A ‘once in a lifetime opportunity’ for Ashton is something community leaders and residents do not want to let fly by. Wigan Council will be submitting a bid to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities in July to fund schemes that could see the town centre transformed.
One of the big items on the agenda would be improving road infrastructure, safety and traffic pollution - a huge point of concern for locals. When the Government’s High Streets Task Force visited the area they also identified community space, activities for young people, events and attractive street scenes as key objectives to address in order to ‘unlock the potential of the town centre’.
Danny Fletcher, Ashton councillor, said: “Now is the time for Ashton town centre to achieve its potential and to put everything into a successful Levelling Up bid. This opportunity is highly unlikely to come around again anytime soon, and although universal agreement on big projects is hard to come by nowadays, keeping what is best for Ashton and our high street in mind is a priority.
“Overwhelming majority of Ashton locals fully support improving the high street, making it safer for pedestrians and improving high street frontage. Ashton high street cannot stand still by letting funding opportunities go by, and it will not happen as long as I’m councillor.”
Consultations are out for people in the area to give their thoughts on what would be important to them.
‘Welcoming Ashton’ is one concept created to make the area, in particular Gerard Street, a more pedestrian-friendly spot. The introduction of more greenery, trees, shading, new street furniture, upgraded pavements and general enhancements to its appearance is looking to be the centre of this bid.
“I welcome current Levelling Up Funding proposals for the area I represent,” Coun Fletcher continued. “Being the third largest town in the Wigan Borough, just behind Wigan and Leigh, Ashton is in desperate need of upgrade and investment.
“Improving Ashton town centre was my election pledge in May 2021, promising local constituents that Ashton will start thinking big and competing economically with other neighbouring high streets. Over the past few months, along with councillors Jenny Bullen and Anthony Sykes, we have been liaising with council officers, local businesses, schools and local leaders in preparing proposals that will be put to public consultation before being submitted as a Levelling Up Funding application.”
