I75 Local Life Wigan Jan 2012

January 2012Wigan Edition

www.locallife247.co.uk

A-Z of local activities for 2012

Just Do It!

New Dawn for Community GroupsLocals doing it for themselves

Pho

to C

redi

t Aus

tin

Tho

mas

Competition Results

Pics of our hamper winners

Local Life talks to theBBC’s Dave Guest

2 Local Life www.locallife247.co.uk

NEW YEARCOURSES

ENROL IN PERSON

4, 5 & 6 January 10am-3pm @Skelmersdale Campus, College Way, Skelmersdale WN8 6DX.

ENROL BY TELEPHONE

Telephone enrolments are available for those part-time learners who are not eligible for fee reduction (eg Free courses or full fee payers only)

01695 52306 01695 52310 01695 52476

Lines open 4, 5 & 6 January 10am-3pm

ApprenticeshipArts, Crafts & Leisure Interests BusinessCADCarpentry & JoineryComplementary TherapiesComputing/ITConstructionCookeryCounsellingElectrical InstallationElectronicsGCSE’sHairdressingHealth & CareHealth & Fitness

Job SkillsLanguagesMedia Make-upMotor VehicleMusicNail ServicesPhotographyPlasteringPlumbingSign LanguageSkills for LifeSportsTeaching AssistantTeachingWeldingYouth Work

WE OFFER A RANGE OF COURSES INCLUDING:

IF YOU’RE LOOKING TO DO SOMETHING NEW IN 2012, WHY NOT TRY ONE OF OUR FULL OR PART-TIME COURSES?

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Just Do It!I hope you’ve all had a great Christmas period - welcome to 2012 and the latest issue of Local Life!

Who can forget the sight of those Emperor Penguins on the BBC’s Frozen Planet as they huddled together against the ravages of an Antarctic winter? I think it’s a natural instinct for nature to hunker down at this time of year and wait for the worst of the winter to pass, and man is certainly no exception! If this sounds like you, then you might not be tempted right now by our ‘Just Do It!’ feature on pages 24-28 which aims to inform and entice more people to try our local activity groups, but hopefully you’ll make a mental note to try these activities when Spring is sprung.

‘Big Society’ is a phrase that produces extreme reactions from all walks of society. Whether you love the concept or hate it, there’s a growing realisation that if you value the future of the place where you live then you’ll need to get involved to ensure its welfare, because the nanny state won’t exist in the format that it used to. Check out pages 42-43 to read about two of the most prominent local community groups and discover their future plans.

The next issue brings the return of Jack’s Tracks, our What’s On guide, and whatever else we can think of to make your read even more enjoyable. Don’t forget - please support our advertisers whenever you can, as these are the people who make it possible for us to design, print and deliver your Local Life to you.

See you next time!

[email protected]

Publisher: Local Life 247 Ltd, P.O. Box 631. WiganWN1 9HF

Tel: 01695 627999

AdvertisingChris [email protected]

EditorialNicola [email protected]

Accounts/DistributionSally [email protected]

The February edition of Local Life will be published on Thursday 26th January. The copy deadline for this issue is Thursday 12th January. Local Life is published every month. Distribution areas will alternate each month between two separate edition areas; This edition is delivered to over 12,500 private homes and businesses in Orrell, Billinge, Winstanley, Up Holland, Highfield, Marus Bridge, Roby Mill and Pemberton.

The next edition is delivered to over 12,500 private homes and businesses in Standish, Whitley, Shevington, Appley Bridge, Parbold, Wrightington and Newburgh.

You can also pick up a free copy of Local Life on or around the first weekend of the month, at Tesco Extra in Wigan or at Sainsbury’s in Marus Bridge. Or you can check out our online publication at www.locallife247.co.uk.

Whilst every care has been taken to ensure that the data in this publication is accurate, neither the publisher or its editorial contributors can accept, and hereby disclaim, any liability to any party to loss or damage caused by errors or omissions resulting from negligence, accident or other cause.

