Local Life - Wigan - January 2022

LocalLife 

Wigan Edition 

January 2022 

Get Active in 2022 

Pages 48-52 

On the Streets 

Pages 24-25 

Fresh New Year 

Pages 44-45 

Adventure of a Lifetime 

Pages 58-60 

Life & Times of 

Wigan’s Mr Pic 

Pages 39-42 

Photo Credit: Dave Green 

LOCAL NEWS | EVENTS2GO | FOOD | HEALTH | WALks | competitions | home & garden SERVICES

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4 

An influx of street furniture has hit the streets 

of Wigan ahead of the launch of the Greater 

Manchester Clean Air Zone (CAZ). As it stands 

from when Local Life went to press (6/1/22), from May 

this year buses, coaches, taxis, PHV’s, HGV’s and vans 

over a certain age/fuel type will be charged up to £60 per 

day to operate within the borders of Greater Manchester. 

Before you turn the page and dismiss this as irrelevant, 

allow me to make two points. One, any cost increase for 

businesses is invariably passed onto customers, so GM 

residents will indirectly end up paying more for some 

products and services. 

And two, the infrastructure of the GM CAZ has now 

been installed, so changing the future parameters to, 

say, include cars, would be straightforward. The new 

Birmingham CAZ already charges certain car owners £8 

a day with fines of up to £120, and Bristol will follow their 

lead from June 2022. 

The implementation of Clean Air Zones was brought 

about when the government told councils to curb air 

pollution levels. The decision on how to do this was left to 

the discretion of individual local councils. York opted to 

ban diesel buses from the city centre. Birmingham opted 

to, and have since set up, a tight CAZ of approximately 5 

square miles and other councils followed a similar route, 

targeting city centres where pollution levels are high. 

The Greater Manchester Combined Authority, made up 

of the ten local councils including Wigan Council, went 

in a completely different direction and decided that the 

whole of Greater Manchester, all 493 square miles of it, 

should be within the GM CAZ. 

Clean air is vital, and modelling carried out by the GMCA 

in October 2018 (www.cleanairgm.com/clean-air-zonemap/) 

shows that the city centre, along with Wigan, 

Bolton, Bury and other main town centres in GM have 

issues with air pollution. 

Outside of town/city centres, it just isn’t an issue apart 

from a few pollution hotspots such as Poolstock and 

Pemberton, long-standing problems which are being or 

have already been addressed by Wigan Council. 

The words ‘sledgehammer’ and ‘nut’ spring large. 

Was the decision made by the GMCA for the health 

benefits, for the extra revenue or for different reasons 

entirely? Whatever the case – it’s 

time for a rethink. 

Chris Pearce, Publisher 

chrisp@locallife247.co.uk

5 

This month’s highlights 

39. Life & Times of Wigan’s Mr Pic 

Contents 

16. Beauty 

Resolutions you’ll want to keep! 

34. Reducing Meat 

48. Active 2022! 

44. Fresh New Year 

18. Books 

Fresh starts! 

28. Health 

Is sitting the new smoking? 

36. Baking 

Blueberry custard tarts. 

37. Recipe 

Chilli and lemon seafood spaghetti. 

64. Puzzle Pages 

Try these brainteasers for size! 

68. Motoring 

Used car bargains. 

73. Home & Garden Services 

Find the best local traders for you. 

54. Get In The Zen 

58. Icelandic Adventure 

Want to 

promote your 

business in 

LocalLife? 

Next Issue - March 

Advertising deadline - 9th February 

Published - 23rd February 

01695 627 999 

www.locallife247.co.uk

6 

Dance to Fitness 

Wigan Council are offering free weekly dance sessions 

to help those in need of support to improve fitness and 

manage their weight. 

Those residents of Wigan Borough aged over 18 years of 

age with a BMI of above 25 can register for 12 free dance 

sessions. 

You’ll enjoy easy-to-follow steps combined with upbeat, 

recognisable music to get your heart rate up and get you 

singing along. You’ll also be provided nutritional advice 

and the right tools to help you lose weight safely. 

The dance classes are delivered by professionally trained 

dancers with experience in choreographing dance for 

any ability. 

Classes are being held at various venues, including Robin 

Park, Wigan Life Centre and Ashton Leisure Centre, and 

are staged from Monday to Thursday at varying times of 

the day. 

For more details or to register, visit this section of the 

Council’s website; https://www.wigan.gov.uk/BeWell/ 

Active-health/Weight-management/Dance.aspx 

Artisan Market 

Mix and mingle with designers, makers and producers at 

the Parbold Artisan Market on Sunday, February 6 from 

11am-4pm. On sale are gifts including ceramics, art, 

fused glass, hand printed cushions, fashion, jewellery, art, 

speciality plants and much more. 

This promises to be a great day out for all the family with 

a visit from rescued Birds of Prey. So, make a date in your 

diary and head on down to Parbold Village Hall, where 

entry and parking is free! 

Pram Plea 

The Storehouse Project in Wigan have made a plea for 

unwanted prams and pushchairs. The Wigan-based 

charity has been approached to help supply any donated 

items to evacuees arriving in Greater Manchester from 

Afghanistan. 

If you have a pushchair gathering dust in the garage and 

would like to donate it then you can drop it off at Unit 

10 on the Pagefield Industrial Estate, off Miry Lane. If you 

need help finding the unit, please call 07816 623612. 

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7 

Wedding Fayre 

If you heard wedding bells at Christmas and Santa left an 

engagement ring for you under the tree, then you’ll be 

interested in the Bridal Fayre that takes place on Sunday, 

January 30 at the stunning Lancashire Manor Hotel on 

Prescott Road, Pimbo, near Skelmersdale. 

This is a great chance to view everything weddingrelated, 

including the beautiful banqueting suites and 

bridal suites at the hotel. 

There will also be a chance to have a chat with the team’s 

preferred suppliers who can help you with everything 

from photography, venue dressing, hair, make-up, 

entertainment and not forgetting the all-important 

bridal gown! 

On the day, there will be a fashion show put together 

by Trudy Smith Bridal Boutique, to give you all the latest 

ideas and trends in bridal gowns and grooms wear. 

Pop down between 12/3pm on the day and make your 

wedding dreams a reality. 

For more information, please call the hotel on 01695 

567260. 

Tuesday 

Shevington 

Shevington Methodist Church, 1 Gathurst Road, WN6 8HA 

9am, 3.30pm, 5.00pm & 6.30pm 

Wednesday 

Billinge 

Bispham Methodist Church Hall, Crank Rd, WN5 7DT 

8.30am & 10.00am 

Wednesday 

Starts 5th January 

Orrell 

St Luke’s Church Hall, Lodge Road, WN5 7AT 

3.30pm, 5.00pm and 6.30pm 

For further details 

call Karen on 

07789 227 871 

Personal Support 

Carer Wanted 

To join an established team in a private 

household – to support an adult female with 

special needs in the Wrightington WN6 area. 

The role will include providing companionship, 

help with personal care, mobility around the 

home, overseeing medication & housekeeping. 

The ideal candidate will be: 

• A motivated, fun-loving person with a positive 

attitude & a kind, caring attitude 

• Further specialist training provided 

• 4 weeks rolling rota including 2 sleeps per week 

• Female only applicants 

• Full, clean driving licence essential 

For more information or an 

application form please call 

07711 226177 

A Healthy 

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sessions can help dogs with; 

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• Pre/Post Operative Recovery 

• Weight Management 

• Fun & Wellbeing 

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9 

Couch to 5K 

If the thought of running to catch a bus, let alone a 5k 

route, fills you with dread then you are not alone. 

Thankfully, the Be Well Couch to 5k groups have been 

organised to offer support to those people unable to face 

this task on their own. The concept is designed to get you 

up off the couch and running 5k within 10 weeks, all you 

need to bring is your trainers, a water bottle and some 

willpower. 

Sessions are suitable for all abilities, including complete 

beginners, and take place at 10am every Monday at Orrell 

Water Park, 12.30pm every Wednesday at Standish Leisure 

Centre, 6.30pm every Thursday at Robin Park Leisure 

Centre and 10am every Sunday at Wigan Life Centre. 

Sessions cost £1.50 per person and there is no need to 

book, just turn up to your chosen venue and introduce 

yourself to the run leader. 

For more information, please email wellbeing@bewell. 

org or call 01942 488481. 

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! 




January 2022 


Pages 48-52 


Pages 24-25 


Pages 44-45 


Pages 58-60 


Wigan’s Mr Pic 



Wigan’s 

Mr Pic 


February 2022 

LOCAL NEWS | EVENTS2GO | FOOD | HEALTH | WALkS | COmpETiTiONS | HOmE & GArDEN SErViCES 

Pages 39-42 


Simply contact us on editorial@locallife247.co.uk 

or call us on 01695 627999 

Pages 39-42 



Pages 48-52 


Pages 24-25 

Reducing Meat 

Pages 34-35 

Get in the Zen 

Pages 54-55 

Used Car Bargains 

Pages 68-69 

New Choristers Appeal 

If pursuing a new pastime is your goal in 2022, you might 

be interested to know that Haydock Male Voice Choir are 

looking for potential new members? This award-winning 

choir celebrate their centenary next year in 2023. 

No previous experience is required and it’s an excellent 

opportunity to get fitter and healthier, and to have some 

fun along the way with this friendly group. 

The choir rehearse on Tuesdays at Haydock Conservative 

Club and on Thursdays at the United Reform Church 

in St Helens. You can check out some audio of their 

performances on www.haydockmvc.com. For more 

information about rehearsals call 07742 312565 or email 

secretary@haydockmvc.com. 

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10 

The Jockey Club Live have announced three 2022 dates 

for the return of their popular live music nights at 

Haydock Park Racecourse. 

Paloma Faith will be appearing on Friday 1st July, Olly 

Murs will return on Friday 5th August and iconic 80’s 

band Madness will be appearing on Saturday 16th July. 

2021 saw a season of incredible live shows at The Jockey 

Club racecourses, ranging from a sold-out show for 

Tom Jones at Haydock Park to an afternoon of joyful 

singalongs with McFly at Newmarket Racecourses. 

Despite the challenges of staging a season in 2021, the 

events marked the return to live music for thousands of 

fans. 

Having last headlined at Haydock in 2015, Madness have 

become one of the music industry’s best loved British 

bands. 

Fronted by the charismatic Suggs, Madness’ ability to 

write songs that sparkle with the stuff of British life, that 

find poetry in everyday reality, has led them to their 

many hits. 

Madness Return 

Dickon White, Jockey Club Racecourses’ North West 

Regional Director said “We are so excited about our 

fantastic line-up of music nights in 2022. With the 

addition of Madness to the season, we have something 

for everyone for what is set to be a wonderful summer of 

music and racing at Haydock Park.” 

Tickets for the events at Haydock Park are now available 

at www.thejockeyclub.co.uk/live/ 

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Interior Design Services 

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12 

Parkside Plans in Motion 

Almost thirty years since its closure in 1993, Parkside 

Colliery in Newton-le-Willows is about to be transformed 

as a major industrial estate and logistics hub. 

The Parkside development has been hailed as a project 

that will bring ‘significant economic benefit’ by the 

Government. In his response approving the plans, 

Michael Gove, the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, 

Housing and Communities, agreed with the inspectors 

that the first phase of the regeneration of the former 

colliery site in Newton-le-Willows would help deliver 

great benefits for the entire region. 

The announcement also saw approval of the Parkside 

Link Road, which will create a direct link between the 

site and the nearby M6. This, says the Government, will 

be pivotal in unlocking the sites full potential for future 

development and help to support the local environment. 

The first phase will cover a 93,000 square metre site, 

bringing almost 500 jobs during the construction and 

the potential of more than 1,300 new jobs offering a 

variety of skills in the completed buildings. 

St Helens Borough Council’s Cabinet have approved the 

next steps for the development which will see Balfour 

Beatty start work on the site imminently to create the 

Parkside Link Road which will prove a real benefit for the 

local community and commuters by creating a direct link 

to the M6 from the site. 

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Project wins Award 

A heritage project spearheaded by Wigan Council has 

been recognised for its potential to transform the town 

centre. The King Street Heritage Action Zone (HAZ) won 

the Future Cities Forum’s 2021 ‘High Streets’ award last 

month. 

The accolade acknowledges how regeneration projects 

use heritage aspects to improve the high street from 

economic and aesthetic perspectives. Judges referenced 

the HAZ’s work in reusing and reviving historic buildings 

such as the Royal Court Theatre and its links with the Fire 

Within cultural manifesto. 

Strengthening the relationships between culture, 

communities and historic places is at the heart of the 

HAZ initiative and the council is working closely with 

The Old Courts, and a consortium of borough-based 

organisations, to deliver some fantastic arts and cultural 

activities on the street. 

The Future Cities Forum awards highlight projects that 

‘show real vision in their concept and design’ and use 

‘sustainability in how they will be delivered’. Awards 

judge Claire McColgan from Culture Liverpool, said: 

“Wigan’s King Street is important because it is about 

using the arts to regenerate a high street using brilliant 

story-telling.” 

For its King Street HAZ plans, Wigan Council is providing 

match funding which, along with private sector and 

other sources, will see investment of around £2.5m. 

As part of the project, Wigan Council is now working 

with Historic England to develop and deliver schemes 

that will transform and restore disused and dilapidated 

buildings into new homes, shops, workplaces and 

community spaces, restoring local historic character and 

improving public realm. 

56 Miles for CRUK 

Cancer Research UK is challenging joggers to run 56 

miles in February to raise money for cancer research. 

Those accepting the challenge, equivalent to 2 miles 

a day, can register for a free t-shirt online and sign up 

for a Facebook group aimed at supporting all those 

undertaking the challenge. 

For further details and to register for the challenge, visit 

the website www.cancerresearchuk.org.

15

16 

7 Easy 

You’ll want to keep 

Supercharge your bath 

Who doesn’t love 

a soak in the bath 

on a cold winter’s 

night? Make yours 

a treat for your 

skin and senses 

with a handful of 

fragranced bath salts. Dove’s are a 

good choice. They’re made from 

pure sea salt to ease aching muscles, 

with added natural moisturisers 

to boost hydration. And you have 

a choice of three aromatherapyinspired 

fragrances, at £6.99 

from www.boots.com and www. 

superdrug.com. 

Use SPF 

Your skin doesn’t need to be at risk 

of burning to be damaged by UV 

rays. So it’s important to protect it all 

year around. A good facial sunscreen 

shouldn’t feel greasy or block pores. 

Alternatively, you can just opt for a 

moisturiser with added SPF, but to 

get the full benefit, you may need to 

use more than usual. 

Give your nails a break 

Gels and acrylics 

are great, but your 

nails do need a rest 

now and then to 

recuperate. If your 

nails are feeling 

brittle, file them short 

to reduce the risk of breakage. Treat 

them to a weekly nail-strengthening 

treatment and a daily cuticle oil. If 

you want some colour, choose a 

gentle nail polish. Nailberry polishes 

(£15, www.nailberry.co.uk) are 

breathable and free from alcohol, 

phthalates and harsh chemicals. 

