Porter Ponders : What a view from Billinge Lump, new road surfaces and a pigeon

Finally, Sunday saw a break in the weather: a bit breezy, but blue sky and no rain.

It was a miracle, therefore after work I went for a walk up Billinge Lump and took in the views.

Using the zoom on my phone I could pick out so many landmarks from around the beacon.

Though the naked eye could pick out many of them - the Stadium at Robin Park, Liverpool docks and a power station - the camera let me see the Manchester skyline, Jodrell Bank dish, Runcorn bridge and the Anglican Cathedral.

Plus, so many other things including the Welsh mountains, the sea, Pennines and Lake District.

I had dropped on it at a near perfect time and suggest if you like a walk through Billinge Plantation, it is well worth a visit.

Apart from a handful of people, it was so peaceful and a perfect start to my second playlist of Wigan Walks, which celebrated its first anniversary earlier in the month.

The early spring birdsong, of which there was lots of, made it all the more special. As I always say, it is amazing the amount of nature that surrounds or great borough.

Earlier in  the day I was doing a bit of filming near Lidl next to the courts and a pigeon casually walked along a chest-high wall and stopped withing arms’ reach and just stared.

Not as impressive as the deer, but still a moment of calmness in this mad world.

The reason I was there was because resurfacing was finally being completed on Warrington Road from near the lights at Lidl and way past the Britannia canal bridge and Rockferry Hotel.

This the same week that Marsh Green had its road resurfaced past the primary school, bottom shops and the roundabout, which I wrote about a few weeks ago.

Both have had all the road markings painted too, in double quick time.

Apart from the dreadful name, another reason I am confused by the new Market Hall are the hoardings around that just seem to show images of food outlets, seating and even a stage.

What about the actual market traders hanging on in the current market?

Last week news broke in this very paper that the hospitality company had pulled out.

I was not aware there was one in the first place. We didn’t need it; it’s meant to be a market not a food court. There’s one already at The Mills, one nearing completion in half of Debenhams and the one that featured on the old hoardings called the Pavillion, between the market and hotel.

How many food courts does Wigan need?

Due to the local elections I cannot comment or ponder on individuals or parties involved, but urge you all to go and vote whether you want things to remain as is, or try to make a change.

If you don’t vote you are more likely to get a result you don’t want.

I wonder if folks in court can use the excuse “I was not told” to dodge justice?