No part of this publication, including pictures, may be copied or reproduced without the prior written consent of Local Life 247 Ltd.

70% off at Morpheus Glass!50% off Perfect Fit window blindsThe Signs of TimeFirst & Last – Dave GuestFree coffee or tea at Billinge CaféJust Do It! A-Z of local activitiesYour Health column20% off offer at Real FlameThe Lost Decade – Fact or Fantasy?Roll with the PunchesTop Tax Tips from CMANew Dawn for NetworksTaste of Italy with Marken TravelXmas Hamper winners announced!Love your Pets!Angie’s Garden DiaryTest Drive – Renault TwingoHome ServicesGreen & Clean’s Useful Numbers

59

1014162432343638394248505254566066

In this issue

When you receive the new edition of Local Life - remember to recycle the old one.


One Ella of a GuessClever Garswood youngster Ella Guest was the toast of her family as she won a charity competition hosted by Windy Arbour Farm to guess the weight of a giant pumpkin! Customers were invited to guess the weight of the pumpkin which was on display in the popular farm shop in Billinge and three hundred and fifty of them paid £1 each to enter the competition. Six year old Ella correctly guessed the weight of the whopper as 34 kilos, and won a £20 voucher to spend at the farm shop!

Ella is pictured on the left with the owner of the farm shop Pam Turner, whose idea it was to hold the competition, and Saints legend and local resident Paul Sculthorpe, a regular customer at the farm shop who was collecting the cheque on behalf of Wigan and Leigh Hospice. Pam was inspired to raise funds for the hospice following the tragic loss of her husband John to cancer in September 2010, and the competition raised a total of £350. Well done to all concerned!

Teddy Bears in OrrellHere’s a big night out for you that won’t break the bank; the Chicago Teddy Bears Jazz Band will be performing at St Luke’s Church Hall in Lodge Road Orrell on Friday 3rd February 2012 at 7.30 p.m. The Teddybears, as they are known, have been delighting audiences all over the North West since the 1970’s and a good night out is guaranteed! Tickets are priced at just £7.50, including a hot pot supper and are available by calling Margaret Heaton 01695 622380. Please note that you’ll need to bring your own drinks to the performance.

Chance to DanceIf you’d like to brush up on your sequence dancing skills and you fancy adding a regular dance night to your calendar, then Tontine Methodist Church is the place to be! A regular fortnightly sequence dance takes place at the church, which is opposite the Delph in Tontine, on Wednesdays from 7.30pm. This is a friendly group and you’d be assured of a warm welcome. Admission is just £1 and the next dance night is on Wednesday 18th January. For more details please call 01695 624801.


splashbacks | panels | coasters | jewellery | hangings | sculptures | bowls

Unit 11, Hewitt Business Park Winstanley Road, Orrell, Wigan, WN5 7XBt/f 01695 624182 w www.morpheusglass.co.uk e [email protected]

At our January sale open studio weekend there will be a wide range ofpieces on show and many items will have up to 70% off plus all orders placedon the weekend will receive 30% off the normal RRP. All our work is handmadeby glass designer Stephanie Bowen at the studio and pieces can be made to

order to suit any space including splashbacks. So come and join us on the21st and 22nd January open from 10 - 4 both days.

UP TO

70%OFF

bespoke fused glass design

morpheus glass

January saleSaturday 21st & Sunday 22nd

� Local Life www.locallife247.co.uk

40th Birthday EventsSt Aidan’s Catholic Primary School in Winstanley is celebrating 40 years since its official opening with two events for past pupils and the local community.

First up is an Open Evening which is being held in the school on Monday 30th January 2012 from 7pm until 9pm. Ex-pupils will be able to see how the building has changed and developed over the years and you can pay your old ‘bay’ area a visit to relive your primary school memories! If you have any past school photographs or would like to send us a comment or a memory of your time at the school please drop this into the school. The school will put them on display for the open evening and will return any memento/s to you after the event.

