A sell-out concert from pop idol Will Young raises thousands for a campaign to save a Wigan community's last remaining green belt land
A sold-out concert starring acclaimed singer-songwriter Will Young at The Edge in Wigan has raised vital funds and awareness for a campaign to save a local community’s final piece of green belt.
Will generously donated his time and talent free of charge to support the Save The Bell Action Group which is working to protect 150 acres of farmland in Kitt Green from development.
The intimate performance was met with overwhelming support from the local community and fans, with audience members praising both the incredible show and the generosity shown by Will and his pianist, Christian Dinh Gulino.
A special highlight of the evening was the auction of a print by local artist Alison Bushell of Wicked Soles, signed by Will Young, which alone raised more than £1,000 towards the campaign fund.
Organisers say this is only the beginning of their fund-raising efforts as the campaign continues to gather momentum and community backing.
One audience member, Barbra, even got an impromptu 86th birthday hug!
A spokesperson for the organisers said: “We are incredibly grateful to Will and Christian for their kindness, support and generosity.
"The show was truly unforgettable and the support from everyone who attended means so much to our campaign.
"This is just the start of our fund-raising journey as we continue fighting to protect our precious green belt land for future generations.”
The Save The Bell Action Group says it continues to campaign to preserve the farmland and green spaces that are valued by residents across Orrell and Kitt Green.
The Bell was named in the draft Local Plan for Wigan as an area for potential “high-quality” employment development.
This was only a few years after local opposition had seen off previous similar proposals in a Greater Manchester-wide development plan, with locals given the impression that the land would be sacrosanct for decades thereafter.
Couple Jimmy and Gillian Morris, whose family has farmed the land for more than 100 years and who have Blackpool and St Anne’s donkeys wintering there, have no intention of budging.
They launched a campaign against the proposal and a march involving more than 150 people took place last year.