
voucher for
been realised in the village as promised by previous
plans and developments. What will be different this
time?”
Another resident wrote: “This massive new build
will look totally out of place in a semi rural district
which has a lot of problems with ground water run
off when it rains for long periods - water breaks out
on to the footpath on Tower Hill Road and flows
back towards Chequer Lane. There is also problems
with the drains at the bottom of Chequer Lane
down by the brickworks which floods when we
have heavy rain. So trying to add to a sewer that
can not handle the flow of water now will only lead
to more problems.”
But Morris Homes is bullish about the positives of
development: “The Development of this site has
been guided by a simple and robust vision, which
has evolved through the masterplanning process.
This vision is to create a unique design led solution
which responds to the needs and characteristics of
the area and the site forming a reflective identity of
the local area.
“An attractive gateway to the scheme is created off
Chequer Lane with the two arrival plots fronting out
onto the main road network and proposed green
space. Not only does this create natural surveillance
it creates a gateway to the scheme by the proposed
built form and enhanced boundary treatments.
“The proposed scheme fits well with the existing
urban grain, with the street pattern connecting and
reflecting the existing patterns that surround the
site.”
A final decision is due soon.
Just answer this question:
In which town are OD’s stores located?
To enter the competition, visit www.locallife247/
freestuff and click on competitions.
The entrant must also follow one of OD’s social
media platforms, ie Facebook, Twitter or Instagram
and then share the competition post, tag 3 friends
and OD’s into the status. This must be done before
the draw on Friday 15th December 2017.
The voucher must not be used in conjunction with any other offer.
The voucher must be spent in one visit before 23/12/17 at any of
OD’S stores (not online). Employee or families of Local Life 247 Ltd
or OD’s are not allowed to enter this competition.
LocalLife

18
Groups in £3k giveaway
The latest tranche of cash
was released from the local
fundraising group Saturday
Breakfast Community
Fundraisers earlier this
month to local community
organisations.
Just under £3,000 was donated,
which represented the profits from
the February-June 2017 period at the
pop-up breakfast event.
The latest donations were £525 to
Bookcycle (pictured) for a storage facility at their
Orrell branch, £700 for Phoenix Friends, the PTFA
at Upholland High, to create a memorial garden at
their site on Sandbrook Road, £920 for Junior Latics
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19
to install a defibrillator at Bankes Avenue in Orrell
and to pay for first aid kits, £401 to Billinge Junior
Athletic and £447 to Friends of Greenslate Water
Meadows to purchase a brushcutter for use in Orrell
Water Park.
Saturday Breakfast, which now operates from
Greenslate Farm in Billinge every Saturday, has
now donated over £7,000 to local community
organisations since its launch in March 2016. The
group is made up of around twenty-five volunteers
of all ages, who work on a rota basis at Greenslate
Farm’s brand new cafe between 9am-11.30am on
Saturdays.
Much of the food served is supplied at discounted
rates from H Greaves Butchers in Up Holland and
Windy Arbour farm shop in Billinge, and the group
is very grateful for the invaluable support of these
two local businesses.
New volunteers are always welcomed; for more
details email sallyb@locallife247.co.uk.
New U3A group
A date has been set for the official launch of Wigan
University of the Third Age (U3A). The new group
will gather on Wednesday, November 15, at 10am
at The Edge, Southgate, Pottery Road, in Wigan. The
University of the Third Age is an international group,
which provides opportunities for people to make
new friends and take part in new interests. Stephen
Corless, who is behind the new Wigan branch, said:
“I know there are a lot of people around my age and
older itching to get involved in something like this.
Everyone is welcome to come along to the launch
meeting.”
For more information, contact Stephen on 07981
976 904.
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20

21

22
Hall to be
sold?
Billinge’s Public Hall could be sold off
for housing, it has emerged.
Earn extra
cash!
Local Life require distributors
for the following areas;
Winstanley
Melrose Drive estate
Orrell
Shelley Drive estate
Pemberton
Valley Road/Marina Drive estate
Up Holland
Hallbridge Gardens estate
Dorchester Road estate
Distributors typically work for 2-3 hours
every 8 weeks. Applicants must be aged
13+ and be fit, enthusiastic and reliable.
Interested?
Please email your name, address,
landline number and date of birth to
sallyb@locallife247.co.uk
LocalLife
Parish councillors are considering the long-term
future of the pre-fab building on Pingot Road.
One of the options, which went out to public
consultation recently, is to sell the building and find
a different location for meetings.
Billinge Chapel End Parish Council said that the
building is likely to need “significant investment” in
the long term if it was to remain open.
It added: “Although the hall is very well used, it
has a number of drawbacks. In addition to the
maintenance issues and the cost of this, it has
limited parking and is not in the most central
location for the village. As a result, the parish council
is considering whether there are other options and
whether more suitable buildings may be available.
“If another building were considered, the parish
council would need to sell the Public Hall. The
likelihood is that this sale would be to a developer
who would build housing.”
A resident consultation has now ended, and the
results are currently being analysed by the parish
council.
Free childcare
Working parents in Wigan and West Lancs are
being urged to check if they’re eligible for more
free childcare. Some working parents of three and
four-year-olds are now entitled to receive double
the amount, and can now apply for up to 30 hours
of free childcare each week in term-time, up to a
maximum of 1,140 hours each year. Visit www.
childcarechoices.gov.uk

23

24
Property
Supply and demand
by Alan Batt
The most recent set of data from the Land
Registry has stated that property values in
Wigan and the surrounding area were
5.79% higher than 12 months ago
and 13.02% higher than January
2015.
Despite the uncertainty over
Brexit as Wigan (and most of the
UK’s) property values continue
their medium and long-term
upward trajectory. As economics
is about supply and demand, the
story behind the Wigan property
market can also be seen from
those two sides of the story.
Looking at the SUPPLY issues of the Wigan property
market, putting aside the short-term dearth of
property on the market, one of the main reasons of
this sustained house price growth has been down
to of the lack of building new homes.
Alan Batt
Alan Batt is a member of The Royal Institution of
Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and has worked within
the Wigan property market for over 30 years.
Did you know that the amount of land ‘built on’ in
the entire UK is a mere 1.8%? This is made up of
1.1% of residential property and 0.7%
for commercial property. Now I am
not advocating building modern
ugly carbuncles and high-rise
flats in Haigh or Roby Mill, but the
facts are, because of 70-year-old
restrictive planning regulations,
homes that the youngsters of
Wigan badly need aren’t being
built. Adding fuel to that fire, there
has been a large dose of nimbyism
and land-owners deliberately
sitting on land, which has kept land
values high and, from that, keeps house prices high.
Now let’s look at DEMAND issues. After Brexit,
many experts thought that property values would
drop because of the uncertainty faced by potential
buyers. However, certain commenters now believe
property values may rise because of Brexit. Many
people are risk adverse, especially with their hardearned
savings. The stock market is running high,
but many people don’t trust the unpredictability
of the money markets. The thing about property is;
its tangible, bricks and mortar, you can touch it and
you can easily understand it.
Nationally, the value of property has risen by
635.4% since 1984 whilst the stock market has risen
by a very similar 593.1%. However, the stock market

25

26
has had a roller coaster of a ride to get to those
figures. For example, in the dot com bubble of the
early 2000’s, the FTSE100 dropped 126.3% in two
years and it dropped again by 44.6% in 9 months
in 2007. In comparison, the worst drop Wigan saw
in property values was just 19.74% in the 2008/9
credit crunch.
Despite the slowdown in the rate of Wigan’s annual
property value growth from 6.76% in 2014 to the
current 5.79%, it can be argued the headline rate of
property price inflation is holding up well, especially
with the squeeze on real incomes, new taxation
rules for landlords and the slight ambiguity around
Brexit. Factors such as an all-time low mortgage
rate and tumbling unemployment continue to help
support property values in Wigan (and the UK).
incomes
Rental
The rental market in Wigan actually deflated last year by 1%, compared to an increase of 2.1% in 2015 and
0.6% in 2014. Why did this happen?
The reason behind this change depends on which side of the fence you are on;
For landlords, George Osborne’s new 3% stamp duty tax for landlords meant that there was a huge upsurge
in the number of rental properties coming onto the market at the same time. The greater choice of rental
properties for tenants curtailed rental growth/inflation.
For tenants, the fact that salaries are not keeping up with inflation is the main factor as this means that tenants
have less disposable income to pay their rent.
A slight softening of Wigan property prices has compounded this. Figures from The Bank of England suggested
that first time buyers rose over the last 12 months as some were more inclined to buy instead of rent. The lead
up to the General Election in May didn’t help: after all people don’t like doubt and uncertainty.
Together, all of these factors played a part in the ongoing moderation of rental growth.
The simple fact is though, we aren’t building enough properties for us to live in. Both in Wigan, the North West
and the wider UK, long-term population trends imply that rents will soon be growing faster than inflation
again. Look at the projections by the Office of National Statistics for population estimates for Wigan Borough
over the next twenty years. The population in 2016 was 323,171 and the projection population for 2036 is
344,086 – an increase of 6.5% over 20 years.
The fact is that I see this as a short-term blip and rents will continue to grow in the coming years. With rents
only accounting for 29% of a tenants’ disposable income, the ability for most tenants to absorb a rent increase
does exist.
For more of Alan’s tips, guidance and analysis
on the Wigan property market, check out
www.wiganpropertynews.blogspot.co.uk

27

28
Love is in the air...
Do you know a local couple who have a great story to tell?
Maybe they’ve met in unusual circumstances, triumphed against the odds or just have a great story to tell.
We’re on the look-out for couples to feature in a forthcoming edition. They must be prepared to share their story
with readers, and have their photograph taken for publication.
Send us their contact details, plus a brief summary of no more than 200 words, to wigannews@locallife247.co.uk
Please only contact us if you have their permission. Anonymous suggestions will be discounted.
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29

30

31

32
Northern
exposure
David Sudworth talks to the ex-Winstanley student who returned
home to capture life in post-Brexit northern Britain
Eighty years ago, a middle class, London-dwelling creative type headed out of
the metropolis to chronicle the every day lives of people in the north.
George Orwell’s The Road To Wigan Pier remains hotly-debated in these parts. Did he
paint an unfair picture, or was he simply holding a mirror up to society at the time?
It’s a question which loomed large in Timothy Foster’s mind when he went his
own Orwell-inspired journey. Armed with his trusty camera, the now Londonbased
photographer went to seek out the people and places who would give an
unvarnished snapshot of life here.

33
High drama at Wigan rugby
Northern Soul at Newtown Working Men’s Club
Onlookers as the bomb squad moves in during a terror raid in Wigan

34
What made it all the more difficult is that, not only
is the 44-year-old from the area originally, but
some of the subject matter was really, really close
to home: “There’s a photo of my mum in there, who
suffers from post traumatic stress disorder, as well
as a photo of my mate Dan’s grave. He died trying
to medicate his mental health with alcohol until he
was found dead.”
Timothy, who went to Shevington High and Wigan
Tech, now has his work on show at The Turnpike
“People were stood there
with pints”
Gallery in Leigh. Taking around one-and-a-half
years to complete, it takes the viewer on a journey
through all facets of life in the locality.
Jo back from volunteering
He also stumbled on a rather large news story
almost by accident: “I was in Beech Hill and all of a
sudden heard that there’d been a terrorism-related
raid near the town centre. This was just a few days
after the Manchester bombing. I got there and
there were people all watching what was going on.
Some of them even had pints in their hand. It was
all a bit surreal! .
Rajesh, a third generation ice cream man, serves a
‘spugy blue’ in Beech Hill
Jonah, a Russian gypsy, chats to Alan
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Away team win at Newtown Working Men’s Club
Barry, a window cleaner, reviews a pie for his video blog

37

38
However, capturing ‘real’ life in the north didn’t
come without its challenges.
“In London, with it being a capital city, people are
used to being on camera. There’s people taking
pictures everywhere, so it’s part of everyday life.
But that’s not the case here, and the first thing a
lot of people want to do is pose or crack a smile,
which although completely normal in itself, also
looks staged. So you’ve got to get chatting with
them, and then almost catch them off guard if you
like. A lot of the pictures were taken with me using
the camera at hip height - so I was literally shooting
from the hip. You’re basically blagging but it’s only
because you’re wanting something which is as
accurate a portrait as possible.
“It’s a fine line because we all want to be liked, and
yet I know I’m producing work which some of the
subjects won’t like. So that’s a bit like a rejection,
“People thought I was
mad to go to Hag Fold”
but on the other hand, it’s also the price you pay
for honesty.”
It’s not the first time Timothy attempted to create
something like this. The germ of the idea came
some 10 years ago, but he felt that, post-Brexit, it
speaks more to people.
“As I’ve said, I live in London which voted Remain.
So there were lots of people, going round slapping
each other on the back, and then the result came
through.
“I went into Hag Fold and when I told people
locally that I’d done that, they thought I was mad.
But because I’m in London, I don’t know places by
their reputation up here so I didn’t go there with
any preconceptions. And do you know what, it was
great. I guess I’m afraid of confrontation but once
people knew what I was doing, they were fine.”
If there’s one word Tim can use to sum up the
area, it would be “defiant”. However, that doesn’t
necessarily come with positive connotations.
“It’s defiant in the face of adversity. It’s a bit like ‘do
you know what, we know it’s a poor area largely, but
we’re going to have a laugh.’
“In some ways that’s good, in other ways it’s not. It’s
an acceptance, and if people accept things, then
will they ever change?
“Orwell saw that in his own book, and he was also
very good at self-critique. I suppose I’ve done that
myself on this particular project.
“I’ve been asked a good few times whether I’d turn
this into a book. I’d love to so if anyone wants to
help me do that, please do get in touch!” he laughs.
All Roads Lead To Wigan Pier - Photographs By
Timothy Foster is at the Turnpike Gallery, Leigh
Library, until November 11. It’s free entry and the
opening times are Tuesday-Saturday, 10am-4pm.
For more information on Timothy, visit www.
timothyfoster.co.uk
“It’s still in that bubble, but what about the areas
like Wigan which voted to leave the European
Union? That was probably the catalyst and here we
are. I’ve spent thousands of my own money on it,
coming up every fortnight. But it was like an itch
you need to scratch.”
Timothy, who worked at the Wiggin Tree in his
younger days, also found that his time away
from the area actually made him a better photojournalist.