Treat your hair 

If you struggle to find 

the time for a weekly 

hair mask, try an 

overnight one. JOICO’s 

Defy Damage Sleepover 

Treatment contains 

moringa seed oil to 

add shine and softness, 

along with other natural 

ingredients that help to strengthen 

hair and protect it from further 

damage. It’s non-greasy and you 

don’t even need to rinse it out the 

following morning. It costs £20 at 

www.lookfantastic.com. 

Try something new 

It’s all too easy to get stuck in a 

beauty rut. If you fancy trying 

something new, book yourself in 

for a skin consultation or mini 

makeover at a cosmetics 

counter. Or visit a few 

counters and ask for their 

recommendations. You 

could also sign up for a 

beauty box subscription, 

like those by Birchbox, Glossy 

Box and Look Fantastic, which will 

give you the chance to sample lots 

of different brands. 

Switch to green beauty 

It’s simpler than you might think 

to make more eco-conscious 

choices. To start with, look for easily 

recyclable, zero-waste packaging. 

Check that the brands you use are 

certified cruelty-free. And swap 

disposable products for reusable 

ones, such as a bamboo razors, 

refillable deodorants and washable 

cleansing pads. To make life easier, 

buy from retailers that have strict eco 

policies, like www.biggreensmile. 

com, www.naturalcollection.com 

and www.lovelula.com. 

Feed your skin 

Boost a healthy diet with a vitamin 

supplement. Manifesto’s Beauty 

gummies (£39.90, www.manifestonutrition.co) 

are a good choice as 

they’re packed with vitamins and 

antioxidants and taste great. The 

hero ingredient is astaxanthin, 

which has been found to improve 

skin’s elasticity. There’s also zinc, 

biotin and Vitamin A to help 

strengthen your hair 

and nails, collagen 

boosting Vitamin 

C, and other 

ingredients 

your skin will 

thank you for.

17 

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18 

Fresh starts 

Give your New Year’s resolutions a helping hand… 

Running Made Easy – Lisa Jackson and Susie Whalley 

Whether you’ve got your mind set on running a marathon this year, or you just want to 

complete Couch to 5K, this book could prove as invaluable as the right pair of trainers. Within 

its pages, you’ll find plenty of tips, running plans and advice, mainly aimed at beginner 

runners. Perhaps most importantly, however, you’ll also find lots of motivational real-life 

stories of people who’ve used running to dramatically improve their lives.. 

The Book of Hopes – Edited by Katherine Rundell 

This book brings together poems, short stories, essays and illustrations – all designed to ‘comfort, 

inspire and entertain’. It’s perfect for dipping into on a coffee break or when you’re in need of a moment 

of solace. While it’s aimed at children, there’s no reason why The Book of Hopes can’t be enjoyed just as 

much by adults. A beautiful book to give or receive. 

Everyday Cook – Donal Skehan 

Is your New Year’s resolution to cook more meals from scratch? Most of the recipes in Everyday Cook 

are designed to take you from fridge to table within half an hour. (Some dishes can be whipped up in 

just fifteen minutes.) There are also meals to freeze for days when you really don’t have the energy to 

cook. The recipes might be simple, but they’re far from boring. Think Cheat’s Spring Risotto, Kung Pao 

Chicken and Aubergine, and Spicy Prawn Aglio e Olio. 

The Wildlife Gardener – Kate Bradbury 

British wildlife has declined dramatically over the last few decades. Once common species, such as 

the hedgehog, are under threat. If you want to play a role in helping to reverse the decline, this book 

is a good starting point. It’s packed with practical tips on encouraging all manner of wildlife into your 

garden. You’ll find step-by-step projects, ideas for plants and plenty of gorgeous photography. And 

you’ll also be taught how to identify some of your new garden visitors. 

Farrow & Ball Recipes for Decorating – Joa Studholme 

Planning to refresh your home in 2022? Before you go anywhere near a paintbrush, get some advice 

and inspiration from the experts. Farrow & Ball’s no-nonsense guide covers everything from creating 

different moods using colour, to tackling common problems such as dark rooms and small spaces. 

There are several case studies and tons of photos. Whether you’re craving an ultra-modern living room 

or want to bring some country-cottage comfort to your kitchen, this book is for you. 

The Sustainable(ish) Living Guide – Jen Gale 

Going green can feel pretty daunting, but this book sets out small steps we can all take to help combat 

climate change, reduce plastic and cut waste. It’s about making more conscious, informed choices – 

from small swaps that you’ll barely notice to more impactful life changes. There are no lectures, no guilt 

trips and no preaching – just relatable, easy-to-read advice and ideas.

19 

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Cover photo © Ian Bonnell Photograpthy 

Education spEcial 

WoodvalE Walk 

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21

22 

Rotary Success 

The Wigan Rotary Club’s fundraising efforts in December 

raised almost £5,000. 

Restrictions introduced in December meant that the 

club were prevented from carrying out a full range of 

fundraising activities in the run up to Christmas, but 

despite these restrictions, Santa and his helpers toured 

many Wigan housing estates on a float throughout 

December and also raised funds via Santa Zoom sessions 

for Wigan’s toddlers. 

Wigan Rotary President Santi Nandi was delighted 

with the efforts, “I would like to thank all the parents, 

grandparents, children and friends who met Santa via 

Zoom or on the float. 

“Thank you for the generosity in supporting us in this 

second year of the zoom venture. 

“Along with the takings from our famous float collection 

this will enable Wigan Rotary Club to continue their 

support for local, national and international charities to 

which we are committed. 

“The comments we received along the routes are heartwarming, 

an amazing testament to the organisation put 

in to bring it all off”. 

Hamper Winner 

The competition to win a Lancashire Day hamper, featured 

in the November issue of Local Life was won by Gemma 

Walls. Gemma’s mother Joan Walls (pictured) of Coniston 

Avenue in Ashton-in-Makerfield collected the hamper on 

Gemma’s behalf. Thank you to all who entered. 

Theatre & Sports 

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There are a wide range of other facilities available, 

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For more information or to book, please contact Dean Trust Wigan on: 

01942 511987 ext. 7509 or email stuartparry@deantrustwigan.co.uk 

Dean Trust Wigan | Greenhey | Orrell | Wigan | WN5 0DQ 

www.deantrustwigan.co.uk

23 

Footy for Her 

Women’s Walking football sessions are now up and 

running at Wigan Athletic’s Academy on Stadium Way, 

off Scot Lane in Newtown. 

These indoor sessions take place at 2pm on Fridays at 

the venue and are hosted by Age UK Wigan Borough, 

assisted by Winstanley Walkers FC, Be Well and Wigan 

Athletic Community Trust. 

Potential footballers of all abilities are welcome, even 

complete beginners, and these sessions represent a 

great way to have fun, meet new friends and keep fit. 

In addition, free refreshments are available after each 

session. 

For more details call Steven Edwards on 01942 615880 or 

email steven.edwards@ageukwiganborough.org.uk 

Afternoon Fun 

If you’re looking for some good company or a few 

ideas on how to while away an afternoon, then the 

Wrightington Pensioners Association would like to invite 

you to their weekly meetings. 

The group meets every Tuesday afternoon at the 

Pensioners Hall at St James the Great Church on Chisnall 

Avenue in Wrightington (WN6 9RR) between 1.30-4pm, 

to enjoy an afternoon of bingo, whist and dominoes, 

along with a cup of tea and a chat. 

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Fete Slots 

Would you like to host a stall at the next Shevington 

Fete? Booking has opened, so you can bag your spot for 

this year’s event on Saturday, June 18. 

Stalls cost from £10, and all stallholders must have valid 

public liability insurance at the time of the fete. 

For more information or to book your place, please email 

shevingtonfete@outlook.com or go online at www. 

shevingtonparishcouncil.net/fete-stalls/

24 

Faith on the Streets 

By Nicola Gray 

When people say, ‘charity begins at home’ they often 

mean that you should look after your own circle first 

and then extend your kindness to people in the wider 

community. This isn’t the case though for local charity, 

Wigan Street Pastors; their mission is to come to the 

rescue of vulnerable people on the streets of Wigan and 

in turn make their community safer. 

Wigan Street Pastors are led by a local coordinator and 

have support from local churches and community groups 

in partnership with the police, Wigan council and other 

statutory agencies. Street Pastors is basically the Church 

in action on the street, responding to a crisis. It is about 

volunteers rolling up their sleeves and getting involved 

in practically responding to the problems of crime and 

safety in their area. 

The overall mission is to provide a calming presence, a 

listening ear and practical help to vulnerable people in 

the night-time economy of Wigan, showing God’s love 

to anyone and everyone they meet. Being a street pastor 

can look like so many things, but what does this help look 

like in a practical sense? 

The volunteers often find themselves being a listening 

ear for someone who in that moment really needs it; or 

just providing some practical help by giving out water, 

flip flops, space blankets to help keep people warm and 

spikeys, which can be placed into bottles to help prevent 

drinks being spiked. 

The street 

pastors are 

often able 

to sign post 

people to 

services that 

can really help 

them; and other 

times they are 

just making 

sure that people 

get home safely. 

Ultimately their 

caring services 

are used as a tool that they use to be the hands and feet 

of Jesus; to show kindness and compassion and the love 

of God to everyone they meet. 

The Wigan faction is a growing team of volunteers from 

local churches, the group currently stands at 6 active 

members and is growing all the time. The team undertook 

their first patrol in November 2017, and they are still 

patrolling on Friday and Saturday nights four years later 

reach more and more people in a vulnerable position. 

Up until last year the team had been patrolling the town 

centre streets from 10.30pm to 4am and then COVID 

hit, and everything stopped. The pandemic obviously 

stopped teams from going out as we the nature of the 

role puts volunteers up close with the people they are 

trying to help, and they couldn’t put their volunteers at 

risk. The team were efficient when it came to re-training 

when restrictions were lifted, and they have been back 

out on the streets over the Christmas period. 

The charity largely runs on donations from the church 

and with services being stopped during lockdown, like 

many other organisations, they have felt a real financial 

hit, and any donations or financial support would be 

greatly appreciated. 

The aim for the future is to recruit and train more 

volunteers, requirements are simple, to be a Street Pastor,

25 

Review Of 

The Year 

QUIZ 

you must be 18+ and you must have been a member of a 

Church for 12 months or more. You will be required to fill 

in an application form and your church leader will also be 

asked to provide a reference for you. 

All Street Pastor volunteers must undergo a full DBS check 

and commit to 42 hours of training including dealing 

with drugs and alcohol, listening skills, knowing your 

community, first aid, mentoring and police awareness. 

If you would like to learn more about the Street Pastors 

and their initiatives, become a volunteer or if you would 

like to donate, please get in touch and see how you can 

help. 

Donations 

www.paypal.com/paypalme/WiganStreetPastors 

Email 

wigan@streetpastors.org.uk 

Web 

www.streetpastors.org 

1. Which computer pioneer and codebreaker 

features on the new Bank of England 50 pound 

note that entered circulation in 2021? 

2. Before later admitting it was an April Fool’s joke 

to help promote its upcoming electric cars, 

which car manufacturer said in a press release 

that it was changing the fourth letter in its name 

to a “t”? 

3. At the 2021 Brit Awards, who became the first 

ever all-female group to win the Best British 

Group award? 

4. Which online fashion retailer bought the brand 

Debenhams in January and the brands Burton, 

Wallis and Dorothy Perkins in February? 

5. Name the only two players to score for England 

in the penalty shoot-out of the UEFA Euro 2020 

Final. 

6. Which British city was stripped of its UNESCO 

World Heritage status in 2021 due to 

developments along its waterfront? 

7. In 2021, El Salvador become the first country in 

the world to make what legal tender? 

8. Instead of its usual course on the River Thames, 

the 2021 University Boat Race was held in 

Cambridgeshire on a stretch of which river? 

9. 2021 saw which 83-year-old become the oldest 

ever person to win an Academy Award for acting? 

10. Name the three countries who finished above 

Great Britain in the medal table at the 2020 

Summer Olympics. 

Quiz solutions can be found on page 71 of this magazine

26 

Hospice Homeless Care 

Wigan and Leigh Hospice have been awarded a grant 

of £25,000 by The Masonic Foundation for a project to 

support people who have palliative and end of life care 

needs and do not have a permanent home. 

Initially the project, led by the Hospice in your Care Home 

team in partnership with Wigan Council, is focussed on 

getting as many staff as possible who work with homeless 

or vulnerably housed people onto the hospice’s 12-week 

training course in palliative care. 

Debbie Jones, Manager of Hospice in your Care Home, 

said, “We want to ensure that the wishes and preferences 

of the homeless and vulnerably housed are heard and 

respected, so that they have equal access to palliative 

and end of life care. 

“We also want to identify people with health problems 

earlier on, rather than reach them only in the last 12 

months of life, so support is in place before it is needed. 

“These are people who rarely access hospice services and 

we want to remove barriers to improve end of life care 

and promote choice and dignity.” 

Organisations working with the hospice and Wigan 

Council’s Homelessness Services include The Brick; 

Health Outreach team; and the Drug and Alcohol Service. 

Debbie added, “We feel that hospice care should be 

available to anyone who needs it, and we are excited that 

this project will help us to reach these harder to reach 

communities but also educate staff who work with these 

vulnerable individuals. 

“Therefore, even if they don’t access to hospice care 

directly, they will have benefitted from our expertise in 

palliative and end of life care.” 

Councillor Keith Cunliffe, cabinet portfolio holder for 

adult services and deputy leader of Wigan Council, said, 

“We are really pleased that Wigan Council is able to 

work alongside Wigan and Leigh Hospice to deliver this 

important service.”

27

28 

Is sitting the 

new smoking? 

According to a growing number of experts, sitting is 

the latest health hazard to look out for. But why is a 

sedentary lifestyle so bad for us, and what can we do 

about it? 

Working from home, online shopping and periods of selfisolation: 

since the first lockdown, many of us will have 

noticed that we’re sitting down more than ever before. 

Unfortunately, this change of lifestyle comes at a cost. 

Evidence suggests that excessive sitting can expose us to 

a range of health issues, from backache and varicose veins 

to diabetes. The reason? Humans were built to stand, with 

the heart, cardiovascular system and bowel functioning 

far more efficiently when we’re upright.

29 

Now, this isn’t great news for the thousands of us that 

have desk-based jobs – but don’t lose hope just yet. There 

are lots of things you can do to help: 

Invest in a standing desk 

If you work in an office or from home, one of the easiest 

ways to reduce your sitting time is to invest in a standing 

desk. 

Standing is certainly better for us than sitting. However, 

there is evidence to suggest that standing still for long 

periods of time isn’t hugely beneficial to our bodies either. 

Balance is key; start by standing for 30 to 60 minutes a day 

and gradually increase until you’re alternating between 

standing and sitting every hour. 

Take regular breaks 

It can be hard to motivate yourself to leave your desk 

during the working day. However, taking regular breaks 

– even if it’s just to grab a cuppa – can make a world of 

difference. 

