The political area of Atherleigh in Wigan went out with a bang after a number of community groups were issued awards by their local councillors.
By the time of the next all out council elections on May 4, the ward will cease to exist by that name and will become “Atherton South and Lilford” ward, with its boundaries also set to change. Following the Boundary Commission review of Wigan Borough, Atherleigh is one of many wards that has seen its boundaries change but one of few that has had a name change.
The review is carried out approximately every twenty years and ensures the councillor to resident ratio remains broadly similar.
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Councillors John Harding and Debra Wailes have worked closely with a wide variety of community groups for several years and wanted to show their appreciation of work the groups have done for their local communities. They arranged for lead members of each group to attend a small award ceremony as a “thank you” for all the hard work and commitment the volunteers have given to their local areas within the ward.
On March 15, the Mayor’s Parlour at Wigan Town Hall played host to an event for the volunteers who were introduced to the mayor Coun Marie Morgan and her Consort, Coun Clive Morgan, and were presented with their awards.
“It has been an honour and a pleasure to work with such diverse community groups over the past years and, although, following the boundary changes, some of our groups will find themselves in new wards,” Coun Harding said. “Others will be in the new Atherton South and Lilford ward and we hope that, following the local elections, we shall be able to continue to work with those groups and support the creation of new ones.”
He went on to say that although the old ward of Atherleigh, created in 2004, will be gone, the legacy and the community within will remain the same. He and his fellow ward councillor Coun Wailes explained that they are looking forward to getting to grips with their new constituents, if the Labour representatives are voted in again come May 4.
“Working alongside the community groups in a hands on capacity has been fun and a terrific learning experience for John and I,” Coun Wailes said. “We have enjoyed every minute and we are proud to have supported the groups and our local communities with Brighter Borough funding too. We hope to continue our work across the new ward together with our new election candidate, Lee McStein.”
Coun Chris Ready, Cabinet member for Communities, added: “The work community groups do is essential to our success in moving forward. I have personally worked closely with John and Debra and their passion and work rate is unbelievable for the Atherton area.
“This is what you call a real partnership for the benefit of all.”
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