More than 5,000 people sign petition opposing Wigan redevelopment plans
A petition opposing plans to redevelop Wigan town centre has been signed by more than 5,000 people – and the group behind it says this is just the start.
Members of the newly-formed Friends of Wigan Town Centre group delivered a petition with 5,244 signatures to the town hall today (Thursday, August 26).
The petition calls on the council to halt the development to allow more citizens to have their say and ‘rethink’ the £135m plan developed before the pandemic.
If the development goes ahead, much of the Galleries shopping centre and Wigan Market would be demolished, making way for up to 464 homes, a hotel and a ‘multimedia’ centre with a cinema, bowling alley and indoor mini golf.
And a new market hall with traditional stalls, modern retail units, co-working spaces, small offices and a contemporary food hall has also been proposed.
But the plan has been met with opposition from market traders some of whom joined the protest group as its members delivered the petition to the town hall.
A spokesperson for the Friends of Wigan Town Centre group said: “This marks the start of the campaign for us – the delivery of the first batch of petitions.
“We’ve been able to get 5,000 in a matter of weeks, just through people who use the market and around the town.
“What we are asking for is development to be halted. We are pro-development. We just think not in this way.”
A planning application prepared by North West developer Cityheart together with Wigan council has been submitted and could be decided later this year.
However, objectors say many Wigan residents do not know about the plans.
Gary Clayton, who was ‘born and bred’ in Wigan, said he first heard about the redevelopment plans through a Facebook group run by the protest group.
He fears the market town will be turned into a commuter town for people working in Manchester if the plans for hundred of new homes go ahead.
Mark Rigby, who also lives locally, said when he first found out about the plans on Facebook, he was not against ‘trying to do something’ with the town centre.
But he believes demolishing a building only built in the late 1980s is ‘nuts’.
He said: “My main concern is that people don’t know about it. They need to properly consult.
“If they are really proud about what they’re doing, they should be telling people about it.
“It should be up to the people of Wigan to decide. Not a few councillors.”
Kathy Grundy, who has seen the town centre’s transformation since the 1960s, accused the council of ‘absolutely ignoring’ the people of Wigan.
The Whelley resident described Wigan council’s Big Listening Project which took place in 2018 as a ‘misnomer’, saying: “They don’t listen to the people.”
Wigan council spoke to more than 6,000 residents in 83 locations across the borough to find out what matters to them as part of the consultation exercise.
The Galleries 25 project is inspired by their responses, the council claims, which included calls for the town centre to transition from being purely commercial to having more leisure activities, housing and an evening economy.
Respondents also referenced the need for a more ‘bespoke’ offer, such as an artisan market, independent shops, cafés and restaurants, the council says.
Becca Heron, director of economy and skills at Wigan Council said: “We have received the petition, which will be considered in line with national and local planning policy when the application is determined in the autumn.
“In the meantime, if residents have questions relating to the project, they can read the FAQs on www.galleries25.com.”
According to council policy, a petition with 5,000 signatures or more should trigger a full council debate in which organisers have 10 minutes to present it.
However, because this petition relates to a planning application, it could be rejected and instead would be dealt with as part of the planning process.
The Local Democracy Reporting Service understands opposition councillors are planning to submit a cross-party motion for the next full council meeting.