In the office and need to send an email? Get away from 

your desk and relay the message in person. Working from 

home and fancy a coffee? Treat yourself by taking a walk 

to your local cafe. And on days when you’re too busy to 

take a lunch break, set a timer to remind you to stretch or 

have a little walk around. 

Sit the right way 

If you’re spending much of your working life at a desk, it’s 

important to invest in an office chair that will help you 

perfect your posture. 

Choose a chair with lumbar support to ensure your lower 

back curves to the shape of the chair, and make sure it’s 

adjusted so your feet are resting on the floor. You should 

also avoid crossing your legs and try to keep your back 

straight as much as you can. Doing so will make the hours 

you do spend sitting as comfortable as possible. 

Get some exercise 

Evidence suggests that we need between 60-75 minutes 

of moderate-intensity activity per day to combat the 

dangers of excessive sitting – but the more frequent the 

better. You’ll be glad to hear that this doesn’t mean you 

have to hit the gym every day. Moderate exercise could 

be a brisk walk on your lunch break, a light bike ride or 

even those slightly more exerting cleaning duties, such as 

vacuuming, window cleaning or mopping the floor. 

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32 

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33 

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34 

Reducing your 

Meat Intake 

The headlines about meat-eating are 

all about why you shouldn’t. The main 

focus is on how rearing animals for 

food is a major contributor to climate 

change, but you don’t have to look far 

to understand that animal welfare and 

personal health are also significant 

motivators for the increased adoption 

of a more plant-based food intake. 

It was recently reported that over the last decade, the UK’s 

meat consumption dropped by 17%. That’s a great start, 

but although we know why we should consider this new 

way of eating, the how seems to have less attention. Let’s 

look at some simple changes that might help in making 

your diet less focused on animal products. 

Cooking from scratch 

The easiest option is to eat pretty much as you always did, 

but to use meat-free alternatives. 

Mince, burgers, 

sausages, fish and 

chicken all have 

vegan substitutes 

available and in 

some cases it’s really 

quite difficult to spot 

the difference. Even when it’s not a perfect replication 

of meat, it’s just as tasty so you won’t mind the change. 

Beyond Meat burgers are a good example of this and are 

available in some supermarkets and in many pub and 

restaurant chains. 

Giving up dairy and eggs takes a bit of getting used to. 

Oat milk is the winner for its sustainability credentials, 

with almond milk now generally frowned upon. Butter 

substitutes have been around for years; vegan cheese is 

available but is a bit of an acquired taste. Replacements 

for eggs depends on the recipe, so you’ll have to do your 

research. 

If this way of eating is going to stick, you’ll want to try 

some new recipes. The internet is full of vegetarian and 

vegan cooking ideas, but you’ll notice they typically have 

considerably more ingredients than meat-based meals 

do, including herbs and spices. If you love cooking and 

have lots of jars of flavourings in your cupboards you 

won’t mind this. Otherwise, you might want to consider 

a ready-to-cook option. 

For this, the booming market of recipe boxes is a great 

start. British company Gousto offer around 60 recipes 

each week, with 20% vegan and a further 30% vegetarian 

(meaning over half the meals don’t contain meat). 

Around 80% of HelloFresh meals contain meat so they are 

not a great choice but their sister brand GreenChef and 

another company Mindful Chef are both worth a look.

35 

Ready-to-eat 

The supermarkets have a selection of plant-based ready 

meals, which is particularly good if you need something 

quick or are eating alone. Frozen meal deliveries are 

available from a number of companies, including Planty 

and Allplants. 

Take-away food is a bit more challenging – chicken, 

pizza and kebabs feature at the top of the list of the most 

popular purchases. It is possible though and the online 

menus should offer a clear indication of which of their 

options are vegetarian and vegan. 

Eating out 

What you don’t want is to go to a pub or restaurant where 

there are just a couple of non-meat choices tucked away 

at the bottom of the menu. You should be offered many 

of the same options as usual but in a veggie version, and 

some recipes that are specifically targeted for non-meat 

eaters. Even better is a restaurant that has a specific vegan 

menu, and Wagamama deserve recognition for having 

introduced this at the start of 2021. 

Ideally, choose a vegetarian restaurant that is guaranteed 

to have vegan choices too. You can search on TripAdvisor 

Increase your 

Sales in 2022! 

for ‘Vegetarian friendly’ 

and ‘Vegan options’ 

from the dietary 

requirements. However, 

the eatery can qualify 

for this even if they only 

have a couple of dishes. 

A better place to start 

would be Happy Cow 

(happycow.net) as 

there’s far more of a 

focus on plant-based 

restaurants and cafes. 

A general Google search is also useful, or your local 

Facebook group will have lots of people giving you 

recommendations (or ‘avoids’). 

Be realistic 

Like any new regime, a wholesale overnight change will 

be challenging and will often lead to failure. But even 

if you could just do one no-animal-products day each 

week, you will have cut your meat intake by 14% and 

in time you’ll realise that you often prefer the veggie or 

vegan option. 

Prices start 

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36 

Blueberry 

Custard 

Tarts 

These fruity tarts have a rich 

creamy custard filling with a 

crisp pastry case. If you prefer 

you can use shortcrust pastry. 

Makes: 8 

Ready in: 1 hour, plus cooling 

Ingredients 

75g caster sugar 

3 medium egg yolks 

2 tbsp cornflour 

1 tsp vanilla extract 

350ml milk 

500g puff pastry, thawed if frozen 

Flour, for dusting 

100g fresh blueberries 

Method 

1. Whisk the sugar, egg yolks, cornflour and vanilla extract together 

in a heatproof bowl until smooth. Heat the milk in a pan over a 

medium heat until almost boiling. Whisk the hot milk into the egg 

mixture then pour back into the pan. Gradually bring the mixture to 

the boil, stirring all the time, until a smooth custard forms. 

2. Remove the pan from the heat and cover the surface closely 

with greasproof paper to prevent a skin forming. Leave to cool 

completely. 

3. Meanwhile roll the pastry out on a lightly dusted surface to a 3mm 

thickness. Stamp out eight 12cm rounds of pastry and use to line 

eight 8cm fluted tartlet tins. Prick the bases with a fork and chill in 

the fridge whilst the custard is cooling. 

4. Preheat the oven to 200C, 180C fan, gas mark 6. Divde the cooled 

custard mixture between the pastry cases and scatter over the 

blueberries. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until the pastry is crisp and 

golden. Serve warm or cold. 

TIP: Place a baking sheet in the oven to heat up then place the filled tartlet tins on it for baking. The extra burst of 

heat will help to ensure a crisp pastry base.

Chilli & Lemon Seafood 

Spaghetti 

37 

Serves: 4 

Ready in: 20 mins 

Ingredients 

400g spaghetti 

2 tbsp virgin olive oil 

2 garlic cloves, crushed 

Small pinch of dried crushed chillies 

2 whole dried chillis, halved lengthways 

Zest and juice of 1 large lemon 

100ml dry white wine 

150g raw king prawns 

150g squid rings, thawed if frozen 

Handful fresh mussels, cleaned (see TIP) 

2 tbsp fresh finely chopped coriander, 

plus extra sprigs to garnish 

Salt and freshly ground pepper 

Handful fresh basil leaves, to garnish 

On the table in less than 30 minutes, this is a a great 

speedy supper to serve any day of the week. Serve 

with slices of toasted ciabatta and a rocket salad. 

Method 

1. Bring a large pan of lightly salted water to the boil. Add the pasta and cook 

for 12 minutes, or according to the packet instructions, until just tender. 

2. Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large, deep pan over a medium heat. Add 

the garlic and stir for 2–3 minutes until soft, but not brown. Add the chilli 

flakes and whole chillies and cook for 1 minute then stir in the lemon 

zest and juice and wine. Bring to the boil and let the liquid bubble for 1 

minute. 

3. Add the prawns, squid and mussels to the pan and cover and simmer for 

5-6 minutes, shaking the pan occasionally, until the prawns are pink and 

the mussels have opened (discard any that remain closed). 

4. Drain the pasta and add to the pan with the chopped coriander. Toss well 

to coat the pasta in the pan juices. Season to taste with salt and freshly 

ground black pepper. Serve in warmed pasta bowls garnished with the 

coriander sprigs and basil leaves. 

TIP: Scrub the fresh mussels clean and pull away the straggly ‘beards’. Discard any that don’t shut tightly when 

firmly tapped.

38 

BRIDAL FAYRE 

Fashion show by Trudy Smith Bridal Boutique 

Sunday 30th January 2022, 12-3pm 

Come along, view the beautiful bridal suites 

and chat with our preferred suppliers. 

Includes photographer, venue dressing, gowns, grooms wear, stationery, 

hair and makeup, jewellery, cars, entertainment, cakes and chocolate fountain. 

Lancashire Manor Hotel | Prescott Road | Pimbo | Nr Wigan | WN8 9QD 

01695 567260 

www.lancashiremanorhotel.com

39 

Life-Changing 

If anyone doubts the value of the inspirational quote 

‘With one kind gesture 

you can change a life’ 

then Dave Green’s story might give you cause to re-consider.

40

41 

When Dave’s dad was with the 

RAF in Aden in the late 50s, he 

bought an AGFA camera that he 

later passed onto a 10 year old 

Dave in the early 70’s, together 

with instructions on how to 

use it. That kind gesture set 

Dave on a path to developing a 

talent that has not only brought 

lifetime enjoyment but has also 

enhanced his career. 

Brought up in the area around 

Ashton Heath, Dave’s early years 

included spells at St Thomas’ 

Primary and Ashton Grammar 

School, and one of his first jobs 

was working for Manchester 

City Council as a Land Surveyor. 

When Wigan Council were working on Atherleigh Way 

in the early 1980’s, the call went out for a computerliterate 

surveyor to help with the project. Dave secured a 

secondment onto the project, and later moved to Wigan 

Council in the Engineers Department. 

Dave said, “It was the time when PC’s appeared overnight 

on peoples’ desks and later I was the designated lead 

officer for IT liaising with Central IT. So I was helping to 

install PC’s and setting colleagues up on the network etc”. 

He also spent time developing his graphic design skills 

and worked on an in-house magazine for the Engineering 

department, before moving to the Planning Department 

as a Graphic Designer, a job title he took with him to the 

newly-formed Communications Department in 2008 and 

quickly becoming the go-to guy for council photography. 

On the home front, Dave has lived in Winstanley with 

his wife Lorraine for the past thirty years, and the couple 

have two daughters and a son. 

In early April 2020, Dave’s world stopped when he 

caught Covid-19 and he ended up in Wigan Infirmary. It 

was a grim time for the photographer and 

his family as he was moved from ward to 

ward. After seeing fellow patients die, he 

volunteered to try the C-PAP treatment 

which was undergoing trials, where patients 

are subject to continuous positive airway 

pressure via very tight and bulky mask. 

Suffering from a shoulder and hip injury 

from his martial arts days, Dave found the 

C-PAP mask unbearable at night as patients 

are required to sleep on their fronts. After 

speaking to the doctor, Dave recollects that 

he received a stark warning “You can sleep 

on your front and we’ll fix up your shoulder 

and hip for you later on, or you can sleep on 

your back and probably die – it’s up to you.” 

After ten days, he went home but 

faced months of outpatient treatment 

at Wrightington Hospital undergoing 

physical therapy and counselling, even

42 

now, he estimates he’s only 90% the man he used to be. 

“It’s changed my life in quite a number of ways”, states 

Dave. “It brought home what is really important in life. 

Your health and your family.” 

a small selection of the thousands of Dave’s images that 

have brought pleasure to Wiganers over the years – thank 

you Dave and enjoy that retirement! 

Dave recently retired after spending 32 

years with Wigan Council. The ubiquitous 

presence of Dave and his camera was felt 

at pretty much every main Council event of 

the past couple of decades, and if there was 

an award for most recognisable face from 

the council, he’d surely be up there with the 

nominations. 

“The Council have been so supportive of 

me, I can’t speak highly enough of how I was 

treated by everyone there, and they gave 

me a fantastic send-off too”, said Dave. 

So, what now for Dave? 

“I have some freelance work lined up over 

the next few months, some for the council, 

but I’m going to enjoy my retirement and 

spend more time with my grandson, Oliver, 

who is just 8 months old”. 

In these pages, we’re privileged to carry just 

Photo Credits: Dave Green & Wigan Council

43 

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44 


January is a great time to catch up on all those household 

chores and get going with an early ‘spring’ clean. Make 

it more enjoyable and planet-friendly by choosing goodlooking 

tools and eco-conscious supplies. 

This coconut fibre scourer 

has a bamboo handle, both 

of which are plant-based and 

biodegradable; the stainlesssteel 

wire is easily recyclable. 

Bambaw reusable bamboo 

dish brush, £6, beaumonde. 

co.uk. 

Good-looking storage makes organisation 

more enjoyable. 

Matt black steel and bamboo caddy, £10; 

all-purpose hob cleaner, £3; bamboo and 

plastic scrubbing brush, £2; bamboo round 

dish brush, £2; all dunelm.com. 

Make light work of house cleaning 

• If you can’t bear the thought of tackling all the 

cleaning at once, divide it into manageable tasks, 

and devote perhaps an hour a week – or else tackle 

one room at a time, maybe over a weekend. 

Generously sized and made from pure 

cotton, this gingham apron features a pair 

of handy patch pockets. 

Auberge apron in Wedgwood blue, 

£16.99, waltonshop.co.uk. 

Take the effort out of everyday cleaning. 

Long-handle dustpan and brush, £25, 

gardentrading.co.uk. 

The sustainable 

way to clean dirty 

dishes. Simply 

compost when 

finished with them. 

Natural latex 

rubber gloves, £3, 

zerozen.co.uk. 

• Be prepared. Have a thorough clear-out and tidy, 

change into old clothes and rubber gloves, and 

gather the necessary equipment and products. 

This is where a sturdy caddy, a tool belt, or an apron 

with plenty of large pockets becomes invaluable – 

keeping everything with you as you go will save lots 

of time. 

• As you work, try to be organised, whether it’s one 

room at a time or one task at a time. The chores will 

generally divide into five main areas: vacuuming, 

dusting, mopping/scrubbing, washing and wiping, 

and polishing, so bear this in mind when planning, 

so as not to miss anything out. 

• Don’t forget specific tasks such as turning 

mattresses, spot-cleaning upholstery, deepcleaning 

the oven, defrosting the freezer, descaling 

the shower head and steam cleaning carpets. 

• Work from the top of a room to the bottom (in other 

words, dust the pendant light before polishing the 

table beneath it). Prioritise the hardest-to-clean 

item in the room to do early on – then the rest of 

the room will be a breeze.

45 

This eco-friendly cleaner works on a range of high-gloss 

surfaces, and comes in a reusable aluminium bottle along 

with a microfibre cloth. 

Glass cleaner starter pack, £6.99, wearthlondon.com. 

Make light work of dusting without the need for toxic 

chemicals. 

Living Nostalgia genuine natural ostrich feather duster, 

kitchencraft.co.uk. 

These heavy-knitted cloths can be used, washed, and used again. 

Bleached stockinette dishcloth, £1.79, waltonshop.co.uk. 

