Tony Porter Ponders: Is a victory just moving the issue elsewhere and get your flags out Wiganers.

Last week the high Court ruled that Epping Council could close the hotel that has made all the news for the wrong reasons, mainly protests about the migrants who were housed there. One has been accused of a very serious offence, the issue I fear is where are these men going to be moved to. Other councils around the country are looking at following Epping’s lead and closing hotels. As you are aware I have no time for small boats coming across daily and the people in them, but if they are to end up in HMOs or private houses it will make it impossible to monitor them and things could get a damn sight worse than the mess it is already.

Hotels are a way of keeping them together and under control, but don’t allow them to leave the grounds at all, or at least until they are fully vetted. Though the numbers entering via the channel are comparatively small, compared to legal migration, it would seem the percentage of them who commit any crime is much higher than any other demographic. Our glorious leader seems more interested in getting involved with issues abroad than the ones here. Is it just me who thinks the brain cell, sorry Cabinet, should be concentrating on protecting our women and girls rather than dollying around the world?

In Wigan it is time to raise the flags, three major milestones have been reached, the multistorey car park near the hospital has had some of the outer frame erected and being a car park not much in the way of windows, doors or walls, I am guessing it may be open by Spring next year! This will ease the major parking issues that have dogged the area for decades and hopefully give back public access to the car park behind, what is currently Iceland. Meanwhile at the college the second ‘wing’ framework has gone up meaning that once the floors are in and it is made watertight, it will just need fitting out and hopefully open near September next year!

Drum roll please; the New Market Hall structure has made it out of the ground. The outline looks remarkably like the building demolished, but hey, it is at last starting to take shape. As for an opening date, I will take anything said at the moment with a pinch of salt, remember the whole project was called Galleries25 and we are only just seeing the first thing going up and it’s the back end of August 2025, it must be at least nearly finished by the May elections, but as I always say, my breath is not being held. As for the rest of the site, well work is ongoing, as seen on latest Wigan Watch, but that looks far from coming out of the ground soon. Still yet to find anyone who likes the new name, but maybe one day. As an aside, the Civic Centre has ‘opened’ and looks magnificent. I know many hate it, but I am pleased that it has a new lease of life.

Things always change some for the better, others not so much. I have recently discovered some old maps that have blown my mind, these will be incorporated into future Wigan Watch and Wigan Walks videos.