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OVER THE TOP FOR YOUTH WORK WEEK
As part of National Youth Work Week, which runs until November 7th, Wigan Youth Service arranged for 15 youngsters from Orrell to abseil down the side of the Quality Hotel (formerly the Oak Hotel) in Wigan to raise money to try to improve facilities for youngsters in the village. Groups from Ashton and Plank Lane, Leigh also took part in the event and Wigan Youth Service Young Volunteers were on hand.
The abseil measured 2,000 metres in total to match the National Youth Work Week theme of the millenium. Orrell ward councillor George Seaward and Coun Ronald Capstick say they are impressed with the enthusiasm and commitment of the group and are fully supporting plans for a proposed Teen-meet in the area.
Coun Seaward said, "We want to help the young people and parents to create a place for local young people to meet. We know that these things can sometimes take a long time to organise but the young people are so enthusiastic that w've got involved to help speed up the progress."
Other events organised during National Youth Work Week include:
- Local ward councillors taking part in "Be a Youth Worker for a Night" during which councillors Sue Loudon and Steve Parker wil be getting involved in detached work in the Hag, Fold, Marsh Green and Norley Hall areas.
- The publication of a special Millenium edition of the 11-21 Linc newspaper.
- A young people's art project in Marsh Green.
- The relaunch of the young people's forum in Pemberton and Worsley Mesnes.
- Young people playing local police at a football match in Orrell.
TOWN CENTRE STORE TO CLOSE
C&A's department store in the town centre is due to close after poor sales have forced the company to sell up.
Falling profits, bad location and the Trafford Centre are to blame for the demise of C&A in Standishgate, which first opened in the town in 1962.
The store was
said to have made less and less profit over a period of years and was rejected for a refurbishment because it was not worth spending money on. Company bosses first
announced it's closure on January 22nd this year and have now confirmed the official closing day as January 15th, 2,000 when 18 members of staff will be made redundant.
Chris Williams, head of corporate communications for C&A said the closure was regrettable. He said, "C&A in Wigan was our number 43 store and we are now up to 142
across the UK. Over a period of years it has made less and less profitability and the store has made a loss. We have tried to keep it going for as long as possible
but it was important the loss did not affect the profit of the company.
"Although the company has been refurbishing many of it's stores Wigan was identified as
one of the branches that was not worth spending money on. It has been extremely difficult for C&A since the refurbishment of Wigan's high street and an indoor shopping
centre close by because the trade seems to have shifted. The Trafford Centre has inevitably had an effect on the way people shop.
"Solicitors have now been instructed
to let the building and we understand the property has already been taken up.
"Eighteen members of staff in the Wigan store will be made redundant but six of them are
over 50 and could take early retirement. Staff were given 12 months notice and we feel this was an opportunity to find themselves alternative employment."
Susan
Szpak, manager of the Wigan store said, "It is still a shock to the members of staff. We are very much a family here and they are obviously upset. We have received letters
from customers who said they are sorry to see the store going and from the town's point of view it is very sad.
"We have 18 members of staff left at the store and they
who have chosen to stay until the end...they wanted to work until the last day."
SACKED GUARD IN STADIUM TERROR
A sacked security guard took his revenge by organising a raid in which two of his former colleagues were tied up, assaulted and threatened.
Stephen Halliwell, 35, of Marigold Street, Worsley Hall, was sacked from his job at the JJB stadium after police caught him breaking into a house in Bell Lane, Kitt Green.
Bolton Crown Court heard that Halliwell then used his knowledge of procedures at the stadium to give information to two criminals who carried out the raid.
Mr Alaric Bassano, prosecuting, told the court that the attack was much more serious than Halliwell had anticipated. The two security guards on duty were tied up, assaulted, threatened with extreme violence and robbed of their wages. Halliwell himself, though present, took no part in the violence and his main role was to watch over the security men while the others ransacked their property. The prosecution accepted his plea to a charge of conspiracy to burgle instead of the more serious charge of robbery.
He also pleaded guilty to a burglary charge relating to the theft in Kitt Green and was given a 15-month prison sentence.
Mr Anthony O'Donohoe, defending, said that Halliwell had got completely out of his depth in the stadium robbery. While on remand in prison waiting for the case to come to court, he had suffered bullying from other inmates, acting at the behest of his former partners in crime. As a result he had to be kept in solitary confinement while waiting for the sentence for the crimes which were carried out eight months ago.
FINAL FOR "THE NEW MAN"
An up and coming director from Hindley Green could win a prestigious accolade-with a film he made in Firs Park.
Lo-fi horror
flick The Blair Witch Project may have wowed UK audiences with it's inexpensive production, but James Bimson from Leigh Road, is aiming to get top honours with his very own low budget
film.
For "The New Man" has been entered into the final of the drama category in a North West student film festival. Described as a "suspense thriller" the film lasts just seven minutes
and stars the 25 year-old alongside fellow Wigan and Leigh college student Michael Gorman.
James said, "It's a massive surprise to have got this far with the film. We were just messing
about and thinking 'let's have a go', and went up to Firs Park to shoot it. It took us one afternoon to write and record the whole thing!"
Leading names from the film and television
industry will be present at the ceremony this month. And James is hoping he can scoop first prize and pave the way for a string of Hollywood hits for his own production company, Doppleganger
Films.
James said, The most inspirational British film in recent years has been Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, without a doubt. Otherwise, there's very little to speak of. My co-star
Michael is a very good photographer with a wicked imagination. And we've since finished a follow-up, "The Hit Man" which is even better. Watch out Speilberg is all I can say!"
NEW WAR MEMORIAL
Smithy Green in Ince is to have a new war memorial.
For some years now Ince residents have gathered at the Garden of Remembrance to honour
their war dead. They have had to lay their wreaths at the base of a tree in the garden.
But now, thanks to the initiative pf local councillors supported by funding from the council's Brighter Borough scheme,
the annual ceremony will be transformed.
A new black granite memorial in the form of an open book. Carved into the pages are the words "In Remembrance. To all who lived and died for their country. We shall
remember them."
The new memorial will be blessed during a Service of Dedication and wreath laying ceremony in the Garden of Remembrance, Smithy Green, Higher Ince at noon on Sunday November 14th.
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