This lemon-scented washingup 

soap bar is 100% natural, 

biodegradable, plastic-free and 

contains no palm oil. 

Dish-washing soap bar in lemon, 

£7.99, suusco.com.

46 

What Will House Prices 

Do In 2022? 

When Boris and Co won the election in December 2019, it was 

a turning point in the housing market. A new Government 

with a sizeable majority meant certainty for the markets, 

and estate agents nationwide reported an immediate 

increase in prices and interest, dubbed the ‘Boris Bounce’. 

Just 50 days later, on 31st January, a very unwelcome 

visitor landed in the UK – the COVID-19 virus - and by the 

time the country was subsequently locked down on 23rd 

March, there were fears that the growing housing market 

activity would be curbed again as a result. 

Instead, we have seen one of the busiest 18-month 

periods in the housing market in more than a decade. 

Around one in 16 homes in the UK changed hands this 

year, fuelled by a mix of the pandemic-led reassessments 

of lifestyle, the need to work from home and maximise 

living space, and the tax break of the stamp duty holiday. 

The demand in the market has caused a tightening 

of housing stock levels, and put upward pressure on 

house prices, with the annual rate of house price growth 

now at 6.9%. House prices in Wigan have increased by 

approximately 8% in the last 12 months, but the number 

of new properties coming to the market in Wigan is 

slowing. House prices are still increasing but at a slower 

rate, suggesting the property market may be starting to 

moderate. 

My housing market prediction for 2022? 

I expect buyer demand to climb again as we move into 

Q1 of 2022. While the stamp duty holiday has ended, 

demand from buyers remains 28% higher than average, 

suggesting that the property market has further to run 

this year. Supply levels will also begin to rise again, as new 

listings are typically 50% higher at the end of January 

compared to the beginning of December. 

As we move through 2022, supply pipelines will have a 

chance to rebuild after the busy early year market and the 

balance between supply and demand normalises. This is 

one of the factors that will ease the upward momentum 

on pricing. 

Alongside this, next year will mark the emergence of 

economic headwinds as the rising cost of living, and 

potentially mortgage interest rates, creates an impact on 

household finances. 

Even with several quarter point interest rate rises though, 

mortgages will remain relatively low compared to longerterm 

norms, and the fact that many homeowners with 

mortgages are on fixed rates will shelter parts of the 

market from any immediate impact. 

It remains to be seen how many properties will be sold in 

2002, but I do not expect as many will be sold as this year, 

but still more than previous years. 

To summarise then, I expect more properties will be sold 

in 2022 than average, though not as many as 2021. House 

prices will continue to rise in value, but I expect a slowdown 

in the rate of growth and by the end of 2022, I expect house 

price growth to be running between 3% and 5%. 

Alan Batt is a member of The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and has 

worked within the Wigan property market for over 40 years. 

Alan Batt 

For more of Alan’s tips, guidance and analysis on the Wigan property market, check out his blog at 

www.alanbatt.co.uk

How much 

is your house 

worth? 

Scan Me! 

Place your phone camera over me to find out 

how much YOUR house is worth. 

Wigan Office • 78 Market Street, Wigan WN1 1HX 

01942 233 999 

www.alanbatt.co.uk

48 

Active 

2022! 

It’s been almost two years since Covid-19 entered our lives and changed them 

for the worse. A Covid-free world doesn’t appear to be happening any time 

soon, so we’ve been out and about looking for some inspirational activities for 

you to try in 2022. As the saying goes, life is not a dress rehearsal, so let 2022 

be the year when we embrace activity, healthiness, and happiness! 

A 

rt 

Where better to start our 2022 awakening 

than art? Ashton Art Group is a great place to 

discover your inner artist. The group meets weekly every 

Tuesday at 8pm-10pm at the Community & Childcare 

Centre in Hilton Street in Ashton-In-Makerfield (formerly 

the YMCA). 

There is no formal tuition, but the group runs 

demonstrations and workshops which help to develop 

skills and ideas and run regular life model sessions. 

www.ashtonartgroup.co.uk 

Back to Sport 

Whether you are looking to play recreational 

sport, meet new friends, access coaching or play 

competitive sport, then get in touch with The Back to 

Sport team. As part of Wigan Council, they can help you 

to enjoy a wide range of leisure and sporting activities. 

If you are an individual or a group interested in taking 

up regular sports activities including netball, walking 

football and badminton then get in touch with the team 

on 01942 828535 or go online at www.wigan.gov.uk/ 

BacktoSport

C heerleading 

Give me a C, give me an H – you get the idea 

but on a serious note Cheerleading classes can 

be a whole lot of fun! The Wigan Vipers Cheer squad is a 

fun and friendly place, filled with family values! 

They offer classes in cheerleading, pom dancing, urban 

cheer and tumbling, they even have a masters pom dance 

class for anyone over 25. www.wiganvipers.co.uk 

D iving 

Discover the world of scuba diving with Mid 

Lancs Sub Aqua Club; formed in 2005 this 

group trains divers from the age of 12 and upwards, as 

well as organising interesting scuba diving expeditions in 

the UK and overseas. 

Pool sessions take place at Wigan Life Centre every 

Tuesday from 8pm-10pm and the club meets every 

Monday night at 8pm in Standish at the Unity Club on 

Cross Street. www.divemidlancs.co.uk 

E 

ducation 

There’s a whole host of opportunities to further 

your education and expand your knowledge 

with Wigan & Leigh College, Wigan Council and further 

afield with St Helens College! 

With everything from digital skills, short online courses 

to floristry and photography on offer, there’s never been 

a better time to take up lifelong learning. Check out the 

websites for more details. 

www.wigan.gov.uk/Resident/Jobs-Careers/Adultlearning-course 

www.wigan-leigh.ac.uk/adult-courses 

www.sthelens.ac.uk/adults/adultcourseguide 

F oraging 

You can take part in foraging and other 

sustainable activities with the team at the Carbon 

Landscape Partnership, who look after the wetlands in our 

area. Brass rubbing, hedge planting, making birdboxes, 

bug hotels and nature art are just some of the actions 

undertaken by the group. 

For more information about the group or how to get 

involved in their events please go online at www. 

facebook.com/carbonlandscape 

G eocaching 

Geocaching is a hi-tech treasure hunt for the 

digital generation; individuals and groups set 

up caches (hiding places for small items) and you try 

to find them using the GPS location coordinates. With 

hundreds of caches in Wigan alone you won’t be lost 

for places to hunt. And the best bit – the treasure hunt 

is always in your pocket should you travel further afield. 

www.geocaching.com 

H iking 

Wigan & District Ramblers are a seasoned 

group of walkers who love to get out and about 

walking for their health, pleasure and appreciation of our 

wonderful countryside, including everything from family 

footpath walks, 12-mile coach rambles and weekends away. 

For information and bookings, feel free to contact Geoff 

Stanley on 01257 482799 before 9.00 p.m. or email 

info@wigananddistrictramblers.org.uk 

In Bloom 

This horticultural competition has been running 

across British villages, town and cities for almost 60 

years. But In Bloom is more than a competition, it gives 

residents a chance to make their neighbourhood a more 

aesthetically pleasing place. 

There are groups already established in Appley Bridge, 

Shevington, Orrell and Ashton, but if you want to set 

up a group in your area, you can do this via the RHS at 

www.rhs.org.uk/get-involved/britain-in-bloom/register 

www.wigan.gov.uk/Resident/Leisure/In-Bloom 

J ogging 

49 

You’ve spent the entire Christmas holiday binge 

watching Netflix and finishing off the Quality 

Street. Now it’s time to get moving! For many people 

Couch to 5K is the beginner plan of choice. 

However, if you’re not in great shape, you might want to 

try a ‘lite’ version of this idea called None to Run, which is a 

free alternative that takes things at a slower pace. There’s 

also a paid-for app which can guide you through each run 

on your iPhone or Apple Watch. 

www.nhs.uk/live-well/exercise/couch-to-5k-week-byweek/ 

www.nonetorun.com/

50 

K arate 

Wigan Goju Ryu Karate Club was formed in 

1999 and has introduced hundreds of students 

to karate and produced many adult and cadet black belts. 

But if your ambitions aren’t that lofty, that’s fine too, most 

members share goals of fun, exercise, and fitness at their 

base at Robin Park Leisure Centre. Adults and children 

welcome – check out the website for details. 

www.wigankarate.co.uk 

Litter Picking 

If you’re looking to make your community tidier 

by picking up litter, just check out the Wigan 

Litter Pickers group on Facebook. The group consists of 

over 1,500 members from across the borough who take 

pride in their own little patch of town. 

If you are interested in getting involved in litter picking 

or to book litter pickers, bin bags, and a waste collection, 

please request online at www.wigan.gov.uk just search 

for ‘volunteering’. 

M ovies 

Wigan Cinema Discussion Group is a 

monthly club that brings together film 

fans to talk about the many aspects of cinema. Agreeing 

in advance which films to watch, the group meet every 

month at a chosen location for evenings of informal 

discussion that can be as serious, moving, light-hearted 

or technical as you would like it to be. 

www.facebook.com/groups/wiganfilm/ 

N etball 

If you know your Goal Attack from your Goal 

shooter then you’ll know how to play netball, 

but did you know that there’s a thriving Netball league 

in Wigan? The Wigan Roses Netball league has 10 teams 

playing in the league, meeting at Newbridge School 

in Platt Bridge and Dean Trust Wigan in Orrell every 

Wednesday night. 

www.wiganroses.co.uk

O rienteering 

If you’re a keen walker who wants a bit of a 

challenge, then you might like to take a peek 

at the world of orienteering. With more than 60 courses 

popping up within a 25-mile radius of Wigan, including 

parkland, virtual and wheelchair accessible routes, you’re 

sure to find something that takes your fancy. 

www.goorienteering.org.uk 

Pedalling Power 

If you’re new to cycling or looking for moderate 

exercise only, then check out Wigan Borough 

Community Cycling Club. This group enjoy the great 

outdoors without an abundance of Lycra. They cycle 

every Tuesday and Thursday from Trencherfield Mill, 

covering up to 20-miles, with mandatory café stops. 

If you’re looking for a more high-powered challenge, then 

check out the Wigan Wheelers and Triathlon Club, which 

operates racing events and weekly time trials as well as 

swimming, cycling and running sessions. 

www.wbccc.uk 

www.wiganwheelers.org 

Quiz Nights 

Not the most active of pursuits admittedly, 

but the return walk to the local pub, and the 

mental efforts in recollecting the year when the Warriors 

won their first Challenge Cup etc. is better than sitting on 

the couch watching Corrie. 

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52 

Roller Skating 

Getting fit can be a tedious slog sometimes, but 

there’s one imaginative way to achieve fitness 

and have fun too! Roller-skating has wheeled through 

many dips and rises since its beginnings in the 1880’s but 

is undergoing a new surge in popularity. 

Wigan Roller Rink boasts Europe’s biggest indoor wooden 

rink and is a destination the whole family can enjoy. 

www.wiganrollerrink.com 

S inging 

If you would like to take your vocal cords out for a 

spin in 2022, then Wigan Community Choir is the 

choir for you. They believe that if you can talk, you can 

sing! 

Working under the musical direction of Imelda Shirley, 

they sing anything from traditional choral and foreign 

language songs to folk and pop. 

For more information about rehearsal times and 

venues please go online at www.facebook.com/ 

groups/276111479794 

Table Tennis 

A recent study showed that table tennis 

improved more brain function than dancing, 

walking or gymnastics. Not only that, it’s a great way 

to keep fit all year round. Wigan Table Tennis Club is 

a competitive but friendly setup, whose members 

practice and hold coaching sessions at Platt Bridge 

Community Centre on Victoria Street. So, whether you 

want to play in the local leagues or take advantage of 

their bat and chat sessions for the over 55’s, get in touch 

www.wigantabletennis.com 

U 3A 

If you take one thing away from this feature it’s 

this: If you’re no longer in full time work and 

you want to get (or stay active), then join the Wigan U3A! 

U3A is a UK-wide movement of locally run groups that 

provides a wide range of activities for its members. 

The Wigan U3A, has hundreds of members and acts as a 

gateway to dozens of activities taking place across the 

town. Members also can enjoy social events and coffee 

mornings. Membership is just £10 a year and you can join 

as many interest groups as you like, for which there may 

be an additional charge. www.u3asites.org.uk/wigan 

V olunteering 

There are dozens of groups in the Wigan area 

that are looking for volunteers to help them 

do their good works. You can help support a range of 

schemes including youth justice, mentoring, community 

work and more. 

Check out the website below to help you choose from a 

selection of local volunteering opportunities. 

www.wigan.gov.uk/Council/The-Deal/Volunteering 

Forget the jam-making, today’s 

Women’s Institute is a modern 

organisation suitable for all ages. 

During the pandemic, members 

rushed to support foodbanks, arrange book deliveries 

and create craft kits for families home-schooling their 

children. Local WI’s meet in Appley Bridge, Standish, 

Parbold, Newburgh, Aspull & Haigh. www.thewi.org.uk 

X-perience Days 

Fancy ticking off a few things on your bucket 

list in 2022? This website contains a glut of 

active experiences. Fancy a flying lesson, doing Britain’s 

highest bungee jump, rock climbing, quad biking… you 

can find these and thousands of other experiences on the 

website below. www.experiencedays.co.uk 

Y oga 

The benefits of Yoga are well documented, and 

you too can improve your strength, balance 

and flexibility in 2022 by giving yoga a try. Hot yoga is 

supposed to increase these benefits and can leave you 

feeling calmer – and you can try it in Standish at Yogatown 

on Almond Brook. www.yogatown.co.uk 

Z zzz 

Experts believe sleep and exercise have a 

bidirectional relationship. In other words, the 

more active you are during the day, the better quality 

of sleep. And getting an adequate amount of sleep may 

promote healthier physical activity levels the day after.

53 

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54 

Get in the Zen 

Help yourself make it through 

the final stages of winter with a 

home refresh that includes natural 

materials, uplifting colours, snuggly 

textures and delicious scents. 

Every year, Dulux colour experts 

translate global design trends into the 

new Colour of the Year. The shade for 

2022 is Bright Skies, an airy and fresh 

tone that opens up and breathes new 

life into any space. dulux.co.uk. 

Prioritise Comfort and Calm 

• Let in the light! Clean your windows, pull your 

curtains back and make sure blinds don’t hang 

down and obscure the sunshine. There’s no greater 

feel-good factor than natural light, especially 

necessary at this time of year. 

• Choose colours for the way they make you feel. 

For cocooning at home, the best bets may be soft, 

nature-inspired colours such as sky blue, misty 

green and pastel pink. 

• Choose natural materials as much as possible. 

From wool and linen to bamboo and oak, they look 

gorgeous, have an enjoyable texture and don’t ‘offgas’ 

noxious chemicals into your home. 

Complete with Blue Lace Agate 

crystals, this hand-poured, luxury 

soy wax candle is infused with 

natural essential oils to help you 

de-stress, with soothing scents of 

sweet orange, rose geranium and 

ylang ylang. 

Time for Calm Blue Lace agate crystal 

candle, £32, aroralondon.com. 