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40
Planning Matters
Orrell
9 Rugby Drive: Plan to extend dwellinghouse single
storey to rear (ref: A/17/84628/HH).
Winstanley
3 Havercroft Close: Plan to extend dwellingouse -
two storey to front and side, single storey to front
and rear (ref: A/17/84499/HH)
8 Kirkstile Crescent: Construction of pitched
roofs on exsiting dormers to front and rear (ref:
A/17/84566/HH).
5 Grebe Close: Plan to extend dwellinghouse,
two storey to side and single storey to rear (ref:
A/17/84582/HH).
16 Annesley Crescent: Single storey to rear (ref:
A/17/84594/PDE).
For more information on these plans, visit
www.wigan.gov.uk
Veterans help
Ex-services personnel are volunteering in an
environmental project to upgrade Abbey Lakes
in Up Holland. West Lancashire Borough Council’s
Parks and Countryside Ranger Service is working
with EDs Place to provide the scheme which will see
volunteers undertaking a programme of practical
works with the Rangers to improve the Abbey
Lakes site. Volunteers will be clearing existing paths
and building new ones, repairing fishing platforms,
tree management, drainage works and de-silting
streams.
New venue
The Orrell Eggcrafters Workshop will now meet
for 2017-2018 at St Lukes Parish Hall, Lodge Road,
Orrell. The group was previously based at Salem
Church, which shut recently, For more details
contact Wendy 01942 216552 or Sue 01942 518233.
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41

42
Where there’s a will...
‘Never put off ‘til tomorrow what you can distributed;
do today’ is one of those ancient sayings
that shouldn’t be taken literally, but
no matter how busy your life is, the
saying is a good way of emphasising
there are some things in life which
should not be continually put off.
Making a will, and keeping that
will up to date, falls firmly into that
category and is vitally important.
If you die without first making a will, the Rules of
Intestacy apply, and you don’t get to have a say
in how your money, property and possessions are
the law decides everything for you.
Knowing that you just did not make time to make
a will outlining your last wishes will
just add to the pain felt by your loved
ones.
Making a will ensures that those
you wish to benefit from your estate
when you pass away, actually do so.
All too often, death benefits those
distant relatives that the deceased
has neither seen nor cared about for many years.
If you have re-married or have children outside
wedlock, a will is imperative to protect the financial

43
Rachel Jane Taylor
a fully qualified solicitor will handle your will from
start to finish.
Prices start from £150 for a single basic will and £276
for basic mirror wills including VAT, but as a special
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their affairs in order the company are offering £18
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If you would like to make a Will or update your
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or assistance with family issues; you have had an
accident or you believe that you have suffered
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firm, RJT Solicitors in Marus Bridge, Wigan.
RJT Solicitors, 117 Atlas House, Caxton Close,
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position of your children when you die and indeed,
if you have young children a will can clarify who you
wish to look after those children if you are not here
to do so.
You can also spare your loved ones the pain of
having to decide on your funeral arrangements in
those few short days after your death by making
decisions in advance for your own funeral and
including them in your will.
Deciding when you make a will is a personal decision
but RJT Solicitors are here to help.
The company is headed by Rachel Jane Taylor, a
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44
Library hours could be cut
Library opening hours across West
Lancashire could be reduced.
A consultation is underway which would see several
local libraries open for fewer hours per week.
The only library which would see an increase is
Burscough, from 31 hours to 34. But Ormskirk
Library’s hours are set to be cut from 51 per week to
42. Parbold Library, when it reopens, would go from
37.5 hours to 34 while Skelmersdale Library would
reduce by one hour to 50 per week.
If passed, staff would be consulted in January and
the new changes would be implemented as of May
1. Lancs County Council chiefs say the new opening
hours being proposed are based on visitor numbers
to the library, and when they are used the most.
They claim it will lead to “a more equitable service
to communities across the county.”
There’s mention of Up Holland Library’s opening
hours in the consultation. However council bosses
say progress is being made towards deciding the
future of the library.: “Two community groups
that had previously applied for a community
asset transfer are now including establishing
an independent community-run library in their
submissions that will be considered by Cabinet in
the near future.”
An online survey is available to complete at
www.lancashire.gov.uk/haveyoursay, by clicking
on Consultations, then Library opening hours
consultation. Completed questionnaires need
to be returned to a Lancashire County Council
library by November 25. You can reply online until
November 26.
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45

46
Santa’s on his way...
It’s nearly time for Wigan Rotary Club
to accompany ‘Santa’ throughout
Wigan once more.
Gwyneth Millard, Wigan Rotary Club’s President
said: “We all look forward to this time of year.
Rotarians enjoy seeing the happy smiling faces
on children and parents alike and your donations
benefit so many people each year.”
You can look at the club’s website to see when
Santa will be nearby at www.wiganrotaryclub.org
For all other enquiries about the Carol Float routes
contact 07813 471000 or email wiganrotary1924@
virginmedia.com
Friday, Dec 1: Shevington South (evening)
Saturday, Dec 2: Santa at Standish Market
(daytime), Appley Bridge (evening)
Sunday, Dec 3: Shevington North (evening)
Monday, Dec 4: Tesco (daytime), Gidlow East and
Tesco (evening)
Tuesday, Dec 5: Tesco (daytime), Hawkley Hall
(evening)
Wednesday, Dec 6: Tesco (daytime), Goose Green
(evening)
Thursday, Dec 7: Tesco (daytime), Orrell South
(evening)
Friday, Dec 8: Sainsbury’s (daytime), Gidlow West
(evening)

47
Saturday, Dec 9: Choir at Grand Arcade (am/
pm), Wigan Town Centre collection
(daytime), Winstanley Pepperwood
(evening)
Sunday, Dec 10: Asda (10.30am-4.30pm), Standish
West (evening)
Monday, Dec 11: Standish North (evening), Tesco
(evening)
Tuesday, Dec 12: Swinley (evening)
Saturday, Dec 16: Tesco (daytime), Standish South
(evening)
Sunday, Dec 17: Tesco (daytime), Whitley (evening)
Monday, Dec 18: Tesco (daytime), Winstanley
Tanhouse (evening)
Tuesday, Dec 19: Tesco (daytime), Standish Central
(evening)
Wednesday, Dec 20-Sat, Dec 23: Tesco (daytime)
Wednesday, Dec 13: Almond Brook (evening)
Thursday, Dec 14: Tesco (daytime), Standish East
(evening)
Friday, Dec 15: Orrell North (evening)
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48
Railway users at Orrell station
are certain to have noticed the
transformation in their surroundings
over the past few months as the
Friends of Orrell Station volunteer
group have been hard at work in
their efforts to turn the station into
an attractive transport option for rail
users.
The neglected state of the station has made it
hard going at times for the twenty-strong group of
volunteers but a concerted effort is making a big
difference already.
Station facelift
Half a dozen wooden planters have been installed
and planted with bedding, the shelters have been
cleaned up and wooden barriers have been erected
at the base of the steep banks to reduce leaves
and other debris falling onto the platforms. Water
butts have been installed to collect rainwater
for the group to use. After installation of steps
on the Wigan-bound bank to aid movement for
volunteers, work is now underway thinning out the
undergrowth of the steep banks.
Headed up by Bernard Lundy, the ex-Orrell RU
captain, the group have so far been successful
in their efforts to raise funds to play to the
improvements. Northern Rail donated £1,000,
whilst the local pop-up breakfast fundraising group
Saturday Breakfast donated £500, and another
£1,000 has been raised from other sources.
And they were given another boost recently when
Wigan’s Bulldog Tools generously donated a large
amount of tools which will be put to good use.
Orrell scouts paid a visit to the site recently
to help out with planting and to place bird
boxes that they had made for the station,
and neighbours often lend a hand to serve
refreshments to the volunteers. The group
meets up on Tuesday afternoons at the
station, and occasionally on Sundays too.
If you’d like to become a Friend of Orrell
Station, then you can find out more about
the group by visiting the group’s Facebook
page, or you can email Bernard on bernard.
lundy@blueyonder.co.uk.

49
More roadworks
More delays are expected in Orrell because of
roadworks. There will be a lane closure on Gathurst
Road, near the Stag pub, on Sunday, November 5,
because of works being undertaken by Transport
for Greater Manchester.
Governors announced
Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation
Trust has announced the results of this year’s
election to Council of Governors. Alex Hilton is the
new governor for ‘All Other Staff’ while Howard
Gallimore is the new governor for Makerfield
constituency. Dr Corinne Taylor-Smith was
successfully re-elected to the Leigh constituency.
Tell Us Your Story!
Local Life is always on
the look out for news
stories from the local
communities we serve.
Are you raising money
for charity? Are you a
member of a community
group with something
to shout about? Maybe
you’ve got an unusual talent, or have a claim to
fame? If so, let us know and you could be appearing
in the next edition!
Simply email us at wigannews@locallife247.co.uk
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50
Bin changes cause issues
Up Holland and Roby Mill’s new green
waste collection regime is causing
some teething problems for council
bosses.
Fresh statistics show that recycling rates, the
number of missed bins and the number of
answered calls to West Lancs Borough Council’s call
centre have all failed to hit target for the past three
months.
And the average waiting time for calls to be
answered has shot up from 69 seconds in the last
part of 2016/17 to just over two minutes.
It comes after West Lancs council started charging
for garden waste collections.
A report to West Lancs councillors said: “The
successful launch of the garden waste collection
service resulted in increased call volumes. In
addition we have actively encouraged residents
to sign up online, rather than wait to speak
to an advisor, although this then counts as an
abandoned call, thus negatively impacting upon
this performance indicator. However, this strategy
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51
Sports award winners
Wigan’s sporting heroes have been
recognised for their achievements.
A number of teams and individuals took centre
stage at the 17th annual Believe Sports Awards held
at the DW Stadium, Wigan.
World class sport was also recognised on the
evening in the form of Wigan’s own Olympian
Jenny Meadows, making a surprise appearance
at the awards to receive her 2010 European
Championships silver medal, after being upgraded
from bronze in the 800m following an investigation
into doping offences of Russian athletes.
Winners were as follows:
Club of the Year: Leigh Genesis FC
Coach of the Year: Rick Atkinson – Wigan Wasps
Swimming Club
Wilf Brogan Unsung Hero Award: Mike Hack –
Astley and Tyldesley Cycling Club
Sports Achiever of the Year: Danni Williams –
Musuko Karate Academy
Volunteer of the Year: Pete Prescott – Leigh Amateur
Boxing Club
Disabled Sports Achiever of the Year: Daniel
Dawoud – GB Wheelchair Rugby
Team of the Year: Wigan St Patrick’s ARLFC U14s
Magpies
The Martin Lynn School Commitment to PE and
Sport Award : Garrett Hall Primary School, Tyldesley
Changing Lifestyle Recognition Award: Steven
Johnson – Leigh Leisure Centre

52
Outrage over factories bid
Makerfield MP Yvonne Fovargue has
hit out to developer plans which
show the scale and size of green
belt destruction of land at Bryn and
Winstanley.
The Greater Manchester Combined Authority
(GMCA) has placed 27,000 responses to the initial
consultation on the Greater Manchester Spatial
Framework (GMSF) into the public domain. The
consultation closed in January.
The allocation provoked uproar among residents
in Bryn, Hawkley Hall and Winstanley and following
a campaign by Ms Fovargue and the M6 South of
Wigan Action Group, over 2,700 responses (10% of
the total for the whole of Greater Manchester) were
submitted.
In a letter to the submission CBRE Ltd acting on
behalf of joint venture company, DB Symmetry, the
masterplan for the site north of the Junction 25 spur
road is laid bare. The commercial masterplan shows
6 units ranging in size from a footprint of 6 acres to
32 acres with access from the spur road roundabout
on the congested A49 Warrington Road.
Yvonne said: “The use of selective quotes to justify
the potential destruction of greenbelt is misleading.
“Let nobody be in any doubt, the Inspector’s Report
clearly stated that the benefits of the location were
not sufficient to outweigh the adverse effects in
relation to the Green Belt. He further reiterated that
exceptional circumstances to justify removal of the
land in question from the Green Belt do not exist.”
Winstanley Councillor Clive Morgansaid :”The sheer
size and scale of the masterplan will shock residents
in Bryn and Winstanley. We have faced considerable
development over the past decade and the A49
already suffers from congestion and I fear for
yet more traffic and air pollution on an already
overburdened local road network”.

53
Road plan takes shape
The clock is now ticking on proposals
to build Wigan’s new controversial
M58 link road.
An official application has been submitted to Wigan
Council’s planning department .
The plan is split into three parts:
- M6 J26 eastern roundabout strategic route
network;
- M58 Link Road (M6 J26 to Billinge Road,
incorporating Leopold Street;
- Pemberton Link (Billinge Road to Smithy Brook
Road).
Highways bosses have set an ambitious target of
having the road opened by 2020.
Part of the plan includes a proposal to relocate a
sports pitch at Orrell St James ARLFC, as well as
demolishing up to seven residential properties
including one dwelling located at 133 Brook Lane
and one social housing apartment block containing
six dwellings.
Papers submitted to planners say: “A congestion
study undertaken in 2010 identified the worst
congestion hotspots in the borough with the A577
Ormskirk Road/Orrell Post junction being one of the
worst.
“Traffic approaching the Orrell Post junction is
recorded to have some of the lowest average
morning and evening peak period speeds of less
than 10mph. In contrast general average speeds in
the morning peak on the roads around the centre of
Wigan, and those approaching from Aspull, Ince-in-
Makerfield and Worsley Mesnes are between 15 and
30mph.
“The scheme will enable the unlocking of a
major development site alongside substantially
accelerating the build-out rate of other allocated
development sites, adding to their viability within
the Borough of Wigan.
“The road will not only reduce congestion and
improve accessibility but also provide relief for
sensitive local pinch points, including Pemberton
town centre on the A577 - the current connection to
the M6 Junction 26.”
The planning application is available for public
comment until October 31 via www.wigan.gov.uk/
planning - case ref: A/17/84615/MAJOR.

54
Class from the past
This month’s Class from the Past is from Lamberhead
Green School. It’s believed this photo, submitted
by Sylvia Torney (nee Stirling), was taken between
1947 and 1950. Remember, if you have a photo
you’d be willing to share, contact us today by
emailing wigannews@locallife247.co.uk
Could you be one of tomorrow’s
outstanding teachers?
We are looking for individuals who are passionate about working with
younger children and have the potential to be outstanding teachers.
Join us at our open evenings at;
St Patrick’s Catholic Primary School,
Hardybutts, Wigan WN1 3RZ
Tuesday, 7th November
Tuesday, 5th December
Tuesday, 23rd January
Tuesday, 27th February
All sessions run from 4pm-6pm
Accredited
Study days at Liverpool Hope University will lead to a PGCE and QTS in primary teaching
For more information and updates visit www.wcpsd.org.uk

55

56
SUDOKU
WIGGLE
WORDS
CLUE: Keep schtum
Trace a path through all the
letters to find the word or
phrase that fits the clue.
K A T E
E I T V
T O T A
E E G R
2
8
4
6 5
4
1
9
5
8
3 1
7
6
4
8
5
3
7 1
1
9
1
• Scooters • Stairlifts
• Wheelchairs • Recliners
• Beds and lots more
Visit us at
Platt Street, Platt
Bridge, Wigan WN2 5DA
Call 01942 864000 and we’ll come to you!
www.millercare.co.uk

57
Sponsored By
LOGIC PROBLEMS
The local dance competition is on! Three couples
took part in the Disco, Jazz and Ballroom disciplines.
Each was won by a different couple and points were
awarded by the judges. Work out who won which
discipline, with how many points
and overall points.
CLUES
1. Couple 3 scored less points
than the winners in the
discipline with the second
lowest overall number
of points but more than
couple 1
2. The Ballroom winners
scored more points than
the Jazz winners but less
points than the Disco
winners.
3. The lowest number of
overall points were
awarded in the Jazz
discipline.
4. Couple 2 were not in the
discipline with the highest
overall number of points.
All the puzzle solutions are on page 100 of this magazine
WORD SEARCH
sparkler
fountain
fuse
whistle
rainbow
flare
salvo
bang
bonfire
comet
rocket
taper
dud
sparks
fish
WORD MIX UP
Unscramble the letters to make a word
beangr
nug prodew
hlewe
hotcu ppear
fealtrawl
leakrcc
uyg kewfos
deeplox
fastredluhnh
nomar neadlc

58
Health & Fitness
20 tips for keeping
illness at bay
By Jeananne Craig
OK, so there’s no such this as being TOTALLY immune to all illness. But
nobody can deny that some people fare better when it comes to the
dreaded winter lurgy than others.
Do you seem to catch every bug going, while your neighbour/best friend/colleague
seems to glide through winter snot and sniffle-free?
Admittedly, our immune systems are all built differently and other factors can come
into play (not least the type and amount of bacteria and viruses we’re exposed to),
but there’s also a lot people do to help keep those bug-fighting mechanisms in good
working order.

