Campaigners reveal Wigan fund-raising show by pop star Will Young will support legal battle

Tickets have been selling quickly since the Pop Idol winner announced he would be performing at The Edge, in the Wigan Pier Quarter, on

Thursday, May 14.

It will be a fund-raiser for the campaign to prevent building on land known as The Bell, where Latham House Farm stands between junction 26 of the M6 and Spring Road, in Kitt Green.

It was named in the draft Local Plan for Wigan as an area for potential “high-quality” employment development.

In a Facebook post, Will said: “I’ve always felt a deep connection to nature and wildlife, and I believe we all have a responsibility to protect the green spaces that are so vital to our communities. That’s why I’m heading to Wigan on May 14 to support the Save The Bell From Development Action Group in their fight to protect 150 acres of the last remaining greenbelt in Orrell.

“Only doing three shows this year and this one is the only one up north!”

Sarah Crookston, lead co-ordinator for the action group, revealed Will was asked to get involved by her dad Andy Crookston, who works as his tour manager.

She said: “My dad, who’s part of the Save The Bell From Development Action Group, works with Will. He had a chat with him and asked how he would feel about doing a gig and he said he would. It’s really good.

"The reason we need a fund-raising gig is, with everything going on, we are about to instruct a solicitor and barrister and that’s going to be a colossal amount of money and how do we finance this?”

The Bell covers 150 acres of green belt land, which is currently farmed and rich in wildlife.

Jimmy and Gillian Morris’ family has farmed the land for more than 100 years and donkeys from Blackpool and St Anne’s spend their winters there.

But it could be developed into an employment site if the proposal goes ahead.

People living nearby fear that as well as losing the green space, they could find their homes dwarfed by huge warehouses similar to those currently under construction in Astley.

Ms Crookston said: “The whole site has got houses on three sides of it. There are schools, there are nurseries.

"What they are planning to do will be like a logistics park, with warehouses and logistics. It’s highly likely it’s going to be 24 hours.

"When you see what’s happening in Astley and the noise, it’s scary.”

The draft Local Plan for Wigan was due to go out for consultation several months ago, but this has been “paused”, with campaigners waiting to find out what happens next.

They are preparing for an independent inquiry to follow the consultation, which is why they will need the legal team.

Doors to Will’s show will open at 7pm and it is expected to finish at around 9.30pm. Car parking is available at £5 per vehicle.

Tickets are available now at www.theedgewigan.com.