Issue 1 Sunday, 13th September 2015

DEMOLITION PLAN FOR FORMBY HALL

by Vincent BradleyATHERTON residents were shocked last week to learn that the much-loved Formby Hall was scheduled for demolition. New owners, Formby Hall Limited, who purchased the hall on behalf of Hilldale Housing Association, have applied to Wigan Council for permission to demolish the building. A notice appeared on a lamp-post near the building to inform locals of the intention to demolish Formby Hall

in twenty-eight days. The notice also gives anyone objecting to the demolition twenty-one days to lodge their objections with the council. It would appear that the notice triggers a six-week moratorium preventing any action during that time, and giving any interested community groups the chance to express a wish to bid for the property. If no interest is expressed, the Asset of Community Value status will be lifted and the hall

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Hall could be demolished–-from front pagecould be knocked down within weeks. The next stage now for the Atherton Residents Association will be to apply to be treated as a Community Bidder for the hall. But this does not give residents an automatic right to buy, just to bid, and the final decision lies solely with Formby Hall Limited as owners. In the meantime, the Residents Association is seeking legal advice to see if there are any other avenues to explore to save the hall for the community.

***Park group set to be launchedby Vincent BradleyTHE committee meeting this Tuesday evening will see the first steps to the setting up of an exciting new project to help return Atherton Central Park to its former glory. ‘Friends of Atherton Park’ is an initiative to clean up, maintain and improve the much-loved park between Hamilton

Street and Cambridge Street. Recent years have seen the park fall into decline. Features such as the ‘Sunken Gardens’ and the Cinnamon Place cottage are missed by many.

The Sunken Gardens in their heyday

The old house may not be likely to make a reappearance, and even the Sunken Gardens may be difficult to bring back, but there are plenty of ideas how the park can thrive once more. Ideas so far include: revamping the play area, having a tree of dedication for loved ones and holding events on the fields. Most of all, all users of the park are needed to give their input as to what they would like to see happen to the park. More details in the next issue.

Library Pleaby Vincent BradleyRESIDENTS wishing to ensure the future of Atherton Library could soon get the opportunity to support the library without having to worry about opening hours. At present, the library is not open at times suitable for the typical nine-to-five worker. It is closed altogether at weekends and on Thursdays. It is only open from 10am to 2pm on Mondays, 1pm to 5pm on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and 10am to 5pm on Fridays. As the main statistic used to determine the usage of the library is the number of books borrowed, Atherton Residents Association hope to launch a voluntary out of hours service for those who wish to support the library but normally can’t. In the meantime, anyone wishing to support the library is encouraged to use the library as often as possible, borrowing as many books as they possibly can to show our library is still needed.

Last public meetingTHE last public meeting of the residents association took place on Tuesday, 25th August in the Atherton Arms. All councillors for both Atherton and Atherleigh wards were invited to attend, as were the MPs for Bolton West and Leigh. In the event, only Cllr Jamie Hodgkinson, WIN councillor for Atherton ward and Chris Green, Conservative MP for Bolton West were in attendance. Also at the meeting was Steve Sargent from Hilldale Housing Association, the company wishing to build a care facility on the site of the Formby Hall. Gordon Robinson from the South East Lancashire branch of CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ales) gave an excellent account of CAMRA and the successful application to have Formby Hall listed as an Asset of Community Value (ACV). Steve Sargent was impressed by the

strength of community support for the Hall. The debate was reasoned and good-natured but Mr Sargent was left in no doubt about the feelings of Athertonians for their community venue. He was also well aware that the residents were not opposed to the kind of facility Hilldale wish to build and that the housing association would receive full support if an alternative site had been chosen. Plans to support the library were also discussed, and members of the library support group sold some beautiful bags they had brought for raising funds. The bags are priced at £4 each and are still available.

The Library Support Group bag – sold for £4 each

One other issue mentioned was the present state of the roof at the council-owned Atherton Collieries Village Club on Leigh

Road. The meeting did get emotional at times, which only goes to show the importance of community in the town.

***Next public meetingTHE next public meeting of the Atherton Residents Association will take place on Tuesday, 29th September at the Atherton Arms, starting at 7pm. All local elected representatives have been invited to attend, along with a representative of the local police. Our last two public meetings have seen over a hundred people in attendance. The agenda for this meeting is as follows:-Updates from August meeting-The Formby Hall -The Deal (community investment fund)-Crime and anti social behaviour and the increase of vandalism in the Mealhouse Lane area-Launch of Friends of Atherton Park-Areas for regeneration-Any Other Business