It would also be appreciated if ex-pupils could contact the school and tell us where you are and what you’re up to; it’s always great to see where past pupils are today. Please send any information to [email protected]

To celebrate this amazing event in the school’s life, there is going to be a ‘70’s Disco Night held at St Aidan’s Social Club, Highfield Grange Avenue,

Winstanley on Friday 3rd February 2012 from 7pm. A fabulous night with hotpot, raffles and prizes is promised, many will be in their 70’s disco gear and you can catch up with old and new friends from the school. All adults welcomed, but tickets are strictly limited and cost only £6 so please act now if you’d like to go to the party. For further information, please call Lisa Purcell on 07912 364904.

7Local Lifewww.locallife247.co.uk

Lancashire NightTo mark the 25th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster, the Belarus Aid group in Parbold is campaigning to raise enough money to be able to donate a mini bus to the disabled children of Gomel. Gomel was one of the worst affected areas in the region and the children living there often need to visit hospitals and children’s centres. However, because the mini bus they use is unreliable and is constantly breaking down, many children in outlying villages have become isolated. They become virtually

housebound and their carers have no respite. The Belarus Aid group desperately want to provide a properly fitted mini bus and need to raise £14,000.

So, the group have decided to host the Lancashire Night at Parbold Village Hall with the aim of raising £2000 on the night to put towards the funds. Previous Lancashire nights have been extremely successful and raised thousands of pounds, so here’s your chance to help! You can expect fabulous entertainment on the night from highly skilled musician Mark Dowding, Lancashire dialect performer Sid Calderbank, along with music from Peter and Barbara Snape .There will be a bar and a hotpot supper included.

The evening takes place on March 10th 2012.To purchase tickets, for further details or to make a donation please contact Sue Halton on 01257 463703 or Maggi Huyton on 01257 464215. For more information about the Belarus Aid group please visit the web-site at www.belarusaid.co.uk.

806 Ormskirk Road, Pemberton WN5 8AX01942 225301 73 Ormskirk Road, Newtown WN5 9EA

01942 323162

HEPWORTH & HALL opticians

£15OFF GLASSES £25

OFF GLASSES £50OFF GLASSES £75

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� Local Life www.locallife247.co.uk

JJB Movember During November each year, the Movember movement is responsible for the sprouting of moustaches worldwide. The aim of Movember is to raise vital funds and awareness for prostate cancer and other cancers that affect men. And this year staff from the JJB Warehouse at Martland Park, Wigan decided they were going to do their bit for charity and go unshaven for a month.

Mike McKnight, Warehouse Manager told Local Life, “The guys involved have raised £160; they have all made a great effort and have helped to raise

awareness for Prostate Cancer charities too, so well done to everyone involved!”

Our picture shows (l to r): Rob Porter, Mike Kitts, Kev Cooper, Dave Myers, Dave Benson, Aivars Bokis, William Atkinson, Steve Williams, Jordan Atherton, Darren Gorton & Shaun Brindle.

Bird TalkThe Wigan RSPB have announced their forthcoming events for January. On Tuesday 10th at 7.45 pm in St Anne’s Church Hall, Shevington there will be a talk about the BTO Ringing Scheme by Seamus Eaves. The following day (Wednesday 11th), Tom Morton will lead a visit to local bird sites – call him on 01942 832383 to book your place, and on Saturday 21st January Neil Martin will lead a visit to Marshside and Hesketh Bank – call him on 01695 624860 to book your place. All outings and meetings are free to members. Adult subscription is £7.00 (families £10.50). Further details of all events at www.rspb.org.uk/groups/wigan



Would you like to get rid of unsightly leg veins?We all know that sinking feeling, when you look in the mirror and you’re not 100% happy with what you see. It can be an up-hill battle for some of us and after trying every lotion and potion that promises to turn back the clock you could be forgiven for being a little bit sceptical.

Don’t be too hasty though because we might just have found a new weapon for your armoury against ageing. If you’re looking for beautiful age defying results then you simply must read on.

