Wigan Borough Environment & Heritage Network
10.30 a.m. 13th October 2014 Museum of Wigan Life
Present:
Ken Barston (Stubshaw Cross Residents Group), Allan Roberts (RSPCB), Richard Sivill (Atherton Heritage),Joe Taylor (Billinge History Society), Avis Freeman (Leigh Soroptimists), Geoff Jones (Astley Green Colliery Museum), Mary Pennington (Wigan Archaeology Society), Tom Price (Civic Trust, John O'Neil (Greenheart), David Shallcross (Leigh Ornithological Society)
Welcome and Apologies:
Neil Forshaw (George Formby Society),Glenys McClellan & Marge Harrop (Leigh
Family History Society), Peter Goodwin (Tradition Films), Jan Johnston (LENDF),
Mandy Wellans-Bray (Orrell-Billinge Transition Town Group), Dave Wilson &
Tony Bishop, Peter Taylor (Civic Trust):
Avis Freeman chaired and welcomed everyone to the meeting
Minutes of the last meeting: True and accurate.
Matters Arising: Geoff reported that the 3,300 HP winding engine is now in operation.
It was decided that we have the next meeting at Astley Green Colliery Museum.
Members Reports:
Richard Sivill: On Thursday the 16th October the Royal Horticultural Society announced their National winners of their annual "In Bloom " competition. Shevington & Dist won Gold and Joint Category winner of the Town section and the Bridgers Community Group, Atherton won Silver in the Urban Community Section. A housing application for 100 new homes has been rejected. A book commemorate the centenary of the Wingate Brass Band has been published.
David Shallcross: Leigh Ornithology Society received £1400 from the Labour Councillors Brighter Borough pot to help continue the society’s work with local schools. Over 1,000 children were reached last year and they currently have bookings to visit another 10 schools. Chowbent Chapel open day went well and we could have a future meeting at the chapel.
Mary Pennington: Mary distributed the current and former newsletters. Work at the rectory has been finished and they are unable to dig at the Kirkless site at the moment due to the high cost of public liability insurance.
Tom Price: The speaker at the next Civic Trust meeting will talk about the two Liverpool cathedrals.
Avis Freeman: The misplaced milestone that she become aware of last year will be restored to its right location. The Soroptimists were involved in the Leigh remembers open day and will be planting bulbs on Sunday.
Ken Barston: Working to improve Stubshaw Cross Recreational Park which is deteriorating due to lack of maintenance.
Geoff Jones. : School visits have been ongoing for 18 years. The winding engine has been restored - it’s the only one of its type functioning in the UK. Getting rid of Japanese Knot-weed is the biggest problem at the moment.
John O’Neill: The Waterloo Memorial Group is making good progress and the monument should be restored by 2015. The essay competition results will be published in Part Forward. This year is the 100th anniversary of the meteorite that fell on Appley Bridge. The Druncoon building will be used for youth work - the whereabouts of the art work from that building is unclear at the moment.
Allan Roberts: Will inquire with the RSPB to see if school visits along the lines of LOS are in order.
Next meeting:
24th November at Astley Green Colliery Museum, starting at 10.30 am.