Residents in Wigan believe that the cost of living crisis has helped steepen the level of decline in the town centre. Shops leaving the high street is nothing new for small towns across the country, and Wigan is no exception losing a Next and a H&M in the town centre already this year.
Inflation is 9.1 per cent higher than last year and is expected to peak at 11 per cent in October, according to ONS figures, and wage rises are not matching this increase - leading to less people having extra funds at the end of the month. Some residents in the borough believe that the higher costs have resulted in less people having money for extras and luxuries such as going out or shopping for clothes - which is causing a decline in the town centre.
Wigan Council are looking to tackle the problem on the high street with their £130 million investment into the Galleries - which they hope will see the area become more enticing.
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Keith Travis said: “It is not good is it. The biggest issue for me is having a pint, it is ridiculous.
“I was a postie for 42 years and when you go for a pint after a shift I would never miss it, but now, getting £12 an hour you go in the pub you’re paying almost £5 a pint and that is half a day’s wage gone.
“That is a big thing for me, it is the extras that people can’t do. The pubs are dying at the minute.
“There are two pubs by the park here that are selling pints for £5.10, this is Wigan. That is what is stopping people from coming out and spending time in the town centre.”
Another retired man who was out shopping with his wife was of the same opinion - that less people have money to spend in the centre which has led to it becoming a place for ‘demolition’. Joe Kenyon said he and his family have not felt the cost of living crisis personally, but have noticed the negative impact it has had on the area.
“The council should be doing more to help those who are struggling,” Mr Kenyon said. “The Wigan area is not great, it is dead.
“That is down to the high costs of things, shops are shutting because people are not spending. The place is ready for demolition.”
One couple are hopeful that things can improve, but they believe that the council could be doing more to help those who are struggling. Margaret Ladeji wants to see a better life being made for people, and that is something that she thinks requires a long-term strategy.
“I don’t like it when I see all these prices going up, it is just not fair,” she said. I think the council should do something about it, they could do it if they wanted.
“I am from Wigan originally and used to come into the town. I don’t come as much now.
“Poorer people are just left out of everything now. It just is not right.
“I think we should help make a better life for people, their wages are nothing at the moment compared to inflation. It is just awful.”
Margaret’s husband Tony explained that his household bills had gone up by more than double and his petrol prices have gone the same way. “I am just hoping this is all temporary, but with this war going on I’m not sure, it is quite frightening,” Tony said.
Wigan Council have been making an effort to help those that are struggling and are putting together a strategy that would see funding brought to those in need. There are currently grant schemes in place to help vulnerable families with: food, energy and water costs, school uniform payments, furniture, bedding and warm winter coats, white goods and housing costs in exceptional cases.
Lesley O’Halloran, Wigan Council’s director for customer and culture, said: “We know that the pandemic has put many individuals and families into situations of financial duress and, though restrictions have lifted, the full economic fall-out has not reached its peak for many in our borough who are now being further pushed below the poverty line because of the rising cost of living. As some funding streams from central government are being withdrawn or modified, we are working hard to consider how we can support residents who may find themselves squeezed financially.
“At Wigan Council, we have a wealth of knowledge and expertise within our teams to support our most vulnerable residents and through the proposed Cost of Living strategy, we are working on a plan to deliver the highest standard of support for residents facing these challenges. This includes the delivery of our welfare offer, taking into account the increased demand for our services that we are anticipating, and considering how we as a local authority can support our residents through a rise in stress and mental health issues caused by financial difficulties.”
The direct cost of living strategy being put together by Wigan Council is being finalised and they are hoping to make a decision on this at Cabinet in the coming weeks.
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