As manager of Haigh for 15 years, I left in May, perhaps I can give your readers the background information they deserve and make their own minds up on Haigh as it is currently.

1) Potholes in the car park. There is no denying this is a problem.
As the WLCT spokesman said we have spent £100k on the roads, so it obvious the problems are being addressed.
Temporary repairs are planned for this year but the cash to do a full repair will be hard to find.

2) How can any body expect a new set of toilets to be built in such a remote area as the railway, yet alone overcome the problems of building in a Green Belt Conservation area?
Again, even if possible, the cost would be prohibitive.

3) The play equipment does need changing but again it is cost!
At least £150,000 would be needed and unfortunately Haigh does not qualify for any Grant aid in this area. If it was in a Regeneration area or an ex Coalfield, there may be a chance but until then I challenge our two councillors to come up with the cash.

4) The Wardens have 350 acres to cover for security patrols, maintenance and litter control let alone producing a wonderful range of learning and play activities for adults and children. If a few branches remain in a pond it is only because they have prioritised their work and these are lower on the list.

5) The old zoo site is an immense problem. Since it closed in 1995 we have not managed to find any sustainable use for the site.
Ideally it would be used to provide more car parking for the visitors as we currently rely on a neighbouring farmer to rent us a field, which is unusable when wet as experienced at the recent Race for Life events.

Again cost is an issue along with planning issues. When I left, the British Conservation Trust Volunteers were hoping to use the area as their local base and had already refurbished one greenhouse – a fact the councillors failed to mention.

I should also say this area is not open to the public and they should not have been in there at all!
Haigh is still a wonderful asset to Wigan and surrounding areas, proven by the fact that 350,000 visitors are welcomed every year and over 130 Wedding receptions are held in the Hall along with many other wonderful occasions.

I feel it is a shame these Councillors did not take the time to consult the Officers of the Trust responsible for Haigh or even their fellow Councillors in whose Ward Haigh lies. They seem to be happy with the facility and are aware of the problems. Haigh needs a vast amount of money spent on it but with so many other demands to achieve the improvements so far is a testimony to the efforts of the Trust and the Council.

Haigh needs councillors' support not headline grabbing complaints with no solutions provided or positive thoughts.
Tim Sharratt,
Ex Haigh Hall and Country Park Manager (and proud
of it!)

Dismayed by state of Haigh site
Congratulations to councillors Brierly and Hodkinson for highlighting the complacency and neglect by Wigan Metro of Haigh Hall.

I went round 10 years ago and was dismayed to see that behind the grand facade of the hall a scene of almost criminal neglect of our premier building. The roof was in a very poor state of repair and in places "temporary" supports were in place and buckets and other containers to catch the water.

By the famous antique Runnigar staircase, which is not generally open to the public was a social services office and the staircase itself adorned with safe sex and AIDS posters.

When I queried this inappropriate use I was told it was being used for the people of Wigan when in fact a temporary building near the town centre would have been more convenient.
What a scandalous betrayal of our history and heritage!

Money seems to be no object when considering the proposed new offices for the expanding bureaucracy in Millgate or increasing the salaries of the executives and allowances for councillors, while lack of it is always used as an excuse to allow our heritage to decay by neglect.

Could an enforcement notice not be served on the Metro to save this jewel, or is it to be allowed to go the same way as the Roman remains found under the Grand Arcade and be lost for ever?
Apart from the above two councillors does no one on Wigan Metro care about our town?
Dr C E Mather
Sandyforth Farm,
Ashton Road, Billinge.

Park should be the pride of Wigan
Thanks for highlighting the neglect at Haigh Hall. I complained to Leisure and Culture last year and again this year, nothing changes.

The only toilets the public have to use at the side of the cafe are a health hazard – they need attention immediately or they should be closed down and mobile ones brought in.

It is terrible when you have to take children into the filthy place, which you have to do as there are no others.

Wigan Council should not expect the people of Wigan to put us with this, men, women and children using the same door to enter the toilets. School holidays are upon us now and children will be going there to play, something urgently needs to be done.

Haigh Hall should be the pride of Wigan, it is up to the Council to make it so.
B Cheetham,
address supplied.

Warriors: Shape up or ship out
The performance against Huddersfield was the final nail in Brian Noble's coffin for me. That's not just my opinion judging by the anger expressed from fans all around me in the East stand.

It is obvious there is too much dead wood in the team, not enough commitment or passion and the buck stops firmly with Noble.
I would like to see him and Stuart Fielden out and they can take Richard Mathers and Mark Calderwood with them, that's just for starters.

The rest of the team need to perform or go. We should give the young lads a chance, they can't be any worse to watch than this team. Some think we need an Aussie coach to get us back to where we should be. But for me the key to success is to bring in the ace card, Shaun Edwards!
Gary Featherstone, address supplied.