59
Here are 20 tips for keeping the winter bugs at bay...
1. Prioritise sleep
Treat yourself to an early night - studies have shown
that plenty of sleep helps the immune system to
function, while a lack of shut-eye can weaken it.
2. Manage stress
High stress levels can weaken the immune system.
So chill out!
3. Have a hobby
Having a favourite activity or pastime keeps us
active and boosts our happy hormones - helping us
to stay healthy and keep sickness at bay.
4. Get outdoors
Cooped up in an office full of germs all day? Tear
yourself away from the computer and step outside
for some fresh air.
5. Laugh!
Having a good chuckle will get your heart beating
and also helps reduce stress levels. So book those
comedy tickets, or switch on your favourite sitcom,
now.
6. Eat berries
Berries are a great source of vitamin C, a key coldbusting
nutrient. Note to self: blueberry muffins
probably don’t count.
7. Drink water
H2O is awash, if you pardon the pun, with health
benefits - and not just when it comes to hangovers.
It also helps flush out bad bacteria and can prevent
dehydration, constipation and kidney stones.
8. Munch some (proper) chocolate
It could help you fend off illness, because it contains
immune-boosting cocoa (the proper dark stuff, that
is; not the sugar-loaded milk and white choccy
treats). So what better excuse for a big slab of it?
9. Gargle diluted TCP
This liquid antiseptic can be used as soon as you get
the inkling of a sore throat. Just gargle (but don’t

60
swallow) TCP diluted with five parts water, twice a
day.
10. Get steamy
An oldie but a goodie. Hover over a steaming bowl
of water with a towel on top of your head to clear
the sinuses.
11. Hands to yourself
Keep handshakes to a minimum during cold and
flu season. How about a fist pump instead?! Failing
that, get yourself some hand sanitizer.
12. Try ginger
Ginger can sooth sore throats, reduce fever, and aid
circulation. What’s not to love?
13. Wash hands
Wash hands after using public transport. If you
take a train or bus to work, you’re leaving yourself
exposed to all sorts of bothersome bacteria. Tube
passengers, take note: research has found the most
germ-ridden line on the London Underground is
the Northern Line.
14. Take some Echinacea
This native American herb is known for its healing
qualities and is a popular choice for fighting the first
signs of cold and flu. Note, however, that it can lose
impact if used long-term.
15. Get garlicky
Garlic may not make you popular with your other
half, but it boasts compounds which help our
immune system fight germs.
16. Use sterilising wipes
Some exposure to germs is good for children, but
if you have very little ones who like to chew on
everything, rub their toys with a sterilising wipe
after a playdate to stem the spread of nasties.
17. Nip coldsores in the bud
Coldsores are a symptom of being
- and can leave you feeling -
really run-down. So keep some
coldsore-busting cream in your
desk drawer or bedside table,
and zap it at the first tingle.
18. Get a massage
Along with relieving stress, a
study found that participants
who had a 45-minute massage
had an increased number of
disease-defending white
blood cells.
19. Jump in the shower
Cold showers get the
blood pumping, help
reduce migraines and
strengthen immunity.
20. Eat sweet potatoes
These spuds contain betacarotene,
an antioxidant which helps
protect our immune system. Not only that, they’re
delicious. Tuck in!

61

62
Travel
Go Dutch in
Valkenburg
The Netherlands isn’t known for its hills, which instantly makes the town of
Valkenburg unique.
For it is in fact home to the country’s only hill castle. The castle, which dates back
to the 11th century, may now only be a ruin, but offers a fantastic views over the
glorious landscape of the Limburg region
Valkenburg aan de Geul is a small community which has long been a real tourist
magnet. People go there to discover the mines and caves with their
drawings that date back to Roman times.
Marl used to be mined there and today visitors can, on foot or on an
excursion train, explore the caves in which the Romans mined marl
about 2000 years ago.
Hattons are parking one of their coaches outside Marken Travel in Billinge for an
hour on Wed 08 November at 11am and again at 4pm. Come onboard to take a
look and feel free to ask the Hatton’s representative about any of their holidays.

63
Another cave in Valkenburg is the
Fluweelengrot which lies under
the castle’s ruins. This labyrinth
of tunnels was only discovered in
1937. It served the knights and the
castle’s inhabitants as a means of
escape in the event of the castle
being seized by enemies.
In Valkenburg you will also find
spa and wellness facilities, such as
Thermae 2000 where you can bathe
in a modern spa in over 40,000-yearold
water - and at a pleasant
temperature of 32 degrees.
If you travel to Valkenburg by train then you
should definitely look out for Valkenburg’s railway
station; it is one of the oldest railway stations in the
Netherlands.
There are two theme parks in Valkenburg: the
Valkenier family-friendly amusement park and the
Sprookjesbos (‘enchanted forest’) theme park. You
will get a thrill on the ghost train and rollercoasters
in the Valkenier amusement park and enchanting
experiences for younger children at Sprookjesbos.
For those wanting to venture outside Valkenburg,
there’s plenty of options.
Visit Valkenburg!
26th - 30th March 2018
£325 per person *
*based on two people sharing
4 nights half board at the historic Walram Hotel
Executive coach travel, door to door.
Free bar! (for 3 hours per night – local beers, wines & spirits)
Includes trips to; Monscau, Drielandenpunt, Maastricht
and the Nederlands US Cemetery
Contact us today to book your place...
Independent Travel Specialist
200 Main Street, Billinge, WN5 7PE Telephone: 01744 893291 www.markentravel.co.uk

64
Close by is Maastricht. In the early 1990s, its name
was never out of the news, thanks it lending its
name to a European Union Treaty which bedevilled
former Prime Minister John Major’s government.
Maastricht is one of the oldest cities in Holland, as
you will quickly discover when strolling through the
historic inner city. Churches, city walls, monumental
merchant houses and big squares merge seamlessly
with a comprehensive and varied range of shops.
Those interested in World War II will want to pay a
visit to the Netherlands American Cemetery. Its tall
memorial tower can be seen before reaching the
site, which covers 65.5 acres. From the entrance
visitors are led to the Court of Honor with its pool
reflecting the tower. At the base of the tower facing
the reflecting pool is a statue representing women
who have suffered loss. To the right and left,
respectively, are the visitor building and the map
room containing three large, engraved operations
maps with texts depicting the military operations
Taking you wherever
you need to go…
SWH Travel
SWH Travel
•Weddings • Airport Transfers • 8 Seater Minibus
• Reliable & Friendly • Private Hire Only
01942 222646 / 07930 243322
E-mail: haigh591@btinternet.com
Lindburg Checklist
Language: Dutch and Limburgish
Currency: Euro
Time: +1 hour
Beer: €3.50
Cappuccino : €2.57
3 Course Meal: €30
of the American armed forces. Stretching along
the sides of the court are Tablets of the Missing on
which are recorded 1,722 names. Rosettes mark the
names of those since recovered and identified.
For those wishing to venture further afield,
Monschau is around an hour’s driver over the
border in neighbouring Germany. Vibrant activities
within ancient walls, a medieval townscape with
idyllic half-timbered houses, narrow streets and
cobblestones, Monschau is a cultural centre and
one of the most popular holiday and excursion
destinations in the Eifel region.
And for those wanting a break from sightseeing,
there’s lots to do at Drielandenpunt. It’s name
comes from the Dutch for ‘Three Country Point’
- meaning you can visit three countries at once!
Part of the park covers an area where the borders
of the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium meet.
More than just being an important symbolic and
geographical spot, the tripoint also offers some fun
attractions.
Billinge-based Marken Travel has teamed up
with Hatton’s Travel to offer a five-day stay in the
Valkenburg area from March 26-30. The cost of
£325 per person (single person supplement of
£45) includes door to door service, executive coach
travel including courier service and four nights half
board a the Walram Hotel, 3hr FREE BAR..
For more information, contact Marken Travel at
200 Main Street, Billinge, Wigan, WN5 7PE, or call
01744 893291.

65

66
Win afternoon tea
for two!
Wigan’s first continental café, Patisserie Valerie, opened a couple of
weeks ago in the Grand Arcade and Local Life has vouchers to be
won for you to enjoy afternoon tea with a friend at this popular continental
café.
Patisserie Valerie currently operates over 145 stores and is renowned for
their indulgent gateau slices and patisserie. The new café is located within
Debenhams in the Grand Arcade shopping mall in Wigan’s town centre.
Patisserie Valerie’s newest café sees the continuance of the brand’s partnership
with famed brand Debenhams, and has created approximately 20 new jobs.
The new Wigan store offers a selection of grilled snacks for customers to
enjoy as they take a break from their busy shopping trips. This café also
serves Patisserie Valerie’s range of scrumptious gateaux and patisserie, which
customers can indulge in whilst they enjoy handcrafted coffee made by
trained baristas and also a range of loose leaf teas.
The Wigan store is also a site to order and collect celebration cakes perfect
for any occasion, and also wedding cakes. Customers can select one of
Patisserie Valerie’s signature gateaux or even opt to design their own using
the company’s innovative Create-A-Cake tool. Patisserie Valerie also offers a
bespoke cake service for birthday, wedding and other special occasion cakes
which can be discussed with a member of staff in store.
Customers can also enjoy the traditional Afternoon Tea (pictured). This
includes a selection of decadent finger sandwiches, mini cakes, patisserie
bites as well as plain and fruit scones, served with jam and clotted cream.
We have three Afternoon Tea vouchers to be won in our latest Local Life
competition. Each voucher entitles two people to sample Patisserie Valerie’s
afternoon tea. Simply answer the question below;
In which Wigan arcade is the new Patisserie Valerie located?
To enter the competition, visit our website www.locallife247.co.uk/freestuff
and click on competitions.
TERMS & CONDITIONS: Voucher expires 12 months from date of purchase. Must be used in one single transaction. No cash value. Must present
voucher to member of staff. Only valid for one Afternoon Tea for Two. Excludes prosecco option. Any additional items you may order will be
added to the bill, and must be paid for accordingly. Valid at any Patisserie Valerie branch that offers Afternoon Tea – please check website
for your local store. Cannot be used in conjunction with any other promotion. Please treat this card like cash as lost or stolen cards cannot be
replaced. Not valid in Selfridges concessions.

67

68
Financial Planning
Choosing your
Financial Adviser
Agood financial adviser is like gold dust. Like
your most influential teacher at school,
they should inspire as well as reassure you in order
that you can enjoy a better financial future. A poor
adviser will put their interests before yours and will
sell you a product you don’t really need and have
no interest in your future. It’s about them, their ego
and their sale.
Worryingly both advisers will be FCA registered, both
have at least a Level 4 qualification (it is now the
minimum standard to trade as a financial adviser ),
and both will sound plausible.
So how do you select the
right adviser for you?
The right qualifications
You want an adviser who takes professional
knowledge and development very seriously and is
completely independent. Look for an adviser who is
a Chartered Financial Planner or a Certified Financial
Planner - or is actively working towards these
qualifications.
by David K Barton
APFS Cert CII(MP),
Chartered Financial Planner
and Managing Director
These qualifications are equivalent to a university
degree and are the “Gold Standard” amongst
financial advisers and are an indication that advisers
have demonstrated that they are capable of dealing
with clients that perhaps have more complicated
financial planning requirements.
A clear plan
A good adviser will spend considerable time
helping you define your short, medium, and longterm
objectives, and will then create a financial plan
to meet those objectives, ensuring that account is
taken of tax-efficient planning such as pensions,
and considering estate planning too, if that is a
priority. You can be pretty certain that events won’t
turn out exactly as the plan indicates and your
adviser should review and update the plan on a
regular basis.
Relationships count
Your relationship with your adviser is absolutely key.
Ask yourself whether the adviser really cares about
you, genuinely wants you to reach your goals, and
is willing and able to challenge you along the way.
And finally, fees
Fees should be open, transparent and fair. Given that
a good adviser could potentially make a difference
of many thousands of pounds to your financial
position over time, we suggest that you base your
decision primarily on qualifications, approach and
relationship as opposed to price alone.
Should you wish to have a chat with one of our
financial planners please feel free to give us a call on
01257 423800. The initial meeting is at our expense
and of course is without any obligation.
Remember all investments can fall as well as rise in value so investors could get back less than they invest.

69

70
£500,000 boost for town centre firms
Town centre businesses have received a £500,000
boost. The cash injection will support small
businesses and start-ups with the focal points
in Wigan, Leigh and Ashton town centres. Each
business can access loans of up to £10,000 and
grants of up to £2,000 from Wigan Council. To play
their part in The Deal business will need to do things
like employ apprentices, offer local companies the
opportunity to be suppliers, pay business rates
on time and volunteer in the local community.
Applications for the Business Booster and Business
Deal can be submitted via www.wiganworks.com
Construction costs rise
Rapidly rising construction costs
could impact on public sector
projects, Wigan Council chiefs have
warned.
They said that the cost of building is now outpacing
the rate of inflation, due to an improving economy.
This could have a knock-on effect particularly on
larger-scale schemes in the pipeline.
A report to councillors on the indicative financial
picture for the next financial year also spelt out
some other issues the authority may face.
They include increased insurance claims, which
are an omnipresent risk but “it is assumed that the
current level of resources within the insurance fund
will be sufficient. The provision has been actuarially
assessed and is deemed adequate.”
The reports continued: “Dividends from Manchester
Airport Group MAG are included at a prudent level
within the budget. However there will always
be a risk that dividends reduce year on year.
The prospects for MAG continue to be positive
nonetheless to mitigate the risk the budget will be
based upon the previous year’s dividend. Property
rationalisation is integral to our efficiency plans.
As plans develop there could be a reduction in the
council’s asset base.”
Wigan awards are the business
The scene is set for this year’s Wigan Business
Awards. The event will be held on Friday, November
17, at the DW Stadium, Loire Drive, Robin Park. A
spokesman said: “This is the perfect event for local
companies to invite valued clients and colleagues
to celebrate with fellow professionals from the local
business community in Wigan. During the course of
the evening we will be awarding local businesses in
nine categories including Business of the Year.”
Costs are as follows - individual seats: £50 plus
VAT for members/£70 plus VAT for non-members.
Tables of 10: £450 plus VAT for members/£630 plus
VAT for non-members. A discount of one free place
will be offered when you purchase a table of 10. To
book, call Vicki Kerr on 0161 393 4342 or visit www.
gmchamber.co.uk by November 16.

