Development plans for Rec supported

Plans to transform a Wigan recreation area have received backing from residents, according to the results of a consultation.
WIGAN  29-03-17
General view of Squires Hey Recreation Ground, off Greenland Avenue, Standish - Wigan Council have proposed plans which could make the area into a car park and improve play facilitites.WIGAN  29-03-17
General view of Squires Hey Recreation Ground, off Greenland Avenue, Standish - Wigan Council have proposed plans which could make the area into a car park and improve play facilitites.
WIGAN 29-03-17 General view of Squires Hey Recreation Ground, off Greenland Avenue, Standish - Wigan Council have proposed plans which could make the area into a car park and improve play facilitites.

Neighbourhood forum Standish Voice (SV) will now include its proposals for the Rec in a development blueprint that will be subject to a village referendum.

However, a ward councillor has vowed to continue his party’s opposition to the Rec’s development claiming it is unnecessary.

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The Standish Voice group had offered three options as part of its poll; leave the Rec as it is, change it into a car park and play park or a play park only.

Of 1,065 legitimate votes, 60 per cent opted for the park and car park option, 23 per cent for park only and 17 per cent for leave it as it is.

SV had said it favoured the combined option but would be guided by the results of the consultation.

A representative said: “The consultation overwhelmingly showed that people do not want to leave the Rec as it is.

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“We have also listened to the concerns of people who live near to The Rec and we will look at how we can address their views.

“We will be taking all these results into account when formulating the policies in the draft Standish Neighbourhood Plan.

“How the park could look and what facilities it may have will be for further discussion and consultation – involving all sections of the community, but we believe this should include provision for children’s play, in line with the wishes attached to the original gift of the land to the council.”

The Standish Independents political group had run a rival petition that attracted dozens of signatures against the plans. SV said it “took account” of the petition in addition to the online poll.

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