Natura Skin Clinic on Newton Road, Warrington, can offer you a wide range of non-surgical treatments so if the thought of full blown cosmetic surgery leaves you feeling cold then there’s no need to worry, this revolutionary clinic has a few tricks up its sleeve!

Natura specialises in non-surgical face and body treatments using the latest techniques and technology and you can rest easy in the knowledge that unlike other back street beauty salons or spas, every procedure at Natura is carried out by a doctor.

If you would you like to get rid of unsightly and ugly leg veins then you need to know that Natura Skin Clinic offers a medical grade laser treatment to rid legs of veins for good, just think by the summer you could be showing off some perfect pins!

The leg vein treatment on offer deals with spider, purple thread veins and also the unsightly blue veins that often make women miserable and if left untreated never actually fade. Natura’s Laser Vein Treatment is a gold standard treatment for getting rid of spider veins, they guarantee to clear your legs.

Established local GP, Dr. Carlos Xavier, set up Natura after identifying a common problem among patients. He told Local Life, “Lots of my patients came to me unhappy with their appearance and complaining of low self-esteem. They were considering plastic surgery but I felt this rather extreme as non-surgical alternatives achieve similar results.”

Oxford educated Dr. Xavier set up the Aesthetic Laser Centre in 2004 alongside his NHS practice to treat skin conditions but decided to relaunch as Natura Skin Clinic, in response to an overwhelming demand for his expertise and a wider range of procedures, the clinic is stylish and friendly. Dr. Xavier added, “As a privately owned, family-run clinic, every patient is assured of the highest standards of service and care.”

Dr. Xavier believes he can help you to achieve your perfect self with visible yet natural looking results. A free skin evaluation is provided by a doctor who will then make treatment recommendations and all treatments are followed up with on-going consultations ensuring you get the very best outcome.

If you’re looking for a place where you can feel comfortable having treatments in total medical safety, feel cared for and leave feeling happier and looking great, we’ll let you into a little secret... it’s called Natura Skin Clinic!

For further information or to arrange a free Skin Evaluation, call Natura on 01925 393409.



Christmas BonanzaChristmas came early for a local school when they received a massive £8,400 cheque from their Parents, Staff & Friends Association. Orrell Holgate Primary School were the lucky recipients when their head teacher, Mr Wilson, was handed a cheque by representatives of the Association. This money has been raised through a whole range of fundraising events including car boot sales, summer and Christmas fairs and even a fancy dress walk.

The money will be used to enhance the learning of Holgate’s pupils and will support a variety of projects including online learning and educational visits. The Orrell Holgate PSFA Committee would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has helped over the past year and we look forward to improving on our total for the coming year. Look out for upcoming events in Local Life!

Prom DayIf you have a party princess who is leaving school this year, then no doubt you will have been informed by now that your essential duties as a parent requires parting with a sum equivalent to Greece’s national debt for her prom night. Anything less than that and you could well receive a call from Childline!

Fear not, you can take the stress out of all the planning by attending the rather exclusive Prom Day event being held from 10am-5pm on Saturday January 21st at Romancia, located on Main Street in Billinge. There, your very own prom queen can browse through the whole range of Paparazzi Prom dresses by must-have designer Mori Lee.

If you’re a member of a community group and you want to publicise your next event free in Local Life, then just email details along with a contact name and number [email protected].

1�Local Lifewww.locallife247.co.uk


First memory you haveI can’t remember!

First school you attendedI was born in Hastings, but moved north to Morecambe when I was about six months old. My dad was a journalist and had been moving around until that time. He and we then settled in Morecambe. My first school was West End County Primary in Morecambe.

First job you had My first job was with the Lancaster Guardian as a trainee reporter. My first wage packet contained £17.50 – a fortune at the time (we are talking the mid-1970s.) I had the exciting job of writing up wedding reports, and fruit and veg prices from the local markets. But I eventually progressed on to more interesting assignments.