• Use all your senses. Add snuggly throws and 

cushions for the ultimate in comforting texture, and 

ensure that your home does not echo unpleasantly 

by throwing down soft rugs and, where necessary, 

adding wall hangings to dampen down unnecessary 

sound. 

• Create a feeling of relaxation with careful choices 

of home fragrance. Natural wax candles made 

with essential oils are better for you than paraffin 

candles that use synthetic fragrances, or an electric 

diffuser will fill your home with soothing scents and 

can safely be left unattended. 

Make a statement 

(and do some 

calming hanging 

around) with an 

indoor/outdoor 

hanging chair. 

Nest hanging rattan 

outdoor chair, £395, 

roseandgrey.co.uk.

55 

Combining a natural, organic quality with a curvy, 

contemporary design, this light would work as well above a 

dining table as it would in a living space or a bedroom. 

Lark pendant light in natural bamboo, £189, cultfurniture.com. 

Fill with water, add a few drops of essential oil, and at 

the touch of a button this pretty polyresin diffuser will 

infuse the air around you with a fine mist of scented 

vapour, as well as emitting a relaxing ambient light. 

Made by Zen gem diffuser, £67.99, dobbies.com. 

A simple desk, great storage, plenty of light and a gorgeous view: what 

could be nicer for your home office? 

Vandsted bamboo desk, £149.99; Vasby velvet dining chair, £79.99; both 

jysk.co.uk. 

Woven from 100% recycled plastic, this 

contemporary garden rug is lightweight yet 

weather-resistant and durable, perfect for 

adding colour and style to your patio, decking 

or paved seating area. 

Ada Botanical outdoor rug (120 x 180cm), 

£17.99, homescapesonline.com. 

You won’t be able to resist 

cuddling this soft and tactile 

cushion, a lovely addition to a 

chair, sofa or bed. 

Lia faux sheepskin cushion, 

£56, lovasi.co.uk. 

This extra-deep love seat is soft and cosy, 

perfect for settling down with a good 

book or in front of a favourite movie. 

Truffle love seat chaise, £1,645, loaf.com.

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58 


Experiencing travel in the 

past few months has been 

like riding a rollercoaster. 

The excitement of once 

again being able to travel 

has been thwarted by the 

need to produce passenger 

locator forms and adhere 

to ever-changing traffic 

light guidelines. 

If there’s one upside for 

those who have reduced their travel in 20/21, it’s that 

most have increased funds available to spend on future 

holidays. The expectation of the travel industry is that 

we’re likely to be more discerning when choosing future 

holiday locations. 

So, who’s ready for the adventure of a lifetime? Welcome 

to Iceland. 

One of Europe’s most magical and unforgettable spots, 

Iceland is a picture-perfect destination for travellers. 

Dubbed the land of fire and ice, Iceland is a captivating 

country where volcanoes, glaciers come together to 

create a landscape that is like nowhere else on Earth. With 

friendly locals, spectacular scenery, lots of adventure, and 

a lively party scene, everyone should experience Iceland 

at least once in their life. 

From the seasoned city 

break traveller looking 

for something new, to 

the adventurous family 

set on a road trip round, 

and the hedonistic party 

lover looking for an 

‘Instagrammable’ hotspot 

– Iceland is a destination 

for all. 

Iceland is also becoming 

an increasingly popular cruise destination, especially for 

those who want to reach Iceland’s natural wonders and 

wildlife. A selection of cruises from Fred.Olsen depart 

from Liverpool and allows tourists to explore Iceland’s 

most incredible highlights. 

Here’s eight places that should be on your ‘Must Visit’ list 

for Iceland: 

Reykjavik blends Nordic heritage with a contemporary, 

distinctly unique style, and this lively city is compact, 

cosmopolitan and refreshingly different. Its charming 

downtown of painted timber homes is watched over by 

the soaring and unforgettable spire of the Hallgrimskirkja 

church, while oodles of hearty Scandinavian vodka bars 

and taverns litter the streets. 

Mt. Kirkjufell

59 

Seljalandsfoss Falls 

Twenty-five miles from the capital is Iceland’s most visited 

tourist attraction, The Blue Lagoon. Despite its 

volcanic nature, the site was formed from the remnants 

of a geothermal power plant in the 1970s. The mineralpacked 

waters, – the reason for the shimmering, whitish 

hue of the lagoon – is the driving force behind the spot’s 

famed healing powers. 

The majestic Gullfoss Waterfall roaring over the 

escarpments and bluffshas long been a highlight for 

tourists. It’s famous as one of the world’s most dramatic 

waterfalls, and cascades over a series of stepped rocks 

and terraces before plunging over a 100ft high gap 

seemingly disappearing into the Icelandic subterrane. 

The waterfall can often be arched over by rainbows 

or shrouded in plumes of mist, added to the graphic 

effects. 

As the self-proclaimed capital of Iceland’s North, 

Akureyri boasts one of the most beautiful harbours 

in the country, whilst the town and its surrounding fjords 

and mountains make it one of the most charming places 

to visit. This fishing port and seaside gem is packed with 

interesting independent cafes and teahouses, while 

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60 

Husavik 

Skaftafell Ice Cave 

the Hafnarstraeti shopping street offers up countless 

boutiques and craft stores. 

An easy 50-minute drive from the capital, Strokkur 

Geysir (after which all geysers are named) is the most 

popular fountain geyser in Iceland. This highly active hot 

spring area lies by the Hvítá River and is a popular stop for 

tourists. Boiling mud pits and around 100 other smaller 

geysers are waiting to be explored here. ‘Hot Spring’ 

bread is popular with visitors too, rye bread that’s been 

baking in hot springs for 24 hours. 

Fully expanding on the multitude of attractions in 

Iceland would have filled this issue of Local Life and a 

few more besides. If there’s anything that the past two 

years have highlighted though, it’s the importance of 

making the most of your holiday time. In fact, it’s time 

to ditch holidays and go on adventures instead – and 

Iceland certainly qualifies as an adventure not to be 

missed! 

Vatnajökull National Park is one of three national 

parks in Iceland and consists of glaciers and stunning ice 

caves. The best time to visit Skaftafell Ice Cave is during 

winter after heavy rain has washed the top layer of the 

glacier away. If seen at the right time, the cave is bathed 

in spectacular blue light. If you are in healthy shape, you 

might consider doing a glacial trek in the park with an 

experienced guide. 

Grundarfjördur is approximately 2½ hours from 

Reykjavik and is a small town centrally located on the 

north coast of Snaefellsnes peninsula. The town lies in 

a picturesque fjord, surrounded by mountains, with 

Mt. Kirkjufell looming as a striking landmark. Eyrbyggja 

Heritage Centre holds exhibitions on Grundarfjördur’s 

seafaring history and this is the information centre for the 

whole peninsula. 

Húsavík is known as Europe’s number one spot for 

whale and dolphin watching; in most summers, the tour 

operators have 100% sighting rates. This picturesque 

town, which enjoys gorgeous views over Skjálfandi Bay, 

has many cute cafés and restaurants. Close by is Lake 

Mývatn, a shallow volcanic lake known for its flora and 

fauna, and Vatnajökull National Park. 

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 

www.millthropcottage.co.uk

61 

Bespoke Kitchens ~ Bedrooms ~ Studies & Media Units 

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n Media quarter now open in showroom 

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Trade 

Customers 

welcome 

Unit 4, Conway Trading Estate, Skull House Lane, Appley Bridge, WN6 9DW 

‘2 minutes from M6 J27’ 

CabinetMastersNorthWestLtd 

www.cabinetmastersnorthwestltd.com 

Showroom Opening Hours: 9am-5pm Mon- Thur, 9am-4pm Fri, 9am-1pm Sat

62 

Investment Mistakes 

Firstly, here’s to a happy, healthy, 

and Prosperous 2022 to all Local 

Life readers. Whilst life is slowly 

starting to creep back towards 

some form of normality, there 

remains lots of opportunities 

and challenges for both new and 

existing investors. 

Although there has been concern 

around Covid throughout 2021, 

markets have generally performed well, and investors will 

have enjoyed decent gains. It is really important however 

that investors are not swayed by emotion and/or shortterm 

market movements as investment fundamentals 

remain key for successful long-term investment . 

There are several common errors that investors can make 

– here’s a few to look out for. 

Unrealistic Time Horizons 

Usually, investors are far too conservative. With medical 

treatment becoming far more effective, most people are 

now living far longer than they imagine they will. Clearly, 

the danger is that funds will be depleted before their lives 

are over. It is important to have a sound financial strategy 

that will provide stability throughout one’s life. 

Investment Objectives / Portfolio Strategy 

Aligning your investment objectives with your portfolio 

strategy is critical to determining your long-term 

investment success. Generally, the longer the investment 

time horizon, the more risk one can take on. Too many 

investors focus on short-term volatility rather than 

focusing on long-term probabilities of achieving their 

objectives. Those with a short time horizon objective that 

overly expose themselves to risk can create a real danger 

of asset loss during a short-term period of volatility, which 

can put their entire financial future in jeopardy. 

Overlooking Risk Factors 

Managing a diversified portfolio can be fraught with 

hidden risks. Too often portfolios are overexposed to 

certain risk factors that were never properly recognised. 

Factors such as sector, country and currency all play 

David Barton 

APFS Cert CII (MP) 

Chief Executive Officer 

a role in a sensibly diversified 

portfolio. Quite often two different 

securities that, on the face of it, 

appear different, can have similar 

correlation, and consequently 

market factors can affect both 

holdings in the same way. 

Ignoring Global Markets 

If you suffer from a home country 

bias (even with diversification 

across different sectors) the returns are still in part linked 

to the overall economic performance and political climate 

of the home country. Geographical diversification is a key 

part to building a well-constructed portfolio that will 

grow your assets. Investing abroad can help strengthen 

your portfolio by creating a larger pool of opportunities 

from which to find worthy investments. 

Over Confidence 

It is only natural to experience emotional fluctuations as 

you watch the ups and downs of the market each day, after 

all it’s your financial future. Many investors focus on their 

successes and forget the mistakes they have made and this 

may lead to taking on excessive portfolio risk. That is why 

it is vital to create an environment that is detached from 

emotion, one that relies on data and impartial analysis to 

make the right decisions for your financial future. 

Have you made any of these mistakes? 

It is very difficult to avoid all investment pitfalls - even for 

the most experienced of investors. Many investors simply 

do not have the time or resource to process the vast 

amount of data available, and then to apply it correctly to 

their personal investment requirement. 

If you need any guidance please do not hesitate to 

get in touch on 01257 423800. The initial consultation 

is at our expense and is without obligation. 

The value of investment and the income from them can fluctuate which may result in clients receiving 

less than initially invested. Past performance should not be seen as an indication to future returns.

64 

Puzzle Pages 

CROSSWORD 

across 

3. Onyx marble (9) 

8. Crack in a lip caused usually by cold (4) 

9. Pretending one set of feelings and acting under 

the influence of another (3-5) 

10. Glacial period in Earth’s history (3,3) 

13. Greek muse of love poetry (5) 

14. Painfully desirous of another’s advantages (7) 

down 

1. Copyist, scribe (9) 

2. Implanted device that controls heartbeat (9) 

4. Milky plant substance that coagulates on 

exposure to air (5) 

5. Sell illicit products such as drugs or alcohol (7) 

6. Unwanted email (4) 

7. Fencing sword (4) 

11. Mental illness in which the mind is dominated 

by a single thought or idea (9) 

12. Of a triangle, having two sides of equal length (9) 

14. Container used to store jam, dried fruit, etc (3) 

15. Facility caring for the terminally ill (7) 

18. Make cloth by interlacing threads (5) 

19. Strong, forceful wind (4) 

20. Mammal having partially webbed feet; valued 

for its fur (4) 

15. Ugly, evil-looking old woman (3) 

16. Citizen who has a legal right to vote (7) 

17. Devoutly religious (5) 

21. Breathe out (6) 

22. Early Christian church (8) 

23. Bake in a kiln so as to harden (4) 

24. Apiarist (9) 

Wordwheel 

Using only the letters in the Wordwheel, you have ten 

minutes to find as many words as possible, none of 

which may be plurals, foreign words or proper nouns. 

Each word must be of three letters or more, all must 

contain the central letter and letters can only be used 

once in every word. There is at least one word that uses 

all of the letters in the wheel. 

target 

Excellent: 20 or more words 

Good: 16 words 

W 

T 

N 

R 

I 

E 

Fair: 12 words

65 

WORDSEARCH 

Music 

Banjo 

Drum 

Bass 

Flute 

Bodhran 

Guitar 

Castanet 

Harp 

Cello 

Mandolin 

Chimes 

Oboe 

Cittern 

Pennywhistle 

Clarinet 

Piano 

Cornet 

Cymbal 

Didgeridoo 

Sitar 

Tambourine 

Trumpet 

Viola 

Violin 

SUDOKU 

word LADDER 

Change one letter at a time (but not the position 

of any letter) to make a new word - and move from 

the word at the top of the ladder to the word at the 

bottom, using the exact number of rungs provided. 

FOOT 

WIGGLE WORDS 

CLUE: to talk 

nonsense and say 

things that aren’t true. 

Trace a path through all 

the letters to find the 

word or phrase that fits 

the clue. 

R I A T 

T F H O 

O O L L 

B E F U 

YARD 

All the puzzle solutions can be found 

on page 71 of this magazine

66 

CMA Accountancy 

Self Assessment - on Time, Saves Fines! 

By Kieran Fitzgerald MAAT 

We’ve spent the last few editions discussing all things 

MTD and Xero, however it’s time to dial in and talk 

about the one thing you’ve put off the whole year… Self- 

Assessment. The deadline for the Self-Assessment 

Return for the Tax Year Ending 5th April 2021 is fast 

approaching. You need to ensure you have submitted 

your return online by 31st January 2022. 

Remember, a Self-Assessment Return isn’t purely for the 

self-employed, you need to complete a return if you: 

• Are a director of a limited company 

• Receive income from renting out a property 

• Have earnings relating to your savings, investments 

and dividends 

• Receive income from foreign sources 

• Earn tips or commission payments 

If you earn more than £1,000 from these sources then you 

fall within the criteria to submit a return, so get in touch 

as soon as possible if you think this might apply to you! 

If this is your first year submitting a Self-Assessment 

Return, perhaps because you finally took the plunge and 

set up a side hustle during the COVID lockdowns, you may 

be unaware of complexities in the UK tax system for those 

who submit Self Assessments, and could find yourself 

with a higher tax bill that you were expecting! 

In addition to the tax you owe for the current year, you 

may be required to make ‘payments on account’ towards 

next year if you are a UK taxpayer, who pays less than 80% 

of your income tax at source, and your overall tax bill for 

the year is over £1,000. 

Payments on account are advanced payments towards 

your following year’s income tax bill. The amount that you 

have to make for each payment on account is equal to half 

of your previous year’s tax bill. So, if your tax bill for the 

2020/21 tax year is £2,000, then you would need to make 

two payments on account of £1,000 (totalling £2,000) 

toward the 2021/22 tax bill. 