71
Award for firm
A local company has been rewarded
for its hard work and determination
at a London awards ceremony.
Brownlow Utilities, an energy consultancy firm
based at West Lancashire Investment Centre off the
M58,was voted ‘Regional Consultancy of the Year
2017’ at the Energy Live TECLA awards in the capital.
The company was shortlisted in the ‘Consultancy
of the Year’ category alongside 10 other energy
consultancies from across the UK, sponsored by
British Gas Business.
But it wasn’t just turnover or size the company
was judged on, but quality of customer service,
knowledge, growth, trust and innovation.
Brownlow surpassed competition in the North West
category demonstrating their openness, honesty
and transparency is the best way to operate in a
challenging market.
The team has gone from strength to strength
since Brownlow’s inception in 2013, driven by
a commitment and passion to add value to the
business, and in the process delivering appropriate
energy solutions in cost-effective ways.
Heinz plan
H J Heinz Co Ltd has applied to Wigan Council for
permssion to construct a new detached sub station
building at its Kitt Green plant.
It poised questions about a company’s commitment
to clients, their level of industry knowledge and
experience, transparency of fee structures and staff
support and development.
Shaun McClarnon, Managing Director said: “We
enjoy helping businesses manage their energy
better and strive to make them competitive and
compliant in the most efficient and effective way.”
Holly Langtree
BAHons
Graphic Designer & P hotographer
- Graphic Design
- Illustration
- Branding
- P hotography
- Social Media
- Print
- Invitations
- Greeting Cards
- Logos
- Creative Thinking
No sex please...
West Lancashire Borough Council has approved a
revised Sex Establishments Policy which continues
the authority’s approach of setting a limit of zero
for any such premises. A public consultation was
held on the revised document to ensure that it
continued to reflect current opinion.
@
hollangtree@gmail.com
Freelance graphic designer
opening doors for you!
Creating a professional image using imagination...
Hl design
07525013128
“Call for no obligation.”

72
Business View
Soften the pain
by Chris Alcock - CMA Accountancy
Buy to Let landlords have been hammered by
the government in the past few years.
Stamp duty has been raised on second properties,
and the government now plans to restrict individuals
on claiming mortgage interest as a cost against their
buy to let properties.
The changes will work as follows:
2017/18 - 75% of the interest can be claimed in full
and 25% will get relief at 20%
2018/19 - 50% of the interest can be claimed in full
and 50% will get relief at 20%
2019/20 - 25% of the interest can be claimed in full
and 75% will get relief at 20%
2020/21 - 100% will get only 20% relief
For a 20% tax payer that’s fine but for higher rate
taxpayer it will have a big impact and will lead to them
paying a lot more tax.
So how can a landlord soften the pain of these
changes?
Here are just a few ideas….
• Pension Contributions – Pension Contributions
currently receive tax relief at your rate of tax – 20%
to 45% – so if you are a 40% tax payer you would
need pay half the value of your 20% restricted
interest into your pension to mitigate the extra tax
• Change of Use – would your Buy to Let be able
to be converted to a Furnished Holiday Let or
another type of commercial property on which the
restriction won’t apply?
• Increasing the Rent – Could you charge more to
cover the extra tax?
• Spouse Income Tax Elections – If the property
is jointly held HMRC assume a 50/50 split of the
income but you can change this if one of you is
a basic rate taxpayer and the other a higher rate
taxpayer.
• Tax Deductible Expenses – Many landlords
overlook expenses, but with better guidance and
organisation, you could claim for a lot more. e.g. use
of your home, motor expenses, computers, travel
and subsistence, phone costs etc.
We will be able to advise you about these and other
tax reliefs that you have not considered. Call us today
for a free, no obligation, chat about the options
available and how CMA can help you.
Contact Details:
01257 255521
info@cma-accountancy.com
www.cma-accountancy.com
39 Skull House Lane, Appley Bridge, WN6 9DR

73
SA deadline
Benefits
Do you need
help and
guidance with;
AE
VAT
SA
Company Accounts?
Auto Enrolment?
Self Assessment?
Cloud-based Software?
Payroll Services?
15% off
standard fees for
Self-Assessment Returns
in November!
Please quote reference
“Local Life Nov 15%”
to qualify for this rate.
You must contact us by 30/11/17
Call CMA Accountancy today
www.cma-accountancy.com
info@cma-accountancy.com
Skull House Lane, Appley Bridge. 01257 255521

74
Food & Drink
Not just WilliamBy Ella Walker
William Sitwell is adamant: “British food
culture is the greatest food culture in the
world.”
The writer, TV presenter and food critic puts it down
to the fact even the most provincial UK high street
still overflows with eating options, from Chinese
and Thai, to French, Italian and Indian.
“We welcome food culture with open arms, we
absorb it into our daily lives. What we do - which
probably annoys people from overseas - is that we
actually end up doing their food better than they
do.”
As a MasterChef judge and editor of Waitrose
Kitchen magazine, he’s well placed to adjudicate.
And who better to pull together The Really Quite
Good British Cookbook, a new collection of
recipes from “about 100 of our finest chefs, cooks,
bakers and food heroes”. It features established
talents (Nigella, Ottolenghi, Stein) and rising stars
(Gill Meller, Rosie Birkett), as well as home cooks,
restaurateurs, celebrities and innovative producers.
Sitwell’s job was to “corral” the lot of them - via
phone, email, Twitter and accosting them at parties
- and get them to hand over recipes for dishes they
make their loved ones.
He even got former Waitrose Kitchen columnist,
Pippa Middleton, to contribute.
“I hired her [originally] because she represents a
particular style of eating and of entertaining,” says
Sitwell, 47. “She’s a great cook. All of the ideas were
hers, all the recipes we ever published were hers,
we would tweak and test them, she would come
in, try them out, make comments, and she always
impressed me with her genuine enthusiasm and
hard work. I like her enormously, so I’m very lucky
that we’ve got one of her recipes in here.”
You won’t find a recipe from Sitwell himself in it,
however - he thought the idea “a bit self-regarding”
- though he is a keen cook.
“On a Friday night, the default thing I do for the
people I love is roast chicken, dauphinoise potatoes
and a crunchy green salad with French dressing, and
a nice bottle of Chardonnay,” he muses. “I like doing
braised belly pork in cider, preferably 3Cs cider -
which is the cider I make. I’m quite
good at roast potatoes, especially
if they’re a bit burnt at the edges.”
The father-of-two is constantly
The Really Quite Good British Cookbook, published in hardback by Nourish, priced £25.

75
nibbling on something (today it’s an Honest Burger
for lunch, then chocolate and rhubarb sweet-things
snaffled from the Waitrose magazine test kitchen),
but he says: “I was a very bad eater when I was small,
I never ate anything.”
He’s no food snob (“I used to love Kentucky Fried
Chicken - with a glass of milk”) and proclaims a love
for Iceland’s frozen fish soup.
But after 17 years in food journalism, Sitwell - who
now lives in Northamptonshire and has just been
shortlisted for a Fortnum & Mason Food and Drink
Award for his non-fiction work, Eggs Or Anarchy -
has developed a few dietary guidelines, including
eating less as the day goes on, cycling everywhere
and avoiding food trends.
“I eat when I’m hungry and what looks good, and I
try and eat widely - and I certainly eat very greedily,”
he says.
Fortunately, greediness is essential if you’re filming
MasterChef; Sitwell and his fellow critics, the likes
of Jay Rayner and Tracey MacLeod, are served any
number of two-course meals back-to-back by
anxious contestants.
“You get a whole grown-up portion - if you like it,
you eat all of it,” Sitwell explains. He adds with a
laugh that they do tend to share good dishes with
the crew, however, “they devour the crumbs we
leave, so sometimes, just to annoy them, we eat
everything!”
When asked what fascinates him about his field,
Sitwell is irrepressibly passionate...
“Food is about politics, it’s about history, culture; it’s
about entertaining, it’s about love, it’s about survival,
it’s about poverty, it’s about pleasure, hedonism, it’s
about staying sober, it’s about getting drunk.
“It’s a subject that covers every aspect of human life.”
Cheers to that.
Inspired to reacquaint yourself with proper British
cooking? Try one of these three recipes...
The Simms Road Inn
532 Garsw od Rd, WN4 0HX
Festive Food
At
Simms Road
Garswood
A Traditional Home Cooked Christmas Meal
We have Vegetarian and Gluten Free Options please ask when booking
Price Includes a
Full Bottle of Prosecco
per couple when booking
a 3 course with deposit
before Dec 1st
£16.95 2 COURSE £19.95 3 COURSE
Menu Available From 1st Dec to 22nd
Lunch and Evenings BUT not Sundays
Lunch Time 12 – 2pm / Evenings 6- 8 pm
(please note we close at 3pm on weekdays)
01744 894 246 / Menu Online simmsroadinn.co.uk
£10 per head ( Non Refundable ) deposit when Booking

76
Overnight Roast Pork Belly
with Pears & Thyme
by Hardeep Singh Kohli
Method
Set the oven to the highest setting. Pop the kettle
on. On buying your belly, have your butcher remove
it from the bone. Keep the bone and bring it home.
Also, have them remove the skin, having first scored
it in a criss-cross fashion.
Place the skin in the sink and pour boiling water
over it. Carefully dry the skin, thoroughly. Rub a
tablespoon of oil and then the sea salt into the
scored flesh. Place the skin in an oiled roasting tin
and put in the oven. It should take only 30 minutes
for the skin to become crackling. Remove the
crackling and allow to cool. Turn the oven down to
120C.
Serves 6-8
Ingredients
1 pork belly (2 1/2-3kg), bone and skin removed
3tbsp rapeseed oil
2tbsp sea salt
2 leeks, halved lengthways
2 carrots, halved lengthways
4 sticks celery, halved lengthways
8 peppercorns
12 bunches of thyme, of which 4 should be stripped
of leaves
1 pintperry (or pear cider)
5 firm pears (4 halved and cored, 1 finely diced)
Lay the leeks, carrots and celery in the bottom of a
roasting tin with the peppercorns. On top, lay the
rib bones, eight sprigs of thyme and then drizzle
a tablespoon of oil over. Tuck the veg in under the
ribs. Lay the pork belly on top, oil and drizzle the rest
of the oil, and scatter the remaining salt over.
Pour 350ml of the perry into the roasting tin. Cover in
tinfoil and pop into the oven for anything between
nine and 11 hours. 90 minutes before the end of
cooking, add the halved pears. Roast uncovered for
the final hour and a half.
Remove the pork from the oven. Carefully lift the
pork and the pears out and keep warm. Discard
the cooked veg. Add the remaining perry, deglaze
the tin and reduce the liquor by half. Immediately
before serving, add the remaining thyme leaves and
finely diced pear.

77
Holland Hall Hotel Wedding Fayre
sunday 29tH oCtoBer
opens 11am until 3pm
Come along and see our Wedding Suites set for a Wedding!
Professional Wedding Exhibitors will be on hand to offer advice
Come along and meet the Wedding Team who can show you around Historic
Holland Hall and discuss your Perfect Wedding Day!
info@hollandhallhotel.co.uk | Tel: 01695 624 426 | www.hollandhallhotel.co.uk
Christmas
Winter Wonderland
Christmas Party Nights throughout DeCember
Christmas Day
Christmas Family Party
Come and visit
New year’s eve
Contact Holland Hall to book or to request a Christmas Brochure
hollaND hall
HOTEL
2017

78
Nettles on Toast with
Pollack, Wild Garlic &
Poached Egg by Gill Meller
Method
Wash the nettles in plenty of fresh water. Remove
any tougher lower stalks. Drop the nettles into a
saucepan of salted, boiling water and simmer for
two to three minutes, until tender, then drain really
well. Return the nettles to the pan, add half the
butter and one tablespoon of the olive oil. Season
well with salt and pepper, stir and then cover and
keep warm.
Serves 2
Ingredients
250g fresh young nettle tops (foraged from the
garden or local park)
25g butter
2tbsp olive oil
2x150g pollack fillet steaks
1 small bunch wild garlic shredded (foraged from
the garden, local park, hedgerows and roadside - or
use 1 clove, crushed)
2 eggs
2 slices sourdough or good-quality country bread,
toasted
Salt and pepper
Set a large, non-stick frying pan over a medium
to high heat. Season the fish all over with salt and
pepper. Heat the remaining butter and oil in the
pan and when hot, add the fish, skin-side down.
Cook for three to five minutes, depending on its
thickness, then turn the fillets over and fry for one to
two minutes until the flakes separate when pressed
lightly with a fork; this indicates the fish is cooked.
Add the garlic to the pan. Spoon it through the
buttery fish juices; cover and keep warm while you
cook the eggs.
Bring a medium-sized, high-sided saucepan of
water to the boil. Twirl a spoon in the water to make
a mini whirlpool. Crack the eggs in, turn the heat
down to minimum and cook for three-four minutes.
Remove the eggs carefully with a slotted spoon.
Keep warm. Remember: the fresher the eggs - the
better they poach.
To serve, place a piece of toast on each plate. Divide
the warm, buttery nettles between the plates, top
with a piece of fish, followed by a poached egg,
then finally spoon over the garlic and any buttery
juices from the pan.