One of the most bizarre stories I covered during newspaper days concerned the human mole. He was

IntroductionDave will be familiar face in homes all across the North West; he is the chief reporter on the BBC’s North West Tonight and brings us our daily fix of local news. Dave started his working life as a trainee journalist after leaving school in Morecambe.

His first job was working on the Lancaster Guardian before moving to the Wigan Evening Post. Dave then worked as a freelance journalist in Manchester before making his big move by joining the BBC in 1983.

Since then, he has undertaken various roles with the BBC including producing and editing North West Tonight. He became education correspondent in 1993, social affairs correspondent in 2000 and in 2006 was appointed chief reporter.

He says that his job is more like a hobby because he enjoys it so much. Every day is different, and he gets to meet an amazing array of people throughout his working life.

Dave currently lives in Winstanley in Wigan, and is married and with two daughters.

Dave Guest


a man who’d evaded punishment for some relatively minor misdemeanor by living under the living room floor of his family home for years. He eventually emerged to tell me his story!

First car you boughtMy first car, aged 17, was a 1970 Ford Capri. I thought it was the bee’s knees. It had leatherette seats, a mock walnut dash board and stereo cassette player. Sadly, what it didn’t have was a decent engine. It averaged 60 miles to the gallon – of oil!

First house you boughtMy first house was a three bed semi in Wigan. It cost the grand total of £13,995. My wife and I spent many sleepless nights worrying about taking on such debt!

First pub or club you visitedThe first pub I visited was the Gaiety Bar in Preston (apparently it was a converted theatre – sadly it’s no longer there). At the time I was attending a newspaper training centre in the city - a half of lager cost me just 15p.

First record you boughtMy first single was Ride a White Swan by T Rex. Not quite sure why I bought it – probably peer pressure from a friend!

First best friend My first best friend was Alan who lived next door to us in Morecambe. We were best men at each other’s weddings and remain in touch to this day. He now lives in Loughborough.

Last restaurant you visitedThe last restaurant I visited was the Babar Elephant, an Indian restaurant in Morecambe. We have a house in the resort and spend a fair amount of time there. I love Indian cuisine and fortunately the chain has a place in Gathurst, close to our main home in Wigan so I can easily get my fix there too. Italian is another favourite but I’m willing to try most foods.

Last DIY task attemptedI quite enjoy a spot of DIY – just basic stuff though; I don’t go in for knocking down walls. The last task successfully completed was decorating a bedroom.

Last film you watched at the cinemaThe last film I saw at the cinema was The Inbetweeners at the Empire in Wigan. I was dubious as to whether it would live up to the TV series – but it did!

Last disagreement you hadIn my line of work you frequently have “artistic differences”, but they’re usually forgotten as soon as they arise.

Last time you went shoppingI do my best to avoid shopping, but the last place I visited was Bents Garden Centre.

Last holiday you hadMy last holiday was Menorca. Nice place, but, quite frankly, a little dull. I doubt we’ll be going back.

1� Local Life www.locallife247.co.uk

Award Winning Smiles!Local business Stephen Lander Dental Designs, based on Parliament Street in Up Holland, has been celebrating recently after they beat off some stiff competition to scoop a top dentistry award.

Husband and wife duo, Stephen and Val Lander have been running their private dental laboratory for more than 14 years and are over the moon to have had their work recognised. After being nominated by a dental clinic they produce work for in Bolton, Stephen was shortlisted and invited to attend a lavish awards ceremony in London.The prestigious awards ceremony took place at the Park Lane Hotel in London. Stephen told Local Life, “It was such a great honour to just be nominated but to hear our names being called out as the winners was out of this world! “We love our work and to see how happy people are when their smiles have been transformed is great, we’re really pleased that our work has been recognised.”

Stephen and Val were voted best dental laboratory in the North for their outstanding work and excellent staff training. 2011 was been a great year for this local business and as you can imagine, the couple are looking forward to an even busier year in 2012.