Payments on account are due on the 31st January during 

the tax year, and the 31st July after the end of the year. 

For instance, you will be required to make payments on 

the 31st January 2022 and 31st July 2022 towards your 

income tax for the 2021/22 tax year, based upon your 

earnings for the 2020/21 tax year, despite the fact that 

your Self-Assessment Return will not be due until 31st 

January 2023 for the 2021/22 tax year. 

If the payments on account you make are greater than 

the next tax bill you have, the difference will be refunded, 

either via a bank transfer/cheque or by deducting the 

refund from your next tax bill. 

If you haven’t got all of this in hand, allow us to take the 

burden from you and complete this on your behalf. We 

might be able to help you claim certain tax reliefs you 

have not previously considered, and reduce your tax 

bill! Get on top of your Self-Assessment now and allow 

yourself a stress-free New Year. 

Our expert team of accountants are ready to help with 

all aspects of your Self-Assessment needs. Check out 

our website at www.cma-accountancy.com for the latest 

and greatest tips, and you might want to sign up to our 

weekly newsletters whilst you’re there! 

Check out our website at www.cma-accountancy.com for 

the latest and greatest tips, and you might want to sign 

up to our weekly newsletters whilst you’re there! 

Kieran Fitzgerald – CMA Accountancy 

39 Skull House Lane, Appley Bridge, Wigan, WN6 9DR 

01257 255521 info@cma-accountancy.com 

www.cma-accountancy.com

67 

Do you need 

help and 

guidance with; 

Company Accounts? 

Auto Enrolment? 

Self Assessment? 

Cloud-based Software? 

Payroll Services? 

Making Tax Digital? 

AE 

SA deadline 

VAT 

Benefits 

SA 

FREE 

INITIAL 

CONSULTATION 

Call CMA Accountancy today 

www.cma-accountancy.com 

info@cma-accountancy.com 

Skull House Lane, Appley Bridge. 01257 255521

68 

Used car bargains: 

the models that are escaping 

the big price rises 

In recent months, with new car production badly affected 

by a shortage of components – namely due to limited 

supplies of semiconductors, which are used in everything 

from reversing cameras to safety assistance systems – 

buyers are flocking to used cars like never before. 

It’s having a huge knock-on effect on the prices of used 

cars too – especially on the models with long waiting 

times for a brand-new version. In fact, recent data from 

automotive analysts Cap HPI showed that values rose 

by 20.3 per cent in a five month period, with some cars 

jumping in value by nearly 50 per cent in that time. 

It means that used cars are now pricier than they’ve 

ever been. However, there is still a range of models that 

continue to offer great value for money. Here are the used 

car bargains still available. 

BMW X3 M Competition 

BMW’s M division is best known for its sports saloons 

like the M3 and M5, but these days the brand’s sporty 

SUVs play an equally important part. Take the X3 M 

Competition, for example, the brand’s entry-level M 

model in the SUV line-up – though with its 503bhp twin 

turbo 3.0-litre engine under the bonnet, it’s far from basic 

in terms of performance. 

If you wanted a new model it would set you back an eyewatering 

£83,000 (and that’s before you’ve chosen any 

optional extras). But by looking at used versions instead 

you can save a considerable chunk of money. We found 

a 2020 car with just 5,000 miles on the clock for £60,000, 

which is a vast saving off the original list price.

69 

Vauxhall Astra 

Though Vauxhall’s 

Astra might not be 

the most aspirational 

car in its class, that 

has never harmed 

its popularity. And it’s this that works to its advantage if 

you’re looking for a bargain, as with the huge choice of 

models available, it helps to guarantee you a great deal 

on a used example. 

So while the soon-to-be-replaced Astra might cost you 

£20,000 new, by looking at nearly-new versions you can 

quite easily save yourself well in excess of £5,000. We 

spotted a 2020 car with under 10,000 miles on the clock 

for just £13,495 – you’d struggle to find a new city car for 

that price. While it’s often overlooked, the Astra is still 

good to drive, looks good and has a practical interior that 

is ideal for families. 

Volkswagen Arteon 

Sometimes the best trick to finding a used car bargain is 

to choose a car that flies under the radar, and one great 

example is the Volkswagen Arteon. It’s the brand’s most 

‘executive’ model these days, yet despite its striking 

design it’s often cast aside by buyers who favour a more 

premium badge. 

By doing so they’re missing out on its refined driving 

experience, upmarket interior and efficient engines, 

though. However, you can use this to your benefit, as 

a 2020 car in high-spec R-Line trim with low miles is 

available from around £26,000 – an almost ridiculous 

£13,000 less than the list price of a new example. So, while 

used car values might be rising at a silly rate, there are 

most certainly still bargains that can be had. 

Audi e-tron 

Due to the increased 

popularity of electric 

cars, it often means 

bargains are quite 

rare. One exception to that rule is the Audi e-tron – the 

brand’s flagship SUV – which, despite its high-quality, 

tech-laden interior and comfortable drive isn’t holding its 

value quite as well as you might expect. 

But that just makes it a terrific used buy, especially as a 

2020 car with under 10,000 miles on the clock can be had 

for £45,000 – a huge £15,000 saving on what you’d pay 

for a brand-new model. Just be aware that this applies to 

the ‘50’ model with the smaller battery option, which only 

allows for an electric range of around 200 miles. 

Mercedes SL 

While Mercedes 

might be gearing 

up to launch its new 

‘SL’ as its convertible 

flagship, its recently axed predecessor is well worth 

your attention. Though more old-school in its character, 

this glamorous drop-top is still dripping in class, with a 

punchy engine that would prove effortless on the longdistance 

trips this Mercedes is meant for. 

Though no longer available to buy new, a factory-fresh 

version would have set you back upwards of £80,000. 

But today, you could expect to find a one-year-old 

example with just a few thousand miles on the clock for 

around £65,000 - a very generous saving off the original 

asking price. 

Vehicle Repairs ~ Servicing 

Diagnostics ~ Air Conditioning 

Exhausts ~ Tyres ~ MOT’s 

Unit 3 – Otterswood Square 

Martland Mill Ind. Est. 

Wigan WN5 0LF 

01942 211 986 

07961 135 393 

www.jdmechanical.com 

info@jdmechanical.com 

JD Mechanical Services 

For friendly 

advice, affordable 

rates and over 30 

years expertise, 

call us today.

AIR-CON SERVICING 

70 

M.O.T. & Service Centre 

WE NOW OFFER HYBRID SERVICING 

O MOT (Cars, Light Commercials & Motorcyles) 

O Hybrid Servicing 

O Service & Repairs (Petrol & Diesel) 

O Air-Con Servicing 

O Diagnostics 

O Tyres 

Tel: Allan 01257 254934 | www.ataylorautorepairs.co.uk 

7 Appley Lane North, Appley Bridge, Nr. Wigan, Lancs WN6 9AP 

Call Chris on 01942 215 111 or 07969 357 751 

www.cosmeticar.co.uk 

Scuffs/scratches mended 

Minor dents repaired 

Alloy wheel repairs 

No Vat charged 

We’ll beat any quote! 

PCP or lease 

coming to an 

end? 

Call me 

now and 

save 

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We’ll fix your; 

Paintwork Scratches 

Bumper Scuffs 

Alloy Wheel Damage 

Minor Dents 

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charged! 

Quality repairs with a lifetime guarantee. 

Mobile Service – we come to you! 

For your free estimate, call Dave on 

07970 915 504 

c/o JW Gaskell Garages, 

Dingle Garage, Dingle Road, Up Holland, WN8 0EN 

Car Paintwork Repairs

71 

Services 

Repairs 

Diagnostics 

for all makes & models 

MOT Testing Centre 

for Class 4 

ExperienceReliabilityExpertise 

Dingle Garage, Dingle Road, Upholland, WN8 0EN 

Telephone: 01695 624 261 

www.jwgaskellgarageservices.co.uk 

Open: Monday-Friday, 8.30am-5pm & Saturday 8.30am-12.30pm 

Puzzle Solutions 

CROSSWORD 

WORDWHEEL 

Across: 3. Alabaster, 8. Chap, 9. Two-faced, 10. Ice age, 13. Erato, 14. Jealous, 15. Hag, 

16. Elector, 17. Pious, 21. Exhale, 22. Basilica, 23. Fire, 24. Beekeeper. 

DOWN: 1. Scrivener, 2. Pacemaker, 4. Latex, 5. Bootleg, 6. Spam, 7. Épée, 11. Monomania, 

12. Isosceles, 14. Jar, 15. Hospice, 18. Weave, 19. Gale, 20. Mink. 

aNSWER: 

WINTER 

T I 

W N 

E 

R 

WORDSEARCH SUDOKU WIGGLE 

WORDS 

PUB QUIZ 

To Be Full of Hot Air 

WORD 

LADDER 

Here is one possible 

solution (others may exist) 

FOOT 

hoot 

hood 

hoed 

heed 

herd 

hard 

YARD 

1. Alan Turing 

2. Volkswagen 

3. Little Mix 

4. Boohoo.com 

5. Harry Kane and Harry Maguire 

6. Liverpool 

7. Bitcoin 

8. The Great Ouse 

9. Anthony Hopkins 

10. USA, China and Japan

72 

What is good 

garden design? 

Award Winner 

Hubby has a favourite saying. It goes something like 

“I thought the garden was finished”. Well for me, the 

design of your garden is every bit as important as 

the interior design of your home, and as your home 

is continually undergoing changes in terms of redecoration, 

new furniture and so on, so it is with the 

garden. 

A well planned garden that is good to look at will 

make you want to use it all year round and in these 

days of limited space the best gardens work as an 

extension of the home. The key to success is the 

coming together of practicality and good looks. 

Garden design is all about making your outside 

space work for you by matching your needs and 

wants with the constraints of your plot ie. size, aspect, soil 

type and so on. These are the things you can’t change. 

Gardens also have to fulfil a number of needs – planting 

to give texture and colour and to soften hard landscaping; 

space for relaxation, entertaining and cooking; room 

for childrens’ play, and space for growing some herbs or 

vegetables. 

Here are my top design principles: 

• Use texture to create interest – both in planting and 

hard landscaping 

• Incorporate a lawn and whenever possible - real grass 

if you can - not the plastic variety. A lawn gives a 

wonderful foil for planting, it is safe for children to play 

on, environmentally sound and good for wildlife 

• Use focal points around the garden and in borders to 

by Angie Barker 

draw the eye and make your garden unique. This can 

be something as simple as a large pot or bird bath 

• Include more than one seating area wherever space 

allows. This will give you the option of viewing the 

garden from a different aspect and at different times of 

the day in sun 

• Decide what style or look you are going for – clean 

lines suggest contemporary whereas curves are more 

traditional. You should try and blend the look with the 

style of your house 

• Above all, the garden must meet the needs of your 

family and work for them 

So as the new year gets underway, give some thought 

to your outside space, because now could be the perfect 

time to make some changes. (Hubby puts his head in his 

hands). 

Angie is a qualified awardwinning 

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 

www.angiebarker.co.uk 

Award Winner

Garden 

Make-Overs 

Before 

After 

•Landscaping 

•Driveways 

•Decking 

•Design 

Call for free estimate 

Colin 07958 302 166 

Brian 07760 160 988 

Wilson Brothers 

01695 633173 

www.wilson-bros.co.uk 

SMN 

Tree and Landscape Management 

Tree Felling & Pruning 

Site Clearance 

Tree Surveys and Reports 

Invasive Weed Control 

Ground Maintenance 

Agricultural & Domestic Fencing 

Firewood & Woodchip 

Woodland Maintenance 

24 Hour Emergency Tree Work 

West Lancashire Borough Council 

approved contractor 

Wigan Council approved contractor 

Day: 07970 521 692 

Eve: 01942 214 121 

www.smntrees.co.uk 

steve@smntrees.co.uk 

3 Tree Dismantling, 

Felling & Pruning 

3 Crown Reduction, 

Thinning & Lifts 

3 Pollarding 

3 Removal of dead, 

dying & diseased 

trees 

3 Stump Grinding 

3 Hedge Trimming & Removal 

We also sell hardwood seasoned logs 

Call today for your FREE quotation: 

01257 435501 07805 325231 

www.jjhtreesolutions.co.uk 

73 

Garden Design & 

Quality Landscaping 


Quality work & reliability 

at competitive prices 

Garden makeovers with artificial 

grass a speciality 

Call today for a 

FREE quote 

01942 510 986 

07710 405 214 

Quality Fencer 

required for 

these pages 

Call 01695 627 999 



Complete Solution to all 

Garden & Tree Services 

• Garden maintenance 

• One-off clearances 

• Treework 

• Landscaping 

Approved contractor West Lancs BC 

Call Iain today for friendly 

advice and a free quote 

Tel: 01695 632773 

Mob: 07724 298193 

www.hands-onlandscapes.co.uk 

Billinge-based 

QUALIFIED & INSURED 

FREE ESTIMATES 

TELEPHONE: 

01695 623 909 

07903 290 878 

www.gardenrescue-treeservices.com 

www.treetechsolutions.co.uk 

• All tree work 

• Hedge cutting 

• Grounds maintenance 

• Stump grinding 

NO JOB TOO SMALL 

EMERGENCY CALL OUTS WELCOME 

Call Wes for a free quote on 

07713 121135 / 01695 363630 

BILLINGE BASED

74 

Driveways - Paving 

Fencing - Turfing 

Decking - Artificial Grass 

Our aim is to deliver a 

creative, personal service 

adhering to our customers 

requirements and within 

budget. 

All aspects of garden design 

& build - from large projects 

to small makeovers 

www.pdhomeandgarden.co.uk 

07946 751308 

01942 206503 

Felled 

Topped 

Pruned 

Re-Shaped 

Stump Grinding 

• 

• 

• Gates and railings 

• Repairs and restorations 

• Ironwork and welding 

• Traditional forge work 

25 years of expertise 

Tel: 01695 721877 

Mobile: 07951 764202 

The Barn, 286 Ormskirk Road, Upholland 

GARDEN GATES 

£159 

fitted 

Call 

Graham 

07801 300 842 

01257 425 958 

www.ashfieldhomeimprovements.co.uk 

crown reduction 

Fencing 

Flagging 

Turfing 

Artificial Grass 

Call us today for a free 

no obligation quote 

07879 024070 

01925 271108 

01942 387067 

crown Thinning 

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OFF 

ALL 

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Email: fourseasons.treespecialists@gmail.com 

• Landscaping 

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WE WON’T BE BEATEN ON 

QUALITY OR PRICE 

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OFFICE 

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MOBILE 

07796 494 463 

All tree work including 

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• Stump Grinding Service 

• Fencing & Decking 

• Turfing & 

Artificial 

Grass 

Man 

& Digger 

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75 

Trading Standards has a directory of local traders you 

can rely on. 

Find the borough’s best online at www.wigan.gov.uk/goodtrader 

or phone 03454 040506 

and ask for Wigan Council’s Good Trader Scheme. 