79
Make Merry at the
Robin Hood!
Celebrate Christmas with friends and family at the
Robin Hood, and choose from our indulgent and
imaginative festive menu which is available Weds to
Sat from the 6th to 23rd of December (Excluding 11th/12th)
Smoked Salmon & Prawn Parcels -Succulent
prawns in a marie rose sauce, wrapped in fresh
smoked salmon and served on a bed of kale.
Stilton Mushrooms - In a creamy Stilton sauce,
topped with a herb crust, served with crispy bread
and salad.
Duck Breast - Delicious pan fried duck breast, served
with braised cabbage, sweet potato mash and finished off
with a winter berry glaze.
Chicken Ricotta - Chicken breast filled with ricotta
cheese, served on a bed of sauté potatoes, with roasted
vegetables and a rich tomato and chorizo sauce
Beef & Bacon Casserole - Tender chunks of beef
slowly cooked with bacon, chunky carrots and shallots
on a bed of creamy mash.
Starters
Mains
Melon & Winter Berry - Fanned gala melon, a mix
of winter berries, lemon sorbet and a fruit coulis.
Parsnip Soup - Homemade parsnip soup, topped
with parsnip crisps, and with a warm bread roll.
Duck & Orange Pate - Homemade pate served with
cranberry sauce and warm toast, on a bed of fresh salad.
Festive Turkey Dinner - Traditional roast turkey with
sage and onion stuffing and all the trimmings
Fillet of Plaice - Oven baked plaice with a herb crust,
complemented with a white wine and prawn sauce,
served with new potatoes and seasonal vegetables
Nut Roast -Homemade nut roast, with a mix of
cashews, pine nuts, peanuts, onions and herbs, served
with winter vegetables, potatoes, with a red wine and
cranberry reduction.
Best
party in Orrell!
New Year’s Eve
FREE Hot Pot at 10pm
Free entry
Christmas Pudding
Lemon Drizzle cake
Cheesecake
Desserts
Chocolate Fudge Cake
Cheese and Biscuits
- (£2 supplement)
2 courses £16.95 3 courses £19.95
Having a Works Do?
Call 01942 511859 for details.
We can seat up to 30 people.
Robin
Hood
117 Sandy Lane
Orrell
WN5 7AZ
01942 511 859
www.robinhoodorrell.co.uk

80
Blackcurrant & Chocolate
Layer by Nikki Duffy
Serves 4
Ingredients
For the blackcurrant layer:
250g blackcurrants
A squeeze of lemon juice
Up to 100g caster sugar
50ml water
For the chocolate layer:
25g cocoa powder
50g caster sugar
100ml water
For the cream/yoghurt layer:
200ml double cream
200ml plain full-fat yoghurt
2tbsp caster sugar
To finish:
50g skinned hazelnuts
1 tbsp Demerara sugar
Method
Put the blackcurrants in a saucepan with 50ml water. Bring to a
simmer and cook for a few minutes, stirring once or twice, until
the fruit has broken down and you have a chunky, juicy mix. Push
this through a sieve to remove the currant skins and seeds. Add the
lemon juice to the warm puree, then sweeten it by stirring in caster
sugar. Start by adding 50g, then stir in more until the puree is sweet
but still tastes fruity and fresh. Leave to cool and then chill.
To make the chocolate layer, put the cocoa and sugar in a small pan
with the water. Bring to the boil, whisking constantly, then let the
mixture simmer for about one minute - again, stirring often - so it
thickens. Leave to cool and then chill.
When you’re ready to assemble the puds, put the cream, yoghurt and
caster sugar in a mixing bowl and use a hand-held electric whisk to
beat the mixture until it holds soft peaks.
Choose four wine glasses or tumblers. Divide half the blackcurrant
puree between the four glasses. Add a couple of spoonfuls of the
creamy mixture to each glass. Trickle on a layer of chocolate sauce.
Add a second layer of the creamy mixture, using it all up this time,
then finish the dishes with the rest of the blackcurrant puree. Chill for
at least a few hours - up to 24.
Shortly before serving, toast the hazelnuts in an oven pre-heated to
180C/Gas mark 4 for five to six minutes, until golden and fragrant.
Put the nuts in a pestle and mortar with the Demerara sugar and
bash together roughly so the nuts are broken up but not pulverized
(alternatively, do this in a food processor). Leave to cool, then sprinkle
over the puddings and serve.

81
Christmas
AT
THE
Boathouse
ChristMAs FAyre MeNu
available 1St-23rD DeceMber; tueS-thurS (12-3pM & 5-8pM) anD Fri-Sat(12-3pM)
2 Courses £16.95 3 Courses £19.95
StarterS
White Onion Soup (v)
Burnt Apple & Goats Curd (v & g-f)
Duck Livers on Toast
Camembert, Fig & Red Onion Tart (v)
Beetroot Cured Salmon
MainS
Traditional Roast Turkey
Bacon wrapped stuffing, goose fat potatoes & seasonal vegetables
Pan Fried Pheasant Breast
Fondant potato, savoy cabbage & chestnuts (g-f)
Oven Baked Hake
Roasted salsify, creamed leeks, spinach & sprouting leaves (g-f)
Cauliflower, Chestnut & Sage Cake
New potatoes, garden salad & cheese sauce (v)
DeSSertS
Boathouse Christmas Pudding with Brandy Sauce
Clementine & Gingerbread Trifle
White Chocolate & Cranberry Bread & Butter Pudding with cinnamon custard
Mulled Wine Poached Pear - amoretti crumb, rum & raisin ice cream (gf)
Cheese & Biscuits - Celery, homemade grape chutney & crackers
(Supplement £3)
Optional: Coffee & Mince Pies - £2.50
ChristMAs PArty Nights £24.95pp
3 courses, live music, supper and a Christmas night out to remember!
• Fri/Sat 8th & 9th December • Fri/Sat 15th & 16th December • Fri/Sat 21st/22nd December
Mill Lane | Appley Bridge | Lancashire | WN6 9DA
tel: 01257 252456
www.appleybridgeboathouse.com

82
Upload your event for FREE at
www.locallife247.co.uk/events
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events2go
U3A Variety Theatre Group
Friday, October 27, from 7.30pm & Saturday,
October 28, from 7.30pm
The autumn show promises to be ‘A Night to
Remember’ with a magical mix of memorable melodies
and crazy comedy. The community production is open
to everyone, and tickets are £5 for adults and £2.50 for
under 16s from 01695 623378.
St Teresa’s Hall, College Rd, Up Holland, WN8 0PY
Wigan Ukulele Band
Friday, October 27, 7pm
They say the best things come in small packages and
ukulele fans would have to agree. If this is right up your
street, head on down to St Wilfrid’s Parish Hall for an
evening of music. Tickets are £7.50 and include a sausage
and mash supper, but please bring your own drinks.
St Wilfrid’s Parish Hall, Church Street, WN6 0JT
Halloween Fancy Dress
Friday, October 27, 6pm-10pm
A new street food and drink event on the last Friday
of the month, but this Haigh Foodie Friday is all about
Halloween with delicious food and drink to tempt you.
Halloween costumes and empty bellies are strongly
advised! Haigh Woodland Park resident vendors will
be there and a mix of guest street food traders, and
Adventure Gold and Play will be open until 8.30pm. This
event is free entry.
Haigh Kitchen Courtyard, Haigh Hall, School Lane,
Wigan, WN2 1PE. Phone: 01942 828280
Halloween Weekend
Saturday, October 28, 10am-4pm, & Sunday,
October 29, 10am-4pm
There’ll be pumpkin carving with Cook and Foragers
every hour from 12pm–3pm at £3 per child. Flower
Cauldron making with AM Flowers and booking is
essential (01942 832340) £3 per child. Make your own
‘Ice Scream’ workshop and take home ‘DIY Sundae Kit’
with Holden’s Ice Cream Parlour at 1pm and 3pm for
£6.50, plus more!
Haigh Kitchen Courtyard, Haigh Hall, School Lane,
WN2 1PE. Phone 01942 828280 Website www.
haighwoodlandpark.co.uk
Fundraising Event
Saturday, October 28, doors open at 7.30pm
Get ready for some cool sounds of the ‘60’s and ‘70’s
courtesy of the Radar gig. Proceeds made will be split in
aid of Brick Homeless Wigan and Highfield Cricket Club
Juniors. There’ll be a bar, buffet, dancing and live music
of course including a support group. Tickets are £6.
St Matthews Parochial Hall, Highfield Cricket Club,
Billinge Road, Highfield, Wigan, WN3 6BL
Grease (PG) Wigan
Saturday, October 28, 21.50 (gates open at 20.50)
For an evening filled with 50s music and glamour, take
a car full to DW Stadium to watch the classic movie.
There’ll be food and refreshments available. £25 per
vehicle + 90p booking fee. Find tickets here www.
moonlightcinema.com
DW Stadium Official, Loire Drive, Robin Park,
Wigan, WN5 0UZ

83
Free Fireworks Display
Wednesday, November 1, 7.45pm
Get yourselves down to the free fireworks display at The
Poacher. Everyone is welcome to enjoy the sparkles.
The Poacher Winstanley, Holmes House Avenue,
Winstanley, WN3 6JA
Funk-Jazz-Soul Session
Friday, November 3, 9pm until late
November’s Friday session at Wigan Central is all about
Three Step Manoeuvre. The group came along in 2013
and have been writing songs, playing gigs and honing
in on their sound ever since. They share a love of the
classic organ trio line-up and music of funk pioneers
like James Brown and the Meters, jazz legends such as
Jimmy Smith and John Scorfield. Entry is free, and who
can say no to live music and a good pint?
Wigan Central, 1 & 2, Arch, Queen Street, Wigan
WN3 4DY. Phone: 01942 246425
Book Reading & Signing
Saturday, November 4, 11am
You can meet the stars of A Greyt Christmas Tail at
Waterstones Wigan. From 11am the in-store event will
include a book reading, colouring competition and
meet and greet with Ramsey and Blue. You’ll also be
able to buy a copy of the book and get it signed by
author Miriam Payne.
Waterstones Wigan, 6 The Grand Arcade, WN1
1BH. Phone: 01942 497095
Music & Song
Saturday, November 4, 7pm-8.30pm
The Salvation Army, Wigan Corps celebrates 130 years
of witness in Wigan. Liverpool Walton Songsters will be
coming to help us celebrate through music and song.
Tickets £3. Contact 01942 826461 or mark.v.lewis@
salvationarmy.org.uk for more info.
The Salvation Army, Wigan Corps, 2 Scholes, WN1
3QJ. Phone: 01942 826461
Space Framing Exhibition
Thursday, November 9, 6.30pm-9.30pm
Join the artists for a glass of wine and see their work
of originals and Limited Edition Prints which will be
available to buy should you be so tempted. For more
information contact Nigel Buckels on 01257 422258
Tuesday to Saturday 9.30am - 5.30pm.
Space Framing, 71b Church Street, Standish, WN6
0JT. Phone: 01257 422258
Orrell Remembers
Friday, November 10, 10.45am and Sunday,
November 12, 12.30pm
Residents are invited to two services at the war
memorial at Moor Road/Beeford Drive to mark
Remembrance Day once more. The first service on the
Friday will see many local schools take part, and the
second service will be on Remembrance Sunday.
War memorial, Moor Road/Beeford Drive
Musical Concert
Friday, November 10, from 7.30pm
St James W. St Thomas cordially invites you to a concert
of favourite songs and arias to suit all tastes. There’ll be
talented local opera singers performing for what is sure
to be a beautiful evening. Money raised from tickets will
go towards church funds and are priced at £8 for adults
and £3 for children under 16.
Saint James With Saint Thomas, 14 Hardman
Street, Wigan, WN3 5EZ
Radio City Christmas Live
Friday, November 10, 7.30pm
Don’t miss Kesha, Paloma Faith, Clean Bandit, Ella
Henderson, Ella Eyre, Louisa Johnson, and more. Tickets
are £28/£33.50/£83.50 (inc. administration fee), plus
£2.25 fulfilment fee per order. Find out more www.
echoarena.com
Echo Arena, Kings Dock, Liverpool Waterfront,
Liverpool, Merseyside, L3 4FP 0844 8000 400

84
Urban Revolution OCR
Saturday, November 11, 9am-3pm
Do you not mind getting a little muddy? It’s time to
get your war paint on and give Urban Revolution’s
obstacle race a go. From first timers to competitive
runners, and teen and kid’s races, you’ll tackle obstacles,
wade through Mud Zone and wade through water
before claiming a well-deserved drink in the event
village. It’s time for some muddy fun. Visit https://
endurancecui.active.com or www.facebook.com/
events/667931136737354 for more information.
Haigh Woodland Park, Copperas Lane, Wigan,
WN2 1PE. Phone: 01942 828280
Craft and Gift Fair
Saturday, November 11, 10am-3pm
It’s never too early to start shopping for Christmas. And
St Anne’s Craft and Gift Fair is offering various craft and
gift stalls, to do your entire Christmas shopping under
one roof. There’ll also be a Fair Trade stall, local craft
stalls and refreshments and light lunches available too.
St Anne’s Parish Centre, Church Lane, Shevington,
WN6 8BD
War Horse
Wednesday, November 15 to Saturday, December
2, possible 2.30pm and 7.30pm start times
You may have seen the film, but this theatre production
is even more moving. War Horse is an unforgettable
theatrical event which takes audiences on an
extraordinary journey from the fields of rural Devon to
the trenches of First World War France, in the hope of
reuniting Joey a beloved horse with his rightful owner
Albert after being sold to the Cavalry at the outbreak of
WW1. Tickets are priced from £13 to £75.90 for a special
package (all including a £3.90 booking fee) and can be
bought www.atgtickets.com/shows/war-horse
Liverpool Empire Theatre, Lime Street, Liverpool,
Merseyside, L1 1JE. Phone: 0844 871 3017
Southport Ultimate Party
Friday, November 17, 2pm, until Sunday,
November 19, 5pm
For an unmissable weekend featuring a mix of the
biggest and best party acts from the 80s, 90s and now,
head over to Pontins Southport. Acts include 5ive,
Lemar, Blazin Squad, Crissy Rock, The Harper Brothers
and more. The themes include Santa’s Coming on
Friday night and the Wild West on Saturday night.
To book call 0844 576 5944 quoting 48ML or visit
www.48hourparty.com
Pontins Southport Holiday Park, Shore Road,
Southport PR8 2PZ. Phone: 0871 222 0201
Wigan Central Beer Festival
Friday Nov 17, 12pm-12am; Saturday Nov 18,
12pm-12am; Sunday Nov 19, 12pm-10.30pm
Look no further for all your beer, ale, lager and cider
needs than Wigan Central’s own beer festival. There’ll
be 30 cask, 20 keg, and 15 different ciders for customers
to try. Some already confirmed breweries include
North Brewing Co, Beatnikz Republic, Rocket Brewing
Company and Fourpure Brewing Co. And entry is free
too! Try not to go too hard folks…
Wigan Central, 1 & 2, Arch, Queen Street, Wigan
WN3 4DY. Phone: 01942 246425
Manhunt Wigan
Saturday, November 18, 10am-5pm
Police were called to the Genesis Nightclub on Ravewell
Street to find the body of nightclub owner Jimmy
Johnson.... but who wanted him dead? Competing
with up to 100 other players on the day, your group
of Sherlock’s will need to track down the 18 virtualwitnesses,
eliminate suspects and rule-out murder
weapons - but do you have what it takes? Tickets are
£42 per team (£35 for an Earlybird ticket!)! Teams can be
between two and six. And there’ll be prizes up for grabs
too including fastest team; best fancy dress, best team
name, and best K9 Unit (For Dogs!)
https://manhunt.cluedupp.co.uk/wigan/

85
Capturing tender special moments to cherish and treasure
Newborn
Weddings
Christenings
Bingo
& Raffle
Special Parties
Please contact Eleanor T: 01257 792745 M: 07510 612926
Haigh Cyclo-Cross Event
Saturday, November 18, 9.30am-4pm
Time to get your spin legs on as the North West Cyclo-
Cross League is making its way to Haigh Woodland
Park with Kinesis Haigh Hall Super Cross. Cyclists of
all abilities are welcome, and British Cycling hopes
fans, riders, cycling enthusiasts and professionals will
take part and have a go. For tickets, please visit www.
britishcycling.org.uk/events/details/165846
Haigh Woodland Park, Copperas Lane, Wigan,
WN2 1PE. Phone: 01942 828280
X:site, Wigan for children
Saturday, November 18, 6pm-8pm
Bring your kids along to X:site for some silly games, live
music, videos, creative prayer, crafts, drama and bible
stories. It’s for school year 3 to year 6, and is only £1 per
child.
St Mark’s Church, Victoria Street, Newtown,
Wigan, WN5 9BN. Phone: 01942 241747
Vintage Farmers Market
Sunday, November 19, 10am-2pm
Amazing local artisan food and drink with a splash of
vintage home-made crafts! Greenslate Vintage Farmers
Market is on the 3rd Sunday of every month celebrating
great local produce from the North West and there’ll
be hot food and refreshments to keep you fuelled.
Admission is free.
Greenslate Community Farm, Greenslate Lodge,
Greenslate Road, Billinge, WN5 7BG 01695 229150
Introducing
Adam Bowles
Superb Vocalist
New Year’s Eve
A Night To
Remember
Tickets £10
Must be purchased in advance
Bar open until late
For details call Joe
07877 480 572
St James Social Centre
St James Road, Orrell, WN5 7AA
01695 623902
@StJamesSocialCentreOrrell