New Members WantedSt. Matthew’s Walking Club, based at the Hall at St. Matthew’s Church in Highfield, are looking for new members. Each month, the club arranges three grades of walks within locations such as The Lake District, Peak District, Yorkshire Dales, Lancashire and North Wales. A coach is hired for the day and after the walk a meal is booked at a pub in the local area. If you are interested in walking, meeting new friends and enjoying the countryside and would like to join, take a look at our website atwww.st-matthews-ramblers.co.uk.

If you’re serious about selling your house in 2012 there’s only one estate agentyou need….

Due to this high level of sales, we have a waiting list of prospective buyers in the Orrell, Billinge and Up Holland areas.

If you live in these areas andwould like to sell your home,call us now on 01695 632123for a free valuation.

Borron Shaw (Orrell) 24 weeks

Regan & Hallworth 33 weeks

Winnard & Brown (Standish) 34 weeks

Reeds Rains (Pemberton) 47 weeks

*Results based on

properties sold in the

WN5-7, WN5-8 and

WN8-0 area between

30/10/11 and 26/11/11.

Information relates to the

average time a property

is visible and available

for sale on www.

rightmove.co.uk

2 Sefton Road, Orrell

01695 632123www.facebook.com/borronshaworrell

www.twitter.com/borronshawwww.borronshaw.co.uk

If you’re serious about selling your house in 2012 there’s only one estate agentyou need….

Due to this high level of sales, we have a waiting list of prospective buyers in the Orrell, Billinge and Up Holland areas.

If you live in these areas andwould like to sell your home,call us now on 01695 632123for a free valuation.

Borron Shaw (Orrell) 24 weeks

Regan & Hallworth 33 weeks

Winnard & Brown (Standish) 34 weeks

Reeds Rains (Pemberton) 47 weeks

*Results based on

properties sold in the

WN5-7, WN5-8 and

WN8-0 area between

30/10/11 and 26/11/11.

Information relates to the

average time a property

is visible and available

for sale on www.

rightmove.co.uk

2 Sefton Road, Orrell

01695 632123www.facebook.com/borronshaworrell

www.twitter.com/borronshawwww.borronshaw.co.uk


Just Add BooksWigan’s brand new state of the art Life Centre, to include a library and public service facilities, has been handed over to the council on time and on budget. The keys to the building were symbolically presented to senior staff from Hochtief Solutions, who have designed and built the Life Centre, and will operate it for the council for a 25 year term.

The opening of the ‘south’ site, with its pools, gym and fitness facilities enjoyed nearly 7,000 swims in its first month alone – and now the new ‘north’ site, on the other side of the town hall, is due to open to the public this Monday (9th January).

The building is furnished and the shelves stand ready to receive over 70,000 books for its children’s and adults’ libraries, part of the themed ‘zones’ of information, learning and neighbourhoods. As well as books, maps and

documents, the building will also offer direct public access to council and other public services, plus computers and space for community activities.

The centre will also become home to some of the borough’s voluntary sector organisations such as Citizens’ Advice. Outside, there’s a new open air plaza, which has already been lined up to host events and entertainment throughout the year.

“This new library will be a light, modern, open space where people can relax and read, study and learn,” said Pete Gascoigne, Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust’s Executive Director for Culture. “The library will offer full self-service and the latest technology to make it really easy to borrow, and return, books. There will also be an increased number of computers, to help ensure that it’s easier than ever to access emails, research and search for new jobs.”



Art GroupStandish Art Group meets in the Standish Community Centre on Moody Street in Standish and they would like any budding artists to join them for a spot of painting every Wednesday evening from 7-9pm. A basic knowledge of drawing and painting is required as the group isn’t a teaching medium but they are a group of people who get together to enjoy anointing with like-minded people. The group always strives to encourage improvement with a range of planned

activities such as demonstrations, live models and occasional workshops. For further information on the group please contact the secretary Ron Lidgard on 01942 321672.