Call Paul 

Locksmiths 


A Registered Insured NCFE Certified Company 

Call Paul for a Fast, Reliable, Professional Service 

• UPVC & WOODEN DOOR SPECIALIST 

• Emergency Door Opening 

• UPVC Door Lock Repairs 

• UPVC Door Lock Changes 

• UPVC Door Lock Upgrades 

• Wood Door Lock Changes 

• All Work Guaranteed 

TELEPHONE 

01942 901103 

MOBILE 

07932 718362 

WWW.CALLPAULLOCKSMITH.CO.UK

76 

A.J.S. 

BAILEYS 

ELECTRICAL 

All electrical work undertaken 

Free quotations 

• Friendly reliable service 

• Mains board upgrades 

• Extra sockets to full rewires 

• Cctv & Ajax wireless alarm 

01942 215 769 

07739 709 005 

a Installation & Maintenance 

a Inspection & Testing 

a Nest Pro Installer 

a CCTV & Alarms 

Tel: 07738 117712 

Orrell based 

Jon Wright 

Electrical Ltd 

All types of 

Domestic & Commercial 

work undertaken 

• Inspection & Tests 

• Repairs 

• Solar PV 

• Alarms 

Call now on: 07983 387448 

Email: jonwrightelec@live.co.uk 

Certificate of excellence winner 

2017, 2018 & 2019 

Call: 0800 6446100 

or 07904 127663 

Covering all North West Areas 

4 NAPIT part ‘P’ registered 

4 JIB Approved Technician 

4 38 Years Experience 

4 Local, Honest & Reliable 

4 Domestic 

4 Industrial & Commercial 

JIB Approved Electrician 

All domestic electrical work 

24/7 call out service 

Friendly, reliable & 

professional 

Call 07557 795 892 

www.johnboughey-electrical.com 

Parbold/Wigan Areas 

J.Dillon 

Electrical Services Ltd 

Electrician ~ Standish 

• All types of electrical work 

• 30+ years experience 

• Friendly, fast and reliable 

• 24 hour call out service 

Call: 01257 424918 

or 07821 139826 

www.jdillonelectrical.co.uk 

W.Hurst & Son Ltd 

ELECTRIC 

CONTRACTOR 

www.whurstandson.co.uk 

• All types of electrical work 

• 35+ years experience 

• No job too small 

• Friendly and reliable 

For a free quote 

& advice call Jeff 

01695 622 191 

07850 622 191 

All Electrical Installations, 

Maintenance & Repairs 

From full re-wires to 

outside lighting to socket 

replacements 

No job too small 

24/7 emergency call-out 

with no call-out charges 

Over 30 years’ experience 

Call Steve on 

07874 352501 or 01744 368055 

www.billingeelctrical.co.uk

77 

Having a Clear Out? 

Whatever you’re clearing – call us today! 

• House & garden 

• Garage or Shed 

Fast, RELIABLE and 

PROFESSIONAL service 

northwestwaste 

• Office, Warehouse or Shop 

• Probate 

Our services are; 

4 Cheaper than a skip 

4 Fully licenced by the 

Environmental Agency 

4 Completed by smart and 

friendly staff 

The Meadows, Ruskin Drive, St Helens, WA10 6RP 

01744 758 349 / 07557 764 940 

Email: transport@northwestwaste.co.uk 

www.northwestwaste.co.uk 

Man 

& a Van 

available for 

removals 

• Interior & Exterior Decorating 

• Trustworthy & Reliable 

• Fully qualified with 15 years 

experience 

No job too big or too small 

Call Gavin for a free estimate on 

07870 632 041 

gavowen1984@gmail.com 

• Quality workmanship 

• Interior & exterior 

work 

• No job too 

big or too 

small 

01942 392398 

or 07707 321383 

Need a new 

look for your 

home? 

Skilled interior and 

exterior work undertaken 

at reasonable prices! 

Chris Smith - Painter and 

Decorator 

01257 415388 

or 07545 065119 

Shevington based business 

4 Exterior & Interior 

Decorating 

4 Domestic & 

Commercial work 

undertaken 

4 Competitive rate 

Award Winner 

Contact Graham now 

free estimate provided 

01257 426234 

07954 139069 

graham@topcoatdecoratingservices.co.uk 

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 

Quality Tiler 

required for 

these pages 

01942 212096 

07831 102 511 

www.jpmoorcroft.com 

Call 01695 627 999 

www.topcoatdecoratingservices.co.uk LocalLife www.locallife247.co.uk

for 

as 

78 

FROM 

£85 

regular sweep & checks 

new homeowner inspections 

professional & reliable 

01942 387079 

book online at mr-soot.com 

Quality Removals 

required for 

these pages 

Call 01695 627 999 



Wigan’s premier domestic 

cleaning service 

Aspinall’s 

Chimney Sweep 

• Chimney Sweeping 

• Chimney Pots & Cowls – supplied & fitted 

• Bird Nests removed & Birdguards fitted 

• Chimney Stacks re-pointed 

• CCTV Chimney Inspections 

No Mess Guaranteed! 

ContaCT 

Patrick 

for a free quote 

01942 375 076 

07449 456 980 

www.aspinallschimneys.co.uk 

e-mail patrick@aspinallschimneys.co.uk 

prices 

start from 

£45 

let us clean your oven so 

you don’t have to! 

• professional oven cleaning 

• environmentally friendly 

• we repair ovens too! 

call Steven on 07393 818 392 

www.ovenrescue.co.uk/wigan 

We only use 

reliable, vetted 

staff 

Cleaning in the 

Wigan area for 

10+ years 

• £11.95 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 

Design & Print 

Flyers, postcards, brochures 

Quality carpets & flooring, expertly fitted at competitive prices 

and distribution service. 

Luxury Vinyl Tiles (LVT) 

Carpets and Rugs 

Laminate Flooring 

Hard Wood Flooring 

www.bespoke-floors.co.uk | bespoke@wjdflooring.co.uk 

No.2 The Old Smithy, Church Road, 

Rainford WA11 8HD 

01744 88 55 14 

Bespoke Fl oring is the trading name of WJD Retail 

& Online Solutions Ltd – Company Number 1248484 


rural Vi lage 

NUrSErY 

A l staff 

paediatric 

& first aid 

QUALIFIED 

oPEN 

Mon-Fri 

8AM-6PM 

FUNDED 

PLACES 

Available for 

2/3/4 

year olds 

£37.50 

per day 

LANgUAgE 

& SPortS 

LESSoNS 

pre-schoolers 

Large 

outdoor 

PLAY ArEA 

rated by 

oFStED 

oUtStANDINg 

We cater for 

CHILDrEN 

3 months 

- 4 years 

NEWLY 

rEFUrBISHED 

in 2019 

Ca l Sarah on 01744 886166 for more information or admin@cranknursery.net 

www.cranknursery.co.uk 

For more information 

Call 01695 627 999 

Little Acorns Nursery 

QUALITY CHILDCARE YOU CAN TRUST! 

Open Mon-Fri: 8am ti l 5.30pm term time 

We operate a booking system for the 

holidays which saves you money 

We deliver 30 hours free entitlement 

£29 for a fu l day 

Flexible sessions available 

We take children from 2 years old 

Li tle Acorns Nursery is situated in a beautiful woodland 

se ting. It is a safe and vibrant place for your child to gain 

lots of wonderful educational experiences. 

We are big on the great outdoors & being down in the forest 

which is good for your child’s health and we l-being 


A l Saints’ Primary School | Finch Lane | Appley Bridge | WN6 9DT 

01257 252647 

www.li tleacorns-daynursery.com 


Get your oven 

looking like new! 

We clean ovens, hobs, 

microwaves and fans for over 

500 regular customers. 

Single ovens only £50 

We only use non-caustic, 

totally safe liquids. 

0151 430 0766 

0770 256 6393 

www.theovencleanersgroup.co.uk

79 

Carpet & Upholstery 

Cleaning 

• traditional service, state of the art results • 

• Carpets 

• Rugs 

• Fabric & Leather 

Upholstery 

5 star rating with Wigan Trading 

Standards Good Trader Scheme 

• Professional Carpet, Rug 

& Upholstery Cleaning 

• Leather Cleaning & Restoration 

• FREE Pre-Inspection Visit & Quotation 

T: 01942 409401 

M: 07881 816839 

helen@carrolls-cleaning.co.uk 

• Business Telephone 

Systems 

• Voip & Structured Cabling 

• Residential Extensions 

• Faults & Gen Enq 

Call today for a free consultation 

& no obligation quote 

Call - 01257 251221 

Mobile - 07908 770808 

www.manorhousecleaning.co.uk 

New Name - 

Same Fantastic Cleans! 

• Carpets - Quick Drying 

includes moving furniture for you 

• Upholstery - Fabric & Leather 

• Hard floors - Tile/Stone/Vinyls 

FREE Test clean to see the results 

• Curtains - Hassle free 

Cleaned where they hang 

• Rugs 

Collection & delivery service 

Call us 

today for 

a free quote 

01942 470 081 

We repair: 

4 Phones & Tablets 

4 Laptops & PC’s 

4 Gaming Consoles 

4 Apple Watches 

We also build 

gaming PC’s to all 

specifications. 

If we 

can’t fix it, 

no one 

can! 

QUALITY service 

FREE estimates 

FAST turnaround 

Call the Tech Guys on 01744 410554 

or email info@techguys360.co.uk 

www.techguys360.co.uk 

1st Floor, Rainford Parish Council Offices, 

Church Rd, Rainford, St. Helens WA11 8HB 

Tel: 01942 441221 

Askus@LJTelecomServices.co.uk 

www.LJTelecomServices.com 

Quality Upholsterer 

required for 

these pages 

Call 01695 627 999 



Arley Cabinet 

Company Ltd 

• Kitchens & Bedrooms since 1952 • 

We Measure ~ We Make ~ We Fit 

Drop into our 

showroom or call us 

for a free estimate 

214a Gidlow Lane, Wigan, WN6 7BN 

01942 246 190 

www.arleycabinets.com 

www.alliancecleaningsystems.co.uk 

e: sales@alliancecleaningsystems.co.uk

80 

Total Cleaning North West 

www.totalcleaningnorthwest.co.uk 

Unit 6a, 

1 Miry Lane, 

Wigan 

WN3 4AG 

One-stop cleaning jobs for your home and garden 

• Clean your dirty Driveway or Patio 

• Clear out your blocked gutters with our video SkyVac 

• Make your Conservatory sparkle • Render cleaning 

• Clean Gutters, Soffits and Fascias 

• We’ll leave Carpets & Upholstery clean and fresh 

Check out our fantastic 5* reviews on Facebook & Google 

Call or text David now for a no obligation quote 

£60 

FIXED PRICE 

GUTTER 

CLEARING 

ONLY 

01942 530483 • 07771 924 887 • www.totalcleaningnorthwest.co.uk 

Call Clint for a free no obligation quote 

01942 470 089 

07834 241 642 

www.conservatorycleaningwigan.com 

get your 

gutters 

cleared 

Book any service 

FREE! 

ROOF CLEANING 

• Moss Removal & Bio-Treatment 

• Softwashing / Low Pressure 

POWER WASHING 

• Driveways & Patios etc. 

CONSERVATORIES 

• Exterior & Interior (Cleaning) 

UPVC CLEANING 

• Windows, Fascias, 

Gutters etc. 

SPECIAL OFFER - 20% OFF ALL CLEANING PACKAGES

Quality Tiler 

required for 

these pages 

Call 01695 627 999 



Elite 

Bathrooms 

& Wet Room Installation 

• Bathrooms • Wet Rooms 

• Wall & Floor Tiling 

Please call for a FREE Estimates 

07703 448890 

01942 208926 

Great Value 

Bathrooms! 

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 

AGBathrooms.net 

Quality bathrooms at 

reasonable prices 

Complete bathroom 

installations from design 

to completion. 

For free quotes, call Adrian on 

07816 394 292 

Check out our work on 

www.AGBathrooms.net 

Convert your bath to a 

Walk-In Shower 

AJC 

WALK IN SHOWERS 

Typical price 

£2200 

Fully guaranteed 

One day installation 

No mess - no fuss 

Easy to clean & maintain 

Call Anthony on 

07919 876 825 

Workshop address: Bulldog Tools Ind. Est. 

Darlington Street East, Wigan WN1 3BT 

Microshop address: Hardshaw Centre, 

Church Street, St. Helens WA10 1EB 

We also fit full bathrooms! 

Aerial & Sky 

Services 

RX-12 Digital TV Aerials 

£75 supplied & fitted 

Aerial Multi-room System 

at £45 per room 

TV Wall Mounting Service 

Level 5 in Signal Path & Fault 

Diagnostics 

Domestic 

& Commercial 

work welcomed 

30+ years 

experience 

01942 257804 

01257 277802 

07966 488585 

Call anytime for a quote or email: 

andy@aerialandskyservices.co.uk 

TT20778 

www.aerialandskyservices.co.uk 

• TV Aerials Installed 

• TV Wall Mounting 

• Telephone Lines 

• Setup Service 

Ring Paul on 

01942 514 532 

07709 490 095 

81

for 

as 

82 

651511 

Boiler Installation 

Boiler Servicing & Repairs 

Boiler Finance Available 

Landlords Gas Safety Reports 

Experienced, Reliable & Friendly Service 

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 

0% 

Finance 

available 

Credit Cards accepted 

01942 221 996 

07769 203 056 

hartheatingwigan@gmail.com 

Winstanley-based 

Plumbing & Heating 

Specialist 

Complete Bathrooms 

John Bailey 

01942 495785 

or 07721 040620 

& 07710 153238 

• Brand New Bathrooms 

• Boiler + Central Heating 

Installs, Servicing + Repairs 

• Extended warranties 

available 

• 24 Hour Call-out 

Freephone: 

0300 3030121 

Dave: 07769 942218 

Matt: 07969 183809 

506515 

FINANCE 

OPTIONS 

AVAILABLE 

• Domestic + Commercial 

New showroom opening soon at: 

2a Gathurst Lane, Shevington WN6 8HA 

Email: info@orrellheating.co.uk 

www.orrellheating.co.uk 

Quality Tiler 

required for 

these pages 

Call 01695 627 999 

Based in Kenyon Road, Wigan LocalLife www.locallife247.co.uk 

Installation ~ Repairs ~ Service 




Central Heating Systems 

Boilers & Gas Appliances 

General Plumbing 

Gas Safety Certificates 

Call Andy for a free quote on 

01942 564 226 

07397 391 935 









01744 88 55 14 



rural Vi lage 

NUrSErY 

A l staff 

paediatric 

& first aid 

QUALIFIED 

oPEN 

Mon-Fri 

8AM-6PM 

FUNDED 

PLACES 

Available for 

2/3/4 

year olds 

£37.50 

per day 

LANgUAgE 

& SPortS 

LESSoNS 

pre-schoolers 

Large 

outdoor 

PLAY ArEA 

rated by 

oFStED 

oUtStANDINg 

We cater for 

CHILDrEN 

3 months 

- 4 years 

NEWLY 

rEFUrBISHED 

in 2019 




Call 01695 627 999 

















01257 252647 


Over 70 

Lancashire 

walks 

FREE to download at 

locallife247.co.uk 

acampbellheatingandgas 

597379 



LocalLife

83 

We’ve got you covered 

for all aspects of 

plumbing and heating 

Boilers Gas Heating Plumbing Drainage 

Installation • Maintenance • Repairs 

626792 

Want a new boiler with 

ZERO upfront cost? 

