Grow up ffs , you signed up on here to stir the old brown stuff .
So far away from being the truth that its no where close to it .
Leigh is in the state it's in because of Wigan Council END OF !

Everyone is entitled to their opinion , think you'll find your in a minority with your opinion though

Jog on now Mr Troll

Gaz- you have proved my point again. It's Wigan Council's fault blah, blah. Keep your eyes and ears closed and shout that mantra eh? It's easier than seeing the bigger picture.

Jog on? surely nobody over the age of 14 or who doesn't think they are in Green Street uses that phrase?

What would be different in Leigh if it hadn't have been in Wigan since 1974?

A sense of identity as a town. Spending our council tax money on signs with "Welcome to W1gan" with Leigh, Tyldesley, Atherton as 2nd fiddle. Hardly promoting the towns. We are at a stage now that W1gan is no longer just head office of the boroughs council but somehow we are thrown under umbrella of W1gan. So much so people that move to the area think they live in W1gan, with a Wigan postcode, and even the 01942 is stated as just W1gan
After walking around Leigh in 1986, and walk around Leigh now, its hardly awe inspiring progression in those 20 odd years.
W1gan was comparable to Leigh in 86 - nowt special as such for the need to visit there unless we had to go to Central Park. But now its transformed beyond recognision from them days.
I have no problem with a Borough Council because it makes sense, but just that. Not a sneaking us under the W1gan wing as the master plan for the city bid.

what would be different? have you got a week to spare

Employment and the local economy, in 1974 over 5000 worked at Case tractors , same at BICC, plus several other major employers, lack of support/assistance from the Council especially when funding from the pit closures became available means there is very little employment within the town.

I understand Quinns 2007 looked to the council for assistance, but nothing was forth coming so they ended moving 300 jobs to South Wales in 2008.

I wonder if say Heinz asked to operate rent and rates free for 3yrs if the council would agree?

Not sure if it's something for a separate topic or not, but it'd be interesting to know just how many others on here work outside Leigh (I know you're in the same boat as me and work in t'USA).

Do you honestly believe what you have just posted? The economy of this country has changed somewhat in the last 35 years. We don't make things in this country anymore. That was started by one Margaret Hilda Thatcher. The last time I checked she had never sat on Wigan Council. You really are clutching at straws there.

Seriously though, if anybody can give a coherent and valid answer to Leafs questions then I stand to be corrected.

Because everybody from Wigan (who works) works in Wigan don't they?

I`d hazard a guess that the majority don`t ..........

We would still have our llama at Lilford Park zoo.

The point I was trying to make was 10,000 plus people were working in Leigh, they don't now. The support could be investing in the current companies or encouraging new ones. The effect of losing all those jobs means less money spent in the town, shop closures etc.

How so Squire? Health and safety regs have moved on a tad since then.

Mr Smythe- I knew somebody would make that comment Very true though. It must be Wigan Council's fault

So do you honestly believe that even half of those jobs would still be there now even if the council had thrown money at them? Manufacturing has been decimated in this country. That is not Wigan Council's fault.