Open WeekendMorpheus Glass, based at Hewitt Business Park off Winstanley Road in Orrell, are staging an Open Weekend on 21st and 22nd January from 10am-4pm, where members of the public can visit their studios, inspect their collection of glass fusion work and pick up some unbelievable bargains at 70% off retail prices! You’ll be able to browse through some original pieces of glass art; ideal and unique presents for your family and friends. Gifts on offer will include handmade jewellery; earrings, bracelets and pendants, coaster sets, colourful hangings and beautiful vessels too. If your budget is a bit more considerable, you can pick up glass splashbacks, sculptures and wall panels at a fraction of the prices you’ll pay elsewhere!



Call 101There’s a new phone number in use to contact the police –101. You should call 101 to report less urgent crime and disorder. For example, you should call 101 if your car has been stolen, your property has been damaged, you suspect drug use/dealing in your area or you want to speak to the police to pass on information about crime in your area.

101 is being introduced to ease pressure on the 999 service, and help to efficiently tackle crime and disorder. You should continue to call 999 when it is an emergency, such as when a crime is in progress,

when there is danger to life or when violence is being used or threatened.

Calls to 101 (from landlines and mobiles) cost 15p per call, no matter what time of day you call, or how long you are on the phone. Calls to 101 are answered by police call handlers in the control room of the local police force. You will not be put through to a large national call centre.

When you call 101, the system will determine your location and connect you to the local police force. You will hear a recorded message announcing the police force you are being connected to. If you live near to the Wigan - West Lancashire – St Helens boundary, the recorded message will give you a choice of which force to be connected to.

General nuisance or environmental issues should be reported to your local council as usual – see our useful numbers section on page 66.


Call Chris on 01942 824557 or 07968 608861email:[email protected]

in just 7 WEEKsLOsE A stOnE

with the newROSeMARY COnLeY

fAtAttACKbOOstERdiet

SAV

e ££

£

*New members only. Valid until 31/01/12. Class Fee £5.95. Bring voucher to class to claim.

fRee Membership AnD free Diet Pack worth £35!*

ZUMBA®, ZUMBA FITNESS®; and the Zumba Fitness Logo are registered trademarks of Zumba Fitness, LLC, used with permission.

ASHTON IN MAKERFIELDByrchall High School, Warrington Road, Ashton In Makerfield, WN4 9RQMonday 6:00 - 7:30 pm (Slim & Aerobics)Monday 7:30 - 9:00 pm (Slim & Zumba®) -New Class starts 9th January

GARSWOODRectory CE Primary School, Rectory Road, Garswood, WN4 0QFThursday 5:45 - 7:15 pm (Slim & Aerobics)Thursday 7:15 - 8:30 pm (Slim & Zumba®)

HIGHFIELDHighfield St Matthew’s Primary School, Billinge Road, Highfield, WN3 6BLTuesday 5:45 - 7:15 pm (Slim & Aerobics)Tuesday 7:15 - 8:30 pm (Slim & Zumba®)

WINSTANLEYSt Aiden’s Social Club, Highfield Grange Ave, Winstanley, WN3 6TBMonday 09:30 - 11:00 am (Slim & Aerobatone)

Exercise only option available £4 per session!

Classes also available in Wigan, Whelley, Hindley & Hindley Green

BOOKING ESSENTIAL


Archery Add a string to your bow this year by having a go at archery! The membership at Wigan & Orrell Archers consists of all abilities and ages so there is no need to worry about feeling left out, and the club also runs courses for beginners. Winter practice sessions take place at the old Pembec School in Pemberton, and at Wigan Target Sports Club in Park Street, Poolstock. For more information visit the club’s website www.orrellarchers.co.uk

Belly Dancing If you want to shed the pounds accumulated over Christmas, enrol at Sunshine House Community Centre off Vauxhall Road, Wigan for some belly dancing sessions every Monday . There’s no need to get your belly out, just gain confidence and body

awareness and above all have a great laugh! For further information please telephone Sue on 07866 485456 or e-mail [email protected].

