Set of dining room chairs and hundreds of empty lager cans uncovered at Wigan car park grot spot

Wigan Council said an area which had become a hotspot for anti-social behaviour in Leigh, has now been cleared to prevent groups congregating there.

The area has become known as a grot spot – a neglected, untidy, or dirty area like overgrown land or fly-tipping that spoils the local environment.

The land on the Spinning Gate car park on Gas Street has been transformed after teams from street scene and arborist cleared the area of rubbish and overgrown vegetation.

The area is close to the town’s bus station, market hall and shopping centre. When the team arrived following complaints about people gathering there to drink, the small wooded area was strewn with hundreds of beer cans, mainly Fosters, along with other rubbish.

Pictures published by the council also showed at least two wooden, dining room style chairs within the shrubbery, suggesting groups gathered there to drink.

A Wigan Council spokesperson said: “Those who have previously gathered at this space are being offered support via council services including homelessness outreach, and council partners including charities, The Brick and WithYou.

“We want to thank our teams who have cleared the area, and to our residents and local businesses who reported the matter to us.”

The Brick is a Wigan and Leigh based anti-poverty charity offering services to people who are at risk of or transitioning through homelessness, financial hardship or crisis and WithYou offers addiction and rehabilitation services.