86
Charity Bike Ride
Sunday, November 19, 11am start time
In association with the Star Inn’s 10th anniversary
of new management, the Star Inn has organised a
25-mile bike ride with all proceeds going to Beating
Bowel Cancer. Everybody fit, able and willing are
welcome. To enter you’ll need to provide your full
name, address, email, mobile number and contact
cliff.bradshaw@cotopaxienergy.com Please donate to
the JustGiving page www.justgiving.com/fundraising/
thestarinncharitybikeride
Start place: The Star Inn, Roby Mill, Wigan, WN8
0QQ. Phone: 01257 253355
Christmas Market
Saturday, November 25, 10am
With an entry fee of just 30p per person, the Christmas
market at Standish Methodist Church offers something
for everyone with a chocolate stall, cake stall, tombola
and raffle and so much more. Prospect Brass Band will
be playing Christmas Carols, and Father Christmas will
be on hand to bring some cheer too.
Standish Methodist Church, High Street, Standish,
WN6 0HA. Phone: 01257 422598
Pirate & Rum Festival
Saturday, November 25, 8am-5pm
The Old Courts Festivals continue with The Pirate & Rum
Festival. The finest selection of weird and wonderful
rum from across the seven seas and live performances
from Mark Radcliffe’s “Galleon Blast” and the brilliantly
witty “Jollyboat” will warm and keep you swinging ‘til
the early hours. This is the first Pirate & Rum Festival,
with rum shipped in from across the globe for rum fans,
so it has to be good! A notorious gang of scallywags
have been secured to entertain fellow shipmates.
Tickets are £8+56p booking fee and can be bought
www.eventbrite.co.uk
The Old Courts, Crawford Street, Wigan, WN1
1NA. Phone: 01942 834747
Book-Cycle Christmas Fair
Saturday, November 25, 12pm onwards
There’ll be stalls featuring crafts, knitwear, local produce,
plants and much more. Plus a raffle, tombola with great
prizes and refreshments too! And children can feel like
they’ve gone to Lapland to visit Father Christmas in his
Grotto accompanied by his Elves!
Orrell Book-Cycle, The Library, 241 Orrell Road,
Orrell WN5 8LY. Phone: 01942 665646
Olly V Bruno Tribute
Sat, Nov 25, 8pm to Sunday, Nov 26, 12am
Experience the best of both these terrific acts with
fantastic Olly Murs and Bruno Mars tributes, as well as a
backing DJ. It’s just £10 for an evening in the Orrell Suite
featuring a private bar for guests!
Hungry Horse - The Mount Orrell, 160 Orrell Road,
WN5 8HQ. Phone: 01942 219740
Wigan Live
Sunday, November 26, 2.30pm-5pm
Head down to Wigan Central to see even more artists as
Wigan Live continues.
Wigan Central, 1 & 2, Arch, Queen Street, Wigan
WN3 4DY. Phone: 01942 246425
Christmas Market
Sunday, Nov 26, 12-4pm; Sunday, Dec 3, 12-4pm;
Sunday Dec 10, 12-4pm; Dec17, 12-4pm
Join the lovely people at Greenslate Community Farm
for fun, food, and festivities this Christmas. There’ll be
craft, food and gift stalls, music and live entertainment,
practical Christmas craft demos, and you can sample
festive food & mulled wine until you pop. The kids can
meet Santa in a winter wonderland, the whole family
can get involved in a Christmas treasure trail, and
there’ll be a special lantern parade on November 26.
Greenslate Road, Billinge, Orrell, WN5 7BG.
Phone: 01695 229150

87
Standish Christmas Market
Saturday, 2nd December @ 11:00 am - 8:00 pm
Deck the halls and get Santa on stand-by, because
Standish Christmas Market is back for a second year!
Standish Voice will be in the heart of Standish and
rocking around the Christmas tree with new stalls, new
acts and new tricks to kick off your festive season in
style. They’ll be opening the Market and two craft halls
at 11am, the stage and beer tent at noon and linking up
with Standish Live Festival in the night. Keep up to date
via www.facebook.com/events/1921823284810163/
or email StandishVoiceEvents@gmail.com for more
information.
Market Place, Standish
Victorian Christmas Fair
Saturday, December 2, 1pm-4pm
The people at the Church of St Thomas the Martyr,
Upholland are treating you to some Christmas
festivities with a Victorian twist. There’ll be stalls, gifts,
books, Father Christmas, Afternoon tea and so much
more. The event is free entry and welcomes the whole
family.
Church of St Thomas the Martyr, 7 Church Street,
Up Holland, Skelmersdale WN8 0ND
Charity Christmas Party
Saturday, December 2, 1pm-4pm
This ticket only event is £5 per child with lots going
on including raffles, tombolas, arts & crafts, Christmas
cards for sale, a bouncy castle and more. The first ever
Charity Christmas Party organised by Miss Wigan/North
West Beauty Community (and we’re sure a guardian
too!) will also be gifting a special crown for the best
dressed girl and boy on the day. All money being raised
is going to Wigan and Leigh Hospice, The UK Sepsis
Trust and Abbies Army. For tickets and info message
www.facebook.com/Chelseafletcher06
Christmas Parade 2017
Sunday, December 3, 4pm
This year’s Charity Christmas Parade is set to be bigger
than ever before. Watch the parade of lights make its
way through Southport as they make their way to
deliver 100s of toys to Springbrook Children’s Home.
Southport Pleasureland, Marine Drive, PR8 1RX
Christmas tree lighting
Wednesday, December 6, 6.30pm-8pm
Get the family all aglow around the Christmas tree
at Bispham Methodist Church. Father Christmas will
be there, as well as a raffle, the Trinity Girls Band,
carol singing and of course Christmas tree lighting.
Refreshments will be available in Church Hall.
Bispham Methodist Church, Orrell, WN5 7GL
Pensioners Christmas Quiz
Friday, December 8, 1pm-3pm
Come along to the Straw Bale Café at Greenslate Farm
on Tracks Lane in Billinge for a Pensioners Christmas
Quiz. Prizes include a Greenslate hamper, vouchers for
the Straw Bale Café and a bottle of wine. Entry is just £1
per person.
Straw Bale Café, Greenslate Road, Billinge, Wigan,
WN5 7BG 01695 632290
Christmas Market
Friday, December 8, 3.30pm-6.30pm
It’s all go at Bispham Methodist Church this festive
season. The Christmas Market will feature Father
Christmas, crafts, fresh produce, toys, activities for
children, a raffle, cakes, home-made marmalade &
jams, fancy goods, and Christmas gifts of course.
Bispham Methodist Church, Orrell, WN5 7GL
Central Park, Montrose Avenue, Wigan, WN5 9XL

88
Local Bonfires
& Firework Displays
Haigh Hall Boomin
Sunday, November 5, 4pm-9.30pm
A fantastic night of fireworks and fun for all the family!
Featuring live music from Wigan’s own brilliant and
popular band Boomin’ – plus The Trolls children’s show
and DJ/Singer James Norton. The evening finishes with
our fantastic fireworks finale from National Firework
Champions – SM ART Pyro. Gates open from 4pm
£1.50 parking. On the night prices; Adults – £10.00;
Children – age 5-15 years old £8.00 (under age 4
free); Family – 2 adults and 2 children £32.00
Haigh Hall Country Park, School Lane, WN2 1PE
Astley Bonfire & Fireworks
Friday, November 3, 6.30pm-8pm
Join Chorley Council in Astley Park for a spectacular
display with Astley Hall as the backdrop. The event
on Astley Park’s playing fields starts at 6.30pm, with
the bonfire being lit at 7pm and the fireworks display
launching at 7.30pm. There will be some food stalls to
grab some food if you need it. The event is free entry
but there will be collection buckets for the Mayor of
Chorley’s charities. Parking is in Chorley town centre,
and all council car parks are free after 5pm.
Astley Park, Chorley, PR7 1XA. Tel: 01257 515151
Highfield Cricket Club
Sunday, November 5, 6pm
Flickering bonfires and dazzling fireworks will light
up the night at Highfield Cricket Club as the town
celebrates Guy Fawkes Night on November 5
Highfield Cricket Club, Billinge Rd, Wigan, WN3 6BL
Lancashire Fire & Rescue
Sunday, November 5, gates open at 6pm
Experience bonfire night at what can only be the safest
location ever. The charity bonfire and firework display
at the Fire Service Training Centre in Chorley will be
a night to remember we’re sure. The gates open at
6pm, the bonfire is at 7pm, and the fireworks start at
7.30pm. Entry is £4 for adults, £2 for children. Food and
refreshments will also be available.
International Training Centre, Southport Road,
Euxton, Chorley PR7 6DH Tel: 01257 266611
Wigan RUFC Bonfire
Saturday, November 4
The bonfire will be lit at 6.45pm followed by a fireworks
display at 7.30pm. Admission costs £25 for cars including
all passengers, or £5 for adults and £4 for children on
foot. Family tickets are also available priced £15.
Wigan RUFC, Wingates Road, Leyland Mill Lane,
Wigan, , WN1 2SJ
Wildwood Days Mini Bonfire
Saturday, November 4, 5pm-7pm
If your family wants the fire and fun but none of the
fireworks, join Wildwood Days for a friendly, alternative
bonfire night. There’ll be hot spiced cider for adults,
hot chocolate and marshmallow toasting for all and of
course sparkler twirling. Tickets are £4+£1 booking fee
for children and adults, and under 3s go free. You can
purchase tickets here www.skiddle.com
Brinscall Woods Chorley, Lodge Bank, Brinscall,
Chorley, PR6 8QU Tel: 07870 788626

89
Halsall Bonfire & Fireworks
Sunday, November 5, 6pm
Everyone is invited to Halsall St Cuthbert’s School for its
annual bonfire party! There’ll be live music, BBQ, candy
floss, burgers, hot dogs and warm drinks – and the allimportant
firework display. Tickets are £1 for children
and £5 for adults.
Halsall St Cuthbert’s School, New Street, Halsall,
Lancashire, L39 8RR
Orrell Red Triangle CC
Sunday, November 5, doors open 5pm
Orrell Red Triangle Cricket Club’s annual bonfire and
firework display promises to be a spectacular event.
Doors open at 5pm, the bonfire is lit at 6pm and the
firework display starts at 7pm. There’ll also be food,
drink and a children’s funhouse too. Entry is £4, but
children accompanied by a parent/guardian can get in
for £1. The event is supported by your local councillors
and the Brighter Borough fund.
Orrell YMCA, 121 Winstanley Road, Orrell, Wigan,
WN5 7XE Tel: 01695 632275
YMCA ORRELL CRICKET CLUB
‘Proud to be part of Local Life’
Community Family
Bonfire & Firework
Spectacular
Sunday 5th November
Gates Open: 5:00pm
Bonfire Lit: 6:00pm
Fireworks: 7:00pm
Burger Van, Treacle Toffee, Children’s Fun House,
Bar and Hot & Cold Drinks
Entrance £4.00 Adults
Children £1 when with parents
Supported by your Local Councillors and Brighter Borough
Located off Winstanley Road, opposite Hewitt’s Business Park

90
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LocalLife
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91
sponsored by
Heath Charnock &
Rivington
by Niamh Ollerton
It’s hard to miss the television mast of Winter
Hill, but Rivington’s landscape has so many
hidden gems to explore. Avid walkers and enthusiastic
amateurs alike will have traipsed many routes around
Rivington, but my colleague Peter and I thought it was
time to get our walking boots a little muddy and start
off on our adventure.
We parked up in Knowsley Lane by Anglezarke
reservoir, and were off just before 11am on a bright
and sunny October morning; we headed off for the
stile into the field on the west side of the reservoir,
following the path round to Back Lane.
Pack your wellies or walking boots if there’s been a
shower as it’ll be puddles galore in the fields of that
you can be certain. But whoever tends to the field
made a makeshift cattle grid with wooden planks to
make the muddy crossing more manageable.
At Back Lane you’ll turn left then after a few yards
take the public footpath on the right, where you’ll
travel down a gravel path, accompanied by the
serene sounds of the River Yarrow before crossing
the footbridge over the water.
This leads you up onto Hut Lane, passing Olde
Stoneheath Court, built in the grounds of what was
Heath Charnock Isolation Hospital; now home to
modern stone houses.
In front of the properties are miles and miles of
green fields and trees as far as the eye can see, and

92
Length of walk: 5 miles
Difficulty: Medium
Accessibility: The route includes a number of stiles
and gates. We did the walk after some prolonged
rainfall and there was some very muddy sections.
OPENING TIMES
Rivington Bowling Club Tea Room: 11am - 4pm daily
Rivington Village Green Tea Room: 10am - 4pm daily
PUBLIC TRANSPORT
By Bus (Stagecoach)
From Chorley, Bus Station (Stand M)
Route 8A to Hut Lane
Return to Chorley, Bus Station
Route 8A from Hut Lane
For more information visit www.stagecoachbus.com
with the sun beating down on us, we really did pick
the most picturesque day.
Keeping to the left of Hut Lane, we ventured across
the motorway bridge over the M61 and realised an
excursion so lovely can be right under your nose
just off the M61.
From the bridge head right onto Long Lane, then
first left and follow this round to the left up to
Chorley Golf Club.
Do keep your wits about you when walking on the
public footpath through the golf course, as Peter
and I were passive aggressively shooed by three
keen golfers waiting to swing their clubs. Whether
it was at us or the golf ball we’ll never know…
Once past the spacious clubhouse, keep going
towards the farm, going right as you enter the farm
yard. When exiting the farm go left, and when the
road turns right, take the farm track/bridleway on
the left. Continue along this route until you reach a
gate marked Adlington Circular and cross the field
and exit via the lane.
At this point go right to New House Farm - but if
you’re a dog lover like I am, please don’t try to play
with the dogs behind the gate, as I almost lost my
right arm when my jumper was a little too close to
the energetic pups.
As you pass the farmhouse take the footpath on the
right, and follow this through the field and into the
wooded track that leads down across the stream
and eventually out onto Sutton Lane. Be sure to
keep your eyes peeled for the field of goats grazing
en route too!
Here you’ll go left until you reach Babylon Lane,
where you cross over past the quaint stone houses
and head up Greenhalgh Lane.
When you reach the split in the road go right, as
turning off onto the left won’t get you very far.
Thankfully one cheery local lady directed Peter and
I in the right direction. Continue to follow the path
past the houses and on along the public foot path
to Rothwells farm.
Once out on the lane go left and head over a second
motorway bridge to New Lane, and then continue

Limbrick
PH
93
P
Mud
Anglezarke
Reservoir
Back Lane
Mud
Bus Stop
Hut Lane
FB
Mud
PH
Knowsley Lane
Postcode:
PR6 9HD
Yarrow
Reservoir
River Yarrow
Long Lane
Heath
Charnock
Nickleton Brow
FB
Dean Brook
Mud
FB
PH
Babylon Lane
M61
New Road
Horrobin Lane
Rivington
Bowling Club
Tea Room
Rivington
Reservoirs
Rivington
Village Green
Tea Room
Rivington
Chorley Road
Sutton Lane
P
Cafe
Anderton
to head straight across the lane into Horrobin Lane.
Meander down the lane over the reservoir, and
take a minute or two to appreciate the stunning
landscape surrounded in water.
You’ll walk past the Bowling Green which is worthy
of a visit in the summer months, and continue to
wander up past the church and left into Sheep
House Lane.
Almost as soon as you’ve started up Sheep House
Lane you’ll notice a gate on your left, but if like Peter
and I you fancy a pit stop, I’d recommend resting
your weary legs at the Village Green Tea Room –
bearing in mind you’ll have been on the go for close
to two hours.
But if you do stop to use the outdoor privy at the tea
room, be sure to pack your thermal underwear, as
you’ll get quite the shock in the chilly air. After your
break, turn left out of the tea room and continue
down a few hundred yards on Sheep House Lane to
the gate (now on your right).