Pay monthly with servicing and warranty included. 

Call us now to find out how! 

01942 575730 

07565 060530 

166 Gidlow Lane • Wigan • WN6 7EA 

www.blueflameltd.co.uk 

craig@blueflameltd.co.uk 

Family run business with 20+ years experience. 

Check out our reviews: 

Showroom now open at 19 Preston Road, Standish WN6 0HP 

All plumbing services 

including services & repairs 

• Bathrooms/Wet Rooms designed and fitted 

• Specialists in Disability 

Installations & Conversions 

• Emergency Call outs welcome 

BOILER 

SERVICING 

FROM 

£60 

www.gphwigan.co.uk 

No Obligation Quotes – Call Mark on 

01257 473026 

07515 894281 

527090 

A Genuine Family Run 

Business With Friendly 

& Courteous Staff 

Specialists in central heating installation, 

boiler replacements and upgrades 

• Annual Boiler Servicing 

• Landlord & Home Owner Gas 

Safety Checks 

• Mechanical Power Flushing 

• Thermostatic Valves Radiators Fitted 

• All-in-One Air Conditioning & Heating 

units for Home & Work 

Registration No. 

88604 

WE REPAIR ALL 

MAKES OF BOILERS! 

Telephone: 

01257 421 660 

Tel: 01942 504 429 

Mob: 07515 505 501 

Accredited Installer & Service Partner

84 

Home Security: 

How safe is 

your home? 

The ways in which we protect our homes have changed. 

From CCTV systems to good old-fashioned burglar 

alarms, the list of home security gadgets is endless. But 

just how safe is your home? 

Last year there were more than 260,000 cases of home 

burglary in the UK, the majority of which were conducted 

by amateur thieves. Statistics show that your home is 

five times more likely to be targeted if no visible security 

measures are in place. 

How do I know if my home is secure? 

With an understanding of basic theft prevention and 

an assessment of your property’s security, you will 

be in a better position than most to know if security 

improvements are needed. 

Keep valuables out of sight 

Removing valuables from an outside viewpoint gives 

thieves no reason to target your property. This includes 

car keys, smart devices, bags and jewellery. Even the 

packaging of expensive items shouldn’t be left outside as 

this acts as an advertisement to criminals. 

Check for vulnerable entry points 

Forcing entry to a doorway is the most common tactic 

for burglars to enter your property. Ensure all entrance 

points are secured with suitable locking mechanisms. 

Windowless doors with a minimum of two locks are best. 

Keep sheds and garages secure 

Thieves will often enter a rear garden to obtain tools from 

a shed or garage. Never give an intruder the opportunity 

to use your own belongings against you. 

Think like a thief 

Attempt to gain access to your own home without using 

a key. Understanding your home’s weaknesses will help 

you to understand what improvements are needed. 

Don’t make it easy for them 

If you lose your house keys, replace the locks immediately. 

You should never leave house keys under the doormat or 

flowerpot; this is the first place intruders will check. 

The most effective methods for 

protecting your home 

Under lock and key – the simplest solutions are always 

the most effective. Over 70% of home intruders gain 

access to properties by entering the front door. 

Always ensure it remains locked, along with all other 

entrances, windows, gates and garages. 

Let there be light – outdoor security lighting on 

timers or infrared motion sensors are a low-cost 

solution for deterring would-be intruders. Make sure 

you focus on dimly lit areas, which are hotspots for 

attacks, muggings and altercations with criminals 

who can take possession of your house or car keys. 

Smile for the camera – an alternative option to a full 

CCTV system without breaking the bank is a wireless 

doorbell camera. Burglars tend to knock on the front 

door before entering a property, to check if anyone is 

at home. With a door camera you will naturally deter 

intruders, be able to see who is knocking on your 

smart device and have the added benefit of recording 

their face should future evidence be required. 

Home and away – the longer a house is uninhabited 

the more vulnerable it becomes. Use automatic 

lighting and timers for electronic devices to come on 

in the evenings, to give the illusion that your house 

remains occupied. 

Play it safe – if all of the above fails and an intruder 

has managed to enter your property, fear not. With 

a simple safe box your goods 

stand a better chance of 

remaining in your home. Fixing 

your safe securely in place in a 

hidden spot is the tried 

and tested method 

for preventing thieves 

escaping with your 

valuables.

for 

as 

85 

GDR Driveways 

ALL ASPECTS OF PAVING & turfing 

4 Block Paving 

Clean & Re-seal 

4 Indian Stone 

service available 

4 Flagging 

4 Turfing 

4 Artificial Grass 

Alarm installations, 

repairs & upgrades 

Domestic and commercial 

work welcome 

Free security assessment provided 

DF 

Emergency lock openings 

Lock changes 

No call-out charges 

24-hour service 

60 mins response 

Call 01942 669505 

www.uklocksandalarms.co.uk 

info@ianwalkerservices.co.uk 

Installations, 

Upgrades 

& Repairs 

Winstanley-based 

www.gdrdriveways.com 

Call Gareth for a FREE quotation: 01942 217 113 or 07715 177 754 

ALARMS 

New systems from £395 

12 years experience 

CCTV – supplied and fitted 

Friendly & reliable service 

07506 518 646 

www.dfalarms.com 

DF Alarms | 58 Chapel St | Pemberton | Wigan 

GARAGE DOOR 

REPAIRS 

All garage 

doorS 

repaired: 

Springs, Cables, 

Locks, Rollers etc. 

Doors of all ages 

repaired 

01744 894939 / 07891 330214 

NO FIX, NO CHARGE! 

Strawberry Cottage, 

Pimbo Lane, Upholland 

WN8 9QL 

www.garagedoorandlock.co.uk 












01744 88 55 14 




rural Vi lage 

NUrSErY 

A l staff 

paediatric 

& first aid 

QUALIFIED 

oPEN 

Mon-Fri 

8AM-6PM 

FUNDED 

PLACES 

Available for 

2/3/4 

year olds 

£37.50 

per day 

LANgUAgE 

& SPortS 

LESSoNS 

pre-schoolers 

Large 

outdoor 

PLAY ArEA 

rated by 

oFStED 

oUtStANDINg 

We cater for 

CHILDrEN 

3 months 

- 4 years 

NEWLY 

rEFUrBISHED 

in 2019 




Call 01695 627 999 

















01257 252647 



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 


required for 

these pages 

Call 01695 627 999 



86 

PH Profiles 

Re-modelling your 

home in 2022? 

Quality orangeries, conservatories and sunrooms 

designed and constructed. 

Finest installations of all windows, doors 

bi-folds, porches and UPVC Roofline. 

Call Paul today 

for a free estimate and friendly advice. 

01942 204421 | 07841 923230 | www.phprofiles.co.uk 

6 consecutive 

Certificate of 

Excellence awards 

Specialists in 

Replacement 

Double 

Glazed Units 

Ring with sizes for 

a FREE estimate 

Open 7 days 8am - 8pm 

Established Local Family Company 

01942 470 085 

0800 328 8573 

www.steamywindows.net 


required for 

these pages 

Call 01695 627 999 

Quality Tiler 

required for 

these pages 

Call 01695 627 999 



• Conservatory repairs 

• Locks, handles and hinges 

• Replacement glass 

• Windows and doors installed 

• Replacement conservatory 

roofs 

Call MARK now on 

01942 737 381 

0776 315 1720 

conservatoryrepairs@gmail.com 

www.fixmyconservatory.com 

Fully 

qualified 

& 

Insured 

Plasterer. 

NO JOB TOO BIG OR TOO SMALL 

All plastering work 

undertaken including: 

• All types of rendering • Listed Building Plastering 

• Skimming • Dry lining • Damp proof courses 

• Basement tanking 

Call Westley Gillett for a 

FREE no obligation quote 

07802 710685 

Des Pilling 

Plastering 

• Plastering 

• Skimming 

• Artexing 

Coving & Cornice work 

also welcomed 

Orrell based – Established 1986 

Call Des on 

07787 513 235 

www.lakelandplastering.co.uk 



www.despilling.org.uk

for 

as 

87 

Superior 

craftmanship at 

competitive rates 

• Home improvements 

• Loft conversions 

• Garage conversions 

& Extensions 

• Staircases 

• Windows & Doors 

For all aspects of renovations 

and maintenance - 

no job too small! 

For a free quote, 

call MT Joinery now. 

01257 422317 

or 07852 202867 

www.mtjoinery.co.uk 

Number One for House 

Maintenance! 

• UPVC WINDOWS AND 

DOORS. 

• FASCIAS, SOFFITS AND 

GUTTERS. 

• GUTTER AND UPVC 

CLEANING AND REPAIR 

SERVICE. 

• MISTED WINDOW AND 

DOOR UNITS REPLACED. 

• FENCING AND POINTING. 

• GENERAL HOUSEHOLD 

MAINTENANCE. 

No job 

too small! 

Call Mike Darbyshire on 

01942 513 584 

07917 352 181 

Orrell based 

• Timber cladding 

• Bespoke furniture 

• All aspects of joinery 

• Fabrication / steel work 

Contact: 

07800 580532 

01744 747787 

www.funkytimber.co.uk 

Unit 17b, Wharton Street, 

St Helens, WA9 5AA 

Your Property Maintenance Experts 

• Handyman Services 

• Pest control 

• Waste removal 

For a free quote with no obligation, 

call 01942 741 124 

or 07450 614 219 

www.twolions11ltd.co.uk 

£10 discount when you mention 

Local Life 

Handy 

Andy 

Building / Joinery 

Plastering / Tiling 

Plumbing / Roofing 

Flatpack Assembly 

Call Handy Andy on 

01257 369 685 

07899 752 225 

tradesbyandy@gmail.com 

All 

jobs 

considered 

Prices include 

supply & fit 

Orrell 

based 

6 Doors 

from 

£370 

Oak Door 

from 

£140 

All aspects of joinery 

Call Mike for a free quote 

01942 590514 • 07988 260621 

www.orrelljoinery.co.uk 

HANDS ON 

Property Maintenance 

& Handyman Services 

3 Kitchens & Bathrooms 

3 Painting & Decorating 

3 Building & Joinery 

3 Electrical 

3 Paving, Decking 

& Fencing 

3 Tiling 

3 Plumbing 

Check out my work at 

keith.anderton 

Telephone Keith on 

07812 110476 












01744 88 55 14 




rural Vi lage 

NUrSErY 

A l staff 

paediatric 

& first aid 

QUALIFIED 

oPEN 

Mon-Fri 

8AM-6PM 

FUNDED 

PLACES 

Available for 

2/3/4 

year olds 

£37.50 

per day 

LANgUAgE 

& SPortS 

LESSoNS 

pre-schoolers 

Large 

outdoor 

PLAY ArEA 

rated by 

oFStED 

oUtStANDINg 

We cater for 

CHILDrEN 

3 months 

- 4 years 

NEWLY 

rEFUrBISHED 

in 2019 




Call 01695 627 999 

















01257 252647 



88 

First Class 

Workmanship 

4 All types of re-roofs 

4 Strip & re-slate or re-tile 

4 Built up felt/flat roofs, 

dormers etc. 

4 Insurance work undertaken 

4 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 

30 Years Experience 

Extensions & Refurbishments 

Kitchens & Bathrooms 

Conservatories & Orangeries 

Windows & Doors 

Roofs & Fascia Boards 

Decking & Balustrading 

All aspects of building works 


Call Peter for a free quotation 

Day: 07961 516 677 

Eve: 01942 745 428 

Cambridge Road, Orrell 

All aspects of 

roofing & roofline 

NEW ROOFS 

REPAIRS 

FASCIAS, SOFFITS 

& GUTTERS 

Dormers and 

Garages 

Rubber Cover Roofing Specialist 

Guaranteed 50 years 

Call for free quote 

M: 07894 687 384 

NEIL SIMPSON 

BUILDER 

Can’t find a reliable local 

builder?...look no further 

brickwork 

joinery roofing 

plastering 

internal alterations 

all types of building work undertaken 

garden construction 

garden walls patios 

gravel gardens 

flagging decking 

pergolas 


Reasonable prices 

Quality work 

Call Neil 

07939 961190 (day) 

or 01942 230402 (eve) 

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 

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

for 

as 

Call us now for ALL your roofline requirements! 

Facias, soffits, cladding, dry verge and gutters 

We specialise in seamless 

aluminium gutters. 

Clean, stylish and guaranteed 

for 25 years! 

Call: 07917 352 182 / 07917 352 183 

www.orrellroofline.co.uk 

K Stone 

Building Services 

All types of building 

work undertaken 

• Brickwork 

• Pointing 

• Garden Walls 

• Patios 

25 years 

experience 

• Roof Repairs 

• Flagging 

• Alterations 

• Driveways 

01942 495412 

07974 496676 

89 





rural Vi lage 

NUrSErY 

rated by 

oFStED 

oUtStANDINg 



PP 

Your 

Building services 

Joinery Specialists 

Reliable, Friendly, 

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A l staff 

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Mon-Fri 

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Available for 

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£37.50 

per day 

LANgUAgE 

& SPortS 

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pre-schoolers 

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outdoor 

PLAY ArEA 

We cater for 

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3 months 

- 4 years 

NEWLY 

rEFUrBISHED 

in 2019 




Call 01695 627 999 















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• Conservatories & Orangeries • Garage & Loft Conversions 

• Extensions 

• Kitchens & Fitted Bedrooms 

• Refurbishments & Alterations • Doors & Windows 

• Fencing & Decking 

• All aspects of joinery work 

“Attention to detail is second to none. Can’t recommend Phil enough” 

Facebook Review, July 2018 



90 

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© David Bancroft Photography 


Forgotten Buildings: 

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91 

Come and visit the largest 

showroom in the North West 

Quality installations of windows, 

doors, fascias, soffits and gutters 

First for quality 

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No contractors 

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Transform 

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Established since 1999 

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 

Representative example: Total cash price £1164, deposit £0, amount borrowed £1164 over 12 months. 12 monthly repayments of £97. Interest 

rate 0%. Total repayable £1164. Credit is subject to the lenders T&C. Warmlight Windows, Doors and Conservatories Ltd is authorised and 

regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority FRN 7700524. We are a credit broker, not a lender and have a facility with one lender.

Tomorrow’s Home Improvements Today! 

Quality ~ Choice ~ Value 

Windows 

Bi-Fold Doors 

Thermally-efficient conservatory roofs 

expertly fitted by accredited installers 

© 

Orangeries 

Don’t just lock it, 

Rock it! 

Conservatories 

Manufacturers and installers since 2004 

Contact us on 01744 891717 for a no obligation quote 

Visit our showroom/factory at; Crows Nest, Ashton Road, Billinge, WN5 7XX (near Windy Arbour crossroads) 

www.orrellwindows.co.uk 

28544

Local Life - Wigan - January 2022

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