Blooming borough scoops three top awards

Tuesday 23rd October 2007

Wigan residents can hold their head up high after the council came home from Northwest in Bloom with a cluster of prizes for our green and pleasant borough.

In only the second year that the council has competed in the highly-contested In Bloom awards, three prizes came the borough's way, more than any other council.

The borough picked up awards for:

• Most Improved Borough - overall winner (certificate and trophy)
• Second place to Chester in the "Large City" category (certificate)
• Best Small Visitor Attraction: the Galleries (certificate and trophy)

"I'm proud and delighted", says Cllr John O'Neill, deputy leader of the council, who has led the steering group of officers, volunteers and partners responsible for this year's blooming borough.

Cllr O'Neill and Environmental Services officers attended the awards ceremony at Manchester Town Hall at the weekend, along with representatives from across the region. He said the judges paid tribute to the 'great achievements' made this year in the borough with eco-projects and environmental improvements.

He added: "The fact that Wigan borough can hold its own against tough competition from the best of the North West is wonderful news. It is a tribute to the hard work of everyone - residents, community groups, colleagues in housing and the leisure trust, as well as the council's officers. It's a terrific team effort and the true winner is the borough itself."

This year has seen the steering group get involved a wide variety of projects and displaying more flowers and trees than ever before. Some schemes which the judges saw on their inspection were:

• Hindley prisoners - the prisoners have been growing herbaceous perennials on behalf of the council for planting around the borough
• Leigh Civic Square - "Eye-full" towers, guardails and other displays organised with the township forum
• Working with local schools, linking into curriculum activities including business enterprise, such as the 40 foot polytunnel at Pembec

Cllr O'Neill said that there is much more to come: "We are eager to do even better in next year's awards, and the work has already started. There are special trials of winter bedding displays on guardrail planters in Leigh, Hindley and Wigan. Enjoy them, and please think how you can get involved to keep Wigan Borough in Bloom for many years to come."