94
Go through the gate and follow the path through
the field, down the steps – holding on to the railing
to ensure you don’t end up like Humpty Dumpty –
and carry on along the side of the brook. Where the
path emerges onto a narrow lane go left, then after
30 yards take the bridleway on your right.
Follow this passing below Yarrow reservoir, where
you and the landscape are protected by the green,
grassy fortress towering above until a track splits off
to the left.
Take this track down the gentle slope, where you’re
immersed in a tall forest with the rapid sounds of
When can
we go back to
Dukes Barn
Farm?
water crashing down Yarrow Reservoir Overflow
Cascade to Knowsley Lane and back to your starting
point.
This is a thoroughly enjoyable walk which has reignited
my love for the great outdoors. But with
circuits galore throughout Rivington, be sure to
keep your wits about you to avoid getting lost as I
once did until 10.30pm on a school trip. But that’s a
story for another time…
Please ensure you wear appropriate clothing and
footwear while walking. While every care has been
taken to ensure that the walk is accurate, neither the
publisher or its editorial contributors can accept, and
hereby disclaim, any liability to any party to loss or
damage caused by errors or omissions resulting from
negligence, accident or other cause.
Boarding kennels and cattery.
Heated accommodation.
Recommended by vets & clients for over
38 years.
Local authority licensed & approved.
Open 9am – 6pm Monday – Saturday
Closed to customer visits on Sunday
DUKES BARN FARM
Animal care at its best
Brook Lane, Pemberton, WN5 8JQ
Call - 01942 217752

95
Test Drive
SEAT Leon FR
by Tim Barnes-Clay
I’ve just spent seven days behind the wheel have to really squint to notice. Then the FR model
of the newest Leon – the three or five-door has been given full LED headlights, and its twin
hatchback from Spanish automaker, SEAT. The tailpipes denote that it has more spirit than the
contemporary model isn’t ground-breaking in looks Leon’s below it.
– more progressive – and that is no bad thing. After The hatchback’s six-speed manual transmission is
all, why take a scalpel to an already fetching face? easy-going and meticulous in finding the correct
The Leon’s cousin is the VW Golf – and that, too, gears. The steering is nicely responsive, too. Might
has been fine-tuned of late. The Spaniard is better stems from the 1.4 petrol turbo powerplant – a
looking than the German, but then beauty lies in smart unit that locks off half the cylinders, which
the eye of the beholder. It’s less pricey to purchase, helps conserve fuel. The Leon, in FR guise, is not a
as well. I drove the FR Technology five-door variant, hot-hatch, but it’s a warm hatchback, with zero to
equipped with a 1.4 TSI 150 petrol unit.
62mph realisable in 8.0 seconds. Additionally, due
What’s different? Well, the Leon’s lights and grille to that cylinder shut-off ingenuity, you can squeeze
have been given a slightly sharper look, but you’d 57.6mpg out of the tank.

96
The Leon FR Technology’s strength is tallied with
good handling, and the SEAT adheres to apexes like
epoxy resin. This is due to the FR’s 17-inch alloys
and dropped suspension. The only disadvantage is
the hard ride, which is perceptible on pitted road
surfaces. Luckily, well-padded seats help make up
for the car’s rigidity, and they’re fantastic at keeping
you supported when entering and exiting tight
bends.
The SEAT Leon’s cabin is well-judged, with ample
room in the front and rear. Natty touches, for
example: piano black trim, a touchscreen system
and an electric handbrake, make the car’s interior
feel chicer than the preceding model’s. The
touchscreen tablet-esque media system kicks most
of the buttons that used to be in the Leon to the
kerb. This tidies the instrument panel up no end.
Regrettably, regularly having to hunt for a function
on the touchscreen can prove a little disrupting at
times.
The FR gets surplus kit packed into it as well,
comprising: Apple CarPlay and Android Auto; satnav;
rear parking sensors; dual-zone climate control
Fast Facts
• 0-62 mph: 8.0 secs
• Combined mpg: 57.6
• Engine layout: 1395cc four-cylinder petrol turbo
• Max. power (PS): 150
• CO2: 114 g/km
• Price: £21,350
and cruise control. Furthermore, the boot is more
than adequate, with a load capacity of 380 litres.
It’s not the largest, but it equals the Golf’s – and it
trounces the popular Ford Focus’ boot, which only
offers 316 litres.
So, yes, there is far more to the new SEAT Leon than
its looks. It’s unquestionably less conformist than a
Volkswagen Golf or a ubiquitous Ford Focus, and
you happen to get a lot of motor for your money.
Also, the 1.4 TSI 150 powerplant offers more ‘oomph’
than lesser petrol-propelled Leons. Plus, it’s quicker
and less costly to buy than the 150ps diesel version.

JW Gaskell
Garages
NOW OPEN FOR BUSINESS
We are now open for services and repairs at our
brand new premises in Up Holland.
Free local pick up and drop off service
Dingle Garage, Dingle Road, Up Holland, WN8 0EN
01257 251116 / www.jwgaskellgarageservices.co.uk
97
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For your free estimate, call Dave on
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98
Shed some light on it!
by Angie Barker
Award Winner
There is no getting away from it … Christmas
is coming, and along with all the kerfuffle that
comes with it (oh dear, Hubby looks depressed at the
thought) – it also means we have some long, dark
evenings ahead of us.
But instead of closing the curtains and forgetting
about your garden until next spring, consider
installing some outdoor lighting in your garden to
create a magical winter wonderland.
The right kind of garden lighting can create some
wonderful atmospheric effects and there are many
different products available to help you achieve the
effect you are looking for.
Simple up lighters set on spikes in the soil are very
easy to install as they sit beneath planting to light
it up from beneath. Bamboo in particular looks
amazing up lit this way.
There are some more sophisticated products which
can be set into paving, decking and steps. Even if you
don’t use your garden in the winter and particularly
if your living area overlooks your garden, it will make
your inside space seem larger as you can see beyond
the windows.
But why not use your garden at this time of year –
I would recommend donning coat and scarf and
lighting a fire pit and as it’s nearly Christmas, taking
a flask of Gluhwein out with you (that’s mulled wine
to Hubby).
There are some things you need to consider with
outside lighting:
• Less is more – you do not want your garden to
resemble a floodlit football pitch!
• Place up lighters carefully to make sure your lights
don’t shine into a neighbours bedroom window.
• If you are landscaping a garden consider lighting
from the start so that an electrician can fit the
lights in with the build and hide all the wiring. But
even if your garden is established, it is easy to have
an outside plug fitted so that you can run your
lights from there.
There are some companies which specialise in
garden lighting – see www.moonlightdesign.co.uk
to see the kind of effects you can achieve.
And as the season to be jolly is fast approaching,
don’t forget to include some fairy lights!
Angie is a qualified
award-winning garden
designer who will
plan your garden to
your needs from start
to finish, supplying
reputable contractors
and the ideal plants.
Call Angie now for your free consultation!
Angie Barker Dip GD
(Inst GD) BA (Hons)
Garden Design For All Seasons
Tel: 01942 522 405
Mob: 07857 008 383
Award Winner
www.angiebarker.co.uk

99
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NO JOB
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Day: 07970 521 692 Eve: 01942 214 121
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100
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SaleS • Service • SpareS • repairS
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We also service all
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Call - 01695 682 043
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07946 751308 01942 206503

101
New Leaf
Garden Service
Award-winning, local family run business offers:
Garden Landscaping
(lawn laying, planting, fencing)
Garden Maintenance
(weeding, mowing, trimming, hedges)
Regular visits from £15
One off clearance service available
Plants & Planting
(wide range of plants available with advice and
planting service)
Call now for a friendly, no obligation quote
01257 401193 / 0771 077 2732
www.newleafgardenservices.co.uk
Want a beautiful
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At GreenHills we don’t just treat your lawns, we
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For a free quote, call Andy on
M: 07814 133 690 T: 01942 588 628
Need help with your garden?
We offer a regular garden maintenance service
Landscaping, flagging, fencing, tree work, pruning,
turfing and decking work also completed.
Friendly and reliable service
Call Mick now for details
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Oak Tree Maintenance
Orrell-Based*

102
Home Services
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103
Garage and entrance doors
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Is your
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104
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a new boiler!
A Genuine Family Run Business
With Friendly & Courteous Staff
SPECIALISTS IN CENTRAL
HEATING INSTALLATION, BOILER
REPLACEMENTS AND UPGRADES
• Repairs • Installations • Services
Smart control specialist – save £££’s
www.wiganboilerrepair.co.uk
01942 387006 / 07539 449 006
569287
Accredited Installer & Service Partner
• Annual Boiler Servicing
• Landlord & Home Owner
Gas Safety Checks
• Gas Fire & Cooker Installations
• Under Floor Heating Specialists
• Home Efficiency Control Upgrades
10 YEARS
EXTENDED
WARRANTY
ON SELECTED BOILER
INSTALLATIONS
Registration No.
88604
Telephone:
WE REPAIR
ALL MAKES
OF BOILERS!
01257 421 660
TEL: 01942 504 429
MOB: 07515 505 501
www.fgwelch.co.uk
• Bathroom Installation, Full Bathrooms & En-Suites
• Plumbing Services • Wall & Floor Tiling • Ceiling Panelling
01942 397173 / 07803 057940
Douglas Drive, Orrell, Wigan
www.ljplumbingandbathrooms.co.uk
C&
D
Plumbing and Heating
Heating & Bathroom Specialist
Chris Heaton M.I.P.H.E.R.P
07973714222
01695625171
• Central Heating Installations
• Boiler Installations
• Maintenance & Servicing
• Power Flushing
Your one stop shop for central heating
434 Ormskirk Rd, Wigan, WN5 9DF
01942 221221
info@premiergas.com / www.premiergas.com
IAIN LOWE
01695 623236
• Central Heating
• Plumbing
• Gas Appliances
• Gas Safety Checks
• Landlord’s Certificates
• Maintenance/Breakdowns
186237
brand New bathrooms
boiler + Central Heating
Installs, servicing + Repairs
Extended warranties available
24 Hour Call-out
Domestic + Commercial
Freephone 0300 3030121
Dave 07769 942218 / Matt 07969 183809
21 Naburn Dr Orrell wN5 8sb
Email: info@orrellheating.co.uk
www.orrellheating.co.uk
506515

105
Boiler & Central
Heating Experts
No
call out
fee
Plumbing & Heating Specialist
Complete Bathroom
& Tiling service
John Bailey - 01942 495785
or 07721 040620 & 07710 153238
Based in Kenyon Road, Wigan
• Repairs & installations
• Maintenance & servicing
• Power flushing
• Mechanical Ventilation
• Gas Safety Checks
For an effective and friendly
service call Haigh Energy
01257 424 166
www.haighenergy.co.uk
Unit S7, Standish Court , Bradley Lane Trading Estate, Standish, WN6 0XQ
Specialists in boiler installations, repair & maintenance
All work fully warranted
Book a boiler health check for £65
& get a carbon monoxide
alarm (RRP £29) FREE!
Email ops@hotmail.co.uk
Call the team on
01744 892437
Great Value Bathrooms!
Elite Bathrooms
Installation & Tiling
• Bathrooms
• Wall Tiling
• Floor Tiling 07703 448890
FREE Estimates 01942 208926
Full Bathrooms & En-Suites
Showers, Trays & Cubicles
Relocation of Bathroom Suites
25 years bathroom experience
Call Chris now for a free quotation
C L Bathrooms
01942 749085
or 07801 295483
www.clbathrooms.co.uk

106
J.Dillon
Call: 01257 424918 or 07821 139826
www.jdillonelectrical.co.uk
• All types of electrical work
• 20+ years experience
• Friendly, fast and reliable
• 24 hour call out service
Electrical
Services Ltd
01942 735 484
07967 423 735
www.kdmelectrical.co.uk
• All electrical work welcomed
• Pleasant, professional & reliable
• Emergency call outs 24/7
www.expertcomputers.co.uk
‘Excellence in Customer Service’ – Winner
All electrical work undertaken
Competitive rates
Proficient and professional service
Emergency call outs 24/7
Call: 01942 553 248
Dan: 07850 273 783
Ste: 07701 036 872
All electrical work
undertaken
• Rewire specialists
• Extra sockets & lights fitted
• Mains board upgrades
Free quotations
A.J.S.
BAILEYS
ELECTRICAL
01942 215 769
07739 709 005
24-Hour
Call Out
Service
Electrical Installation & Maintenance
• From new sockets to full re-wires
• No job too small
• PAT testing
Security Installation & Maintenance
• Smart phone controlled security systems
• Wired and wireless security systems
• CCTV and burglar alarms
Wireless Alarm System
ONLY £349
1x Live LED GHE Bell box
1x dummy GHE bell box
1x Mains panel with battery back up
1x wireless door contact
2x Wireless PIR Motion detectors
Domestic and commercial work welcomed ~ Call us today for friendly advice and a free quote
Suite 1A Kirkless Ind. Est
Cale Lane Wigan
01942 836 937 or 07557 914 788 www.ghewigan.co.uk

SG
PAINTING & DECORATING
Interior painting & decorating
Specialise in standard wall coverings, extra wide vinyl, lincrusta & coving
Free estimates. References available upon request
07714 363 377 / 01942 749 971
Sefton Road, Orrell, WN5 8UP
Award Winner
Exterior & Interior Decorating
Domestic & Commercial work undertaken
Competitive rate
Contact Graham now - free estimate provided
01257 426 234
graham@topcoatdecoratingservices.co.uk
www.topcoatdecoratingservices.co.uk
Need a new look
for your home?
Skilled interior and exterior work
undertaken at reasonable prices!
Chris Smith - Painter and Decorator
01942 518126
or 07545 065119
Orrell based business
Want to promote your
company in Local Life?
Call Sally: 01695 627 999
locallife247.co.uk
LocalLife
107
J&P
MOORCROFT
LTD
Professional Painting and Decorating
• Domestic & Commercial Work
• Interior & Exterior work welcomed
• Old/listed buildings a speciality
Call us today for a free quotation
Home Service available
Choose from 1000s of paint & paper samples
in the comfort of our own home
01942 212096 07831 102 511
www.jpmoorcroft.com
UPVC CLEANING
• Windows, Fascias, Gutters etc.
CONSERVATORIES
• Exterior & Interior (Cleaning)
• Glass roofs / Orangeries
JETWASHING
• Driveways & Patios etc.
ROOF CLEANING
• Moss Removal
(No Jet washing/No mess)
• NEW Soft Wash Cleaning
SPECIAL OFFER - 20% OFF
ALL CLEANING PACKAGES
Call Clint for a free no obligation quote.
01942 470 089 / 07834 241 642
www.justcleanpropertycare.co.uk

