Wigan travel agent's fury at ‘Wild West’ town

A travel agent boss has likened crime and anti-social behaviour in Wigan town centre to “being like the Wild West.”

Norman Taylor, managing director of Kiwi Travel, said that people urinate and have even defecated outside the business on Mesnes Street.

While the 65-year-old said that staff have been subjected to intimidation while going about their work, leaving them “too frightened” to leave the premises.

It has prompted Mr Taylor to call on the police to tackle the problems and bring some authority and respect back to Wigan town centre.

Mr Taylor, who has been trading for over 45 years in Wigan, said: “It’s like the Wild West and is more like a frontier town.

“There is just no authority and respect.

“Anyone can do anything without any repercussions.

“I’ve not recently seen a police officer or even a PCSO in Wigan town centre and they really do need to be dealing with this problem.”

He said he has enlisted the support of councillors while he has scheduled a meeting with Wigan Council to try and address the issue.

Mr Taylor said: “I’ve had a conversation with the council and a meeting is scheduled with them.

“I’ve been trading for 45 years and seen lots and lots but it’s never been worse than this.

“On Wednesday morning, I observed the smell of urine on the covered passageway at the sde of the business, that goes through the main street to the multi-storey car park.

“It stunk and then I noticed what was clearly human faeces with a tissue that had been used to wipe it.

“I’ve also had staff who have been intimidated and who mare too frightened to leave the shop.

“This is an utter disgrace.

“We have no policing whatsoever and the decline continues rapidly.

“Why on earth would any start up small business consider Wigan?

“For that matter why would anyone like me who has traded in the town for 45 years continue?

“Most importantly, why would anyone come to shop in Wigan if they also have to negotiate their way through human faeces?”

“These problems really need addressing as its all just getting out of hand now.”

Mr Taylor said he was also having to fork out for the cost of repairing the shop window after a break-in overnight on Sunday.

Thieves ransacked the businesses’s office and stole around £10 during the raid.

He said: “I was told about the break-in on Facebook and went down to the shop to have a look.

“Three paving stones had been thrown through my window, so they had got in through the front and went into the main office.

“They’ve ransacked the desks and opened the cupboards and have stole about £10.

“I had to spend most of the day in my office cleaning up the mess.

Mr Taylor said he felt “isolated and victimised. “

He added: “This must have been pre-meditated as no one could walk round with three paving stones.

“I have spoken out in the past about the problems of trading in Wigan, I now seem to be paying a price for this.”