One ward in Wigan is feeling ‘neglected’ from the culture boom that has seen £14.3 million worth of external funding hit the borough since 2019. The Fire Within festival, launched in May of 2019 by using empty spaces in the Galleries in the town centre - which is currently undergoing a huge multi-million pound redevelopment - to showcase dazzling art displays.
The most recent rendition of ‘The Fire Within’ came in the form of the light trail along the canal towpath which dazzled thousands of residents this month. The culture team's ambition is to ‘attract external investment, grow the cultural sector and increase resident engagement with arts and culture’ has been deemed a ‘great achievement’ by many at the Confident Council Scrutiny Committee on November 28.
Coun Sheila Ramsdale, one of two councillors representing the Douglas ward who said that their constituents ‘feel left out’, grilled the culture officers for information on the progress of the Wigan Pier redevelopment.