Established in 1984 as an emergency glazing service, today Dennis Goulding has grown and moved
forward to offer all you need to maintain, enhance and expand your home. We continually invest in and
embraced the latest changes in energy efficiency regulations, and still remain a local family business that
cares and takes pride in what we do. We don’t employ pushy salesmen, but pride ourselves on working
with and listening to our customers to give them exactly what they want. We will treat you with respect
every step of the way and on that you have my word! Stuart Goulding
Glass Cut to size, Sealed Double Glazed Units Manufactured on site, Same Day Service, Safety
Glass, Toughened Glass, Mirrors, Greenhouse Glass, Glazing Service, Misted Units Replaced
A5209
B5250
Dennis Goulding
J27
Shevington
A49
Standish
Unit 16, Ainscough Business Park, Mossy Lea Road,
Wrightington, WN6 9RS
(Drive onto ‘Ainscough Building Supplies’)
Open Hours: Monday - Friday 7:30am - 5:00pm; Saturday: 9:00am - 12:00 noon
www.dglwindows.co.uk
Unit 4a,
o f Miry Lane,
Wigan.
WN6 7TP
or
108
Orrell Laundry
11 Sefton Road, Orrell, WN5 8UP
01695 623 796
• Bedding & duvets • Domestic washes
• Commercial washing • Ironing services
• Dry cleaning • Team sports kits welcomed
Open 7 days
see website for
opening times
Free pick-up
& drop off!
www.orrell-laundry.co.uk
Serving the
community for
over 50 years
Free pICk-up & DrOp OFF
service to/from Orrell, Billinge, Winstanley, Highfield, Marus Bridge,
Kitt Green & Up Holland
mr-soot.com
Mr Soot
CHIMNEY SWEEP
Woodburners Open fires Stoves
07724 311 992
Ovenclean will transform your oven and
put the sparkle back into your kitchen!
• Ovens
• Grills
• Extractors
• BBQ’s
as seen
ON TV
• Hobs
• Ranges
• Microwaves
• AGA’s
Call today to book your oven clean
0800 840 7127 or
07724 694337
www.ovenclean.com
Crease
Free
Ironing Service
Steam Ahead
With More Pressing Issues
• Ironing services
• Free Collection & Delivery
• Reliable Service
• Flexible Hours to Suit
• Excellent Rates
• Free Visit and Consultation
Telephone Gemma today
for a free consultation
07886 422 688
Design & Print
Lashes
Spray Tan
Sunbeds
Acrylic & Gel Nails
Natalies @ Studio 84
Upvc Windows & Doors I Conservatories,
Soffits & Fascias I Composite Doors I Bi-Fold Doors
Gel
Nails
normally £20
now £15
84 Rainford Road, Bi linge WN5 7PG
Telephone: 07814 619 400
Open:
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 10AM - 7PM, Saturday 10AM - 6PM
Closed Thursday & Sunday
Mo sy Lea Road
Solar Thermal
& Solar PV
Wind Turbines
Heat Pumps
LED Lighting
...and general
Energy Savings
Don’t forget, we also offer all of these services daily...
T
Y
R
E
S
Book
your FREE
home survey
Telephone: 01257 427 000
and we’ l provide you with a
detailed report showing the
returns available from your
own solar panels
CAR & VAN SERVICING
...and motorcycles too
FREE
Car Health Check
(10% typical return)
Visit our showroom at
Cricket Street Business Park
for all residents of Croston and Bretherton
Keep me until you need me!
Book your FREE Car Health Check
Call now on
TwinLakesMotorEngin ers
01772 603923
REPAIR & WELDING
Saving money is
the clear benefit!
Slash your electricity and
water heating bill
Protect your household from
future energy price rises
Reduce your household’s
impact on the environment
E
X
H
A
U
S
T
S
Call us now
0843 224 9555
07595 420237
Email: info@docsolarelectrical.co.uk
Website: www.docsolarelectrical.co.uk
Flyers, postcards, brochures
and distribution service.
For more information call 01695 627 999
LocalLife

109
Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning
• traditional service, state of the art results •
Providing professional carpet &
upholstery cleaning since 1993
Carpets Upholstery Curtains
Leather Oriental Rugs Hard Floors
For more information call:
01942 470 081
Visit our website and check out the testimonials.
www.alliancechemdry.co.uk
Wigan Good
Trader Of
The Year
2015
5 star rating with
Wigan Trading
Standards Good
Trader Scheme
• Carpets • Rugs
• Fabric & Leather Upholstery
Call today for a free consultation & no obligation quote
Call - 01257 251221
Mobile - 07908 770808
www.manorhousecleaning.co.uk
Wigan’s premier
domestic
cleaning service
Cleaning in the
Wigan area for
10+ years
We only use reliable, vetted staff
• £10.75 per hour - minimum 2 hrs
• Same cleaner each visit
• All domestic duties provided
Call or email Joanne 01942 203442
joanne@acleanbreak.co.uk / www.acleanbreak.co.uk/wigan
Want to promote your
company in Local Life?
Call Sally: 01695 627 999
locallife247.co.uk
LocalLife
TILE & GROUT CLEANING
All hArd floors
Kitchens - Entrance halls - living rooms
Bathrooms - showers
KARNDEAN & AMTICO
stripped, Cleaned & sealed
STONE FLOOR CLEANING
limestone - Travertine - slate
Quarry - Terracotta - Marble
sandstone
SEALING FOR EASy MAINTENANCE
Plus FREE special floor Cleaner
Worth £50
Call Clint for a free no obligation quote.
01942 470 089 or 07834 241 642
www.jcstoneandtilecare.co.uk

110
Complete Driveways
& Landscapes
Landscapes
Gardens designed. Paving laid, artificial turf
fitted, garden walls built, all aspects of fencing.
Driveways
Block paving, flagging, printed concrete
driveway specialist.
‘the complete answer
for driveways & landscapes’
Call Gary for a free, no obligation quote;
01942 355 993 07712 352 411
GDR Driveways
Flagging • Block paving
Concreting • Fencing
Call Gareth for a FREE qoutation
01942 217 113 | 07715 177 754
JJ Driveways
Imprinted Concrete Specialists
Huge range of colours & patterns
• Resin Driveways • Block Paving
• Indian Stone • Flagging
We can also revive your old drive!
Ask about our sealing service
Call Joe for a free quotation on
01942 621 959 / 07867 697 972
www.jjdriveways.co.uk
Arley Cabinet Company Ltd
• Kitchens & Bedrooms since 1952 •
01257 422317 or 07852 202867
www.mtjoinery.co.uk
PLANS TO IMPROVE
• Plans drawn and submitted.
• Extensions, conversions, structural alterations.
• Structural calculations.
E mail info@stuartsplans.co.uk
Call Stuart on 07973143289
We measure
we make
we fit
and have done for 60 years.
Visit our showroom or call us
today for a FREE estimate
www.arleycabinets.com
Arley Cabinet Co. Ltd
214a Gidlow Lane
Wigan
WN6 7BN
Mon-Fri: 8am - 4.30pm
Sat: 9am - 12pm
tel: 01942 246190

111
Don’t Move – Improve!
I’m Stuart Collier, a local
builder with over 25 years
experience in house
renovation.
I can design and create extra
living space in your home.
Call me for advice and a free quotation
All our work is fully insured & guaranteed
References available on request
Call now for a free quotation
House Extensions
New Kitchens
& Bathrooms
Garage Conversions
Full Refurbishments
01257 251 534
07973 143 289
www.sjcollier.co.uk
Ashurst Building &
Roofing Services
All types of building and roofing
work undertaken including;
Extensions & Conservatories
New roofs & Roof repairs
E: 01942 832747
: 07747 725999
Family run business with
25 years of experience
Call David today for a free quotation
TELEPHONE: 01942 832747
Mobile: 07747 725999
01942 561 848 | 07725 909 257
www.freshbuildconstruction.co.uk
K Stone
Building Services
All types of building
work undertaken
25 years experience
Number One for House Maintenance!
• UPVC WINDOWS, DOORS & ROOFLINE
SUPPLIED AND FITTED MISTED UNITS
REPLACED
• GUTTERS AND UPVC CLEANING AND
REPAIR SERVICE
• FLAGGING, FENCING AND POINTING
• GARDENS CLEARED
• Brickwork
• Pointing
• Garden Walls
• Patios
• Roof Repairs
• Flagging
• Alterations
• Driveways
01942 495412 / 07974 496676
No job too small!
Call Mike Darbyshire on
01942 513 584 / 07917 352 181
Orrell based

112
M H Roofing
Established over 15 years
Friendly advice and competitive rates
No job too small
• High Performance Felt Flat Roof Systems
• Storm Damage and Insurance Work
• Slating and Tiling full roofs
• Poiniting and Guttering • Fascia Boards
Call 01744 884117
or 07702 693225
www.mhroofingltd.co.uk
LocalLife
ALL ASPECTS OF
ROOFING
DOMESTIC & COMMERCIAL
FOR A FREE QUOTATION CALL
07753 686 244
Easy Mix
Want to promote your
company in Local Life?
Call Sally: 01695 627 999
locallife247.co.uk
Easy Mix
Ready Mixed Concrete
• Delivered or Collected • Perfect for builders & DIY
01942 224571 for advice
Lamberhead Ind. Est., Pemberton
Fully Insured & Insurance
Backed Guarantees
PLASTERER
Re-skims Dot & dab Rendering
2 coat work Unwanted artex
For a free quote, call Ian Ridley on
01942 218 160
or 07958 695 116
Home Improvements
• Fitted Kitchens & Bedrooms
• Garage & Loft Conversions
• Floors, Doors & Windows
• Garden Gates
For all your home improvement needs call David on...
01942 203 804
07851 225 876
Brickwork & Property Maintenance
M
Marc Mulligan
01942 248 537
07749 806 566
DS Joinery
• Brickwork, Extensions, Re-pointing
• Garden Walls, Decorative Walls
• Platform Steps, Paths & patios
Disabled Adaptations & Access
• Wall to Floor Rails, Floor to Floor
Rails & Path Rails
Fully Qualified - 28 Years Experience

• WILSON BROS •
Est. 1985
Roofing & Roofline Specialists
• All aspects of maintenance & repair
• Fascia & soffit installation
• Guttering and felting services
Call us now for a free estimate
01695 633173
Colin: 07958 302 166
Brian: 07760 160 988
www.wilson-bros.co.uk
113
B.A. Berry
Building & Roofing Specialists
•All building work undertaken.
• From a broken tile to a full re roof.
• Flat roofs renewed and repaired.
• Extensions, Alterations, Structural repairs
including Lintels.
Your local fully qualified tradesman with
30 years experience
Call us now for a free,
no obligation quote
01695 622 704 / 07968 652 320
www.baberry.co.uk
First Class Workmanship
• All types of re-roofs
• Strip & re-slate or re-tile
• Built up felt/flat roofs, dormers etc.
• Insurance work undertaken
• Roofline uPVC fascias, soffits & guttering
W.Newman
ROOFING & REPAIRS
01695 627 212
MOBILE: 07774 943 706
52 HALLBRIDGE GARDENS, UP HOLLAND
Established Over 30 Years
All aspects of roofing & roofline
New roofs Repairs
Fascias, soffits & gutters
Rubber Cover
Roofing Specialist
Guaranteed 50 years
Dormers
and Garages
Call for free
quote
Tel:
Mob:
01942 864 624 / 07868 713520

114
A View From
The Lump
Local gossip, gripes and goings-on
Language of love
Back in the 1970s, the Cold War was
in full flow. The Berlin Wall was the
figurative iron curtain, cutting off
the freedom-loving west from the
paranoid, Communist east. More
locally, villagers in Up Holland had
their own version at the bottom
of Ormskirk Road. It was a huge
wooden thing which separated
the village from Skelmersdale
New Town. Since then, a road
has been built, thus ensuring
permanent delineation between
the two settlements. Given all
this, it’s therefore doubtful that
anyone living locally saw Morris
Homes’ planning bumf about their
proposed new development on
Chequer Lane before it was made
public. In their Design & Access
Statement supporting the bid,
there’s photos of ‘local amenities’
which includes a photo of The
Highwayman pub (in Skem),
a photo of ‘local architectural
language’ (Skem housing estate)
and a snap of ‘local play facilities’
(yep, you’ve guessed it... Skem
also). For reasons best known
to themselves, most marketeers
would rather be frogmarched
through The Concourse at lunch
hour than mention Skem in any of
their literature. Yet, Morris Homes
are now positively associating
it with a development which is
firmly in Up Holland. That may
be puzzling, but not half as much
as trying to understand what the
heck ‘local architectural language’
means in plain English.
Korea’s advice
I understand that some things
ought to be kept under wraps.
Official secrets... the code for the
nuclear button... Tom Jones’ chest
hair. But I was puzzled recently
when Wigan Council refused
a simple request to share their
revised process on the authority’s
Flag Flying Protocol upon the
death of a national senior figure.
The matter has been looked
at recently following guidance
from central government. But
apparently such details aren’t
for public consumption. Indeed,
Library Street’s finest say: “It is
now ready to be shared on a need
to know basis, bearing in mind the
sensitivity of the matter.”
So, let’s get this right - Wigan
Council has a policy but us mere
mortals - aka taxpayers - aren’t
allowed to know what it is?
Didn’t realise Kim Jong-Un was
moonlighting as an adviser to the
Metro’s Flag Flying Dept...
Nudes of the World
It’s not often I read Local Life
and start thinking of people
with no clothes on, but the last
edition caused me to do just that.
There was a small item about
Lawns Farm in Tontine, which is
looking to diversify. I remember
a good few years ago that it was
attentions which were being
diverted in that neck of the woods
for a completely different reason
altogether. Helen Ashton, whose
family have lived at the farm for
generations, takes up the story:
“During the World War II years the
farm carried on providing food for
the local community and for many
years had POWs working the land
alongside the local population
and much loved working horses.
“It does not seem that long ago
that my grandparents used to
receive Christmas cards from the
Germans who worked the land
at Orrell. It was perhaps around
this time that my grandad used to
have a bit of fun with the nudist
colony next door at the Lawns. He
boasts of building the haystacks
as high as possible next to the
high walls of the colony so that
he and his men could take a peek
over!”

115
GET YOUR WINDOW & DOOR INSTALLATION
ALL WRAPPED UP FOR CHRISTMAS
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doors, fascias, soffits and gutters
First for quality • First for service • First for reliability
No contractors • No salesmen
Just a smile and a honest price from a family run business
®
Rockdoor
Approved
Installer Reg No
02767596
SISTER COMPANY OF FOXWELLS BUILDERS
Established 16 years
Call us for a Free Quote
Office Number: 01942 871 777
Victoria Industrial Estate, Victoria Street, Leigh, WN7 5SE
warmlightwindowsltd.co.uk • info@warmlightwindowsltd.co.uk