Clay Pigeon ShootingTry your hand at clay pigeon shooting at the Manchester Clay Shooting Club which is located just off the East Lancs Road near Eccles. The club has a whole range of shotguns to suit and you can start from as young as 14 years of age. A professional clay shooting coach will teach you how to safely use a shotgun and break the targets. For further information visit www.a6ctc.co.uk

DanceWhat better way to kick off the New Year than trying to emulate the stars of Strictly and get fit in the process? LongsWay Dance Centre runs classes in ballroom, latin and salsa at Trinity Church Hall on Fleet Street in Pemberton. The centre is run by Winstanley couple Margaret and Tony Long, who are the 5 times British Senior Latin-American Dance Champions. Check out the advert overleaf for a list of classes and times, or visit the website www.longswaydance.co.uk.

Life is not a dress rehearsal, as the saying goes, so let 2012 be the year when leave your comfort zone way behind you and try something new. Local Life has compiled an entire A-Z of activities, most of which are right on your doorstep, so that you can spend a bit of time in January working out what you’d like to try. You could discover a hidden talent or a lifetime hobby, you could master an activity that will make you a bit of cash and you could make some new friends along the way. What have you got to lose? Just do it!

Just Do It!


Egg CraftingIf you’ve never heard of egg crafting, you’re not alone, but it is a wonderful art and if you’re a crafty type you’ll love it! The Joan Wood Egg Crafters hold occasional workshops at the Salem Church Hall in Church Street Orrell; contact Wendy on 01942 216552 for more details.

Flower ArrangingFlower arranging is basically creating a sculpture with flowers and can take years to perfect, but don’t let that put you off. The Wigan Flower Club meets on the 3rd Wednesday of the month at St Michael’s Church Hall in Shaw Street, Swinley. Their next meeting though is on 25th January, starting at 7.15pm. If you don’t fancy travelling into Wigan, then check out www.flowersnorthwest.net for information on clubs in Rainford and Parbold.

Girl GuidesGuiding is a game - with a purpose. It provides opportunities for girls and young women to be challenged by new adventures and experiences and achieve a sense of pride in accomplishment and teaches them to understand and learn about the world, its people and cultures. There are a number of clubs in Wigan; for more information on your local group visit the Girl Guides website for details at www.girlguidingnwe.org.uk

History Whether you want to research your family history or local history, there are a number of history clubs who can help. The Skelmersdale and Upholland Family History Society meet at 7.30pm on the 4th Tuesday of the month (not July or August) at Hall Green Community Centre in Up Holland. Billinge History Society hold their meetings at 7.30pm on the 1st Tuesday of the month at Chapel End Labour Club in Billinge.

Ice SkatingYes, you’ll probably fall over a few times, but you’ll have great fun and the kids will love it! Nearest venue is the synthetic ice rink (www.ice-blok.co.uk) at the Cockhedge Shopping Centre in Warrington, which is open 7 days a week and lessons are available if required. For the real thing, try the Silver Blades Rink in Altrincham (www.silver-blades.co.uk).

Ju-JitsuLet 2011 be the last year you’re pushed around when you sign up for Ju-Jitsu classes with Orrell Ju-Jitsu. The classes are held every Saturday morning at FX Leisure at Abbey Lakes, Orrell and are suitable for ages between 5-70 years old. Whether it is self-defence skills that you need or you just want to get fit, the martial art of Ju-Jitsu can help. For more details about these classes visit www.shogunworld.com or call Stuart Swalwell on 01695 627965.

KartingThe most fun you ever had with your clothes on, karting brings out the competitive edge in everyone no matter how old you are. For indoor karting try Speedkarting at Warrington, which has two separate tracks, one of which is on three levels (www.speedkarting.co.uk). Don’t forget though, that the NW’s premier outdoor karting venue is here in Wigan at the Three Sisters Race Circuit (www.three-sisters.co.uk) in Bryn.

LanguagesIt doesn’t matter what we did or didn’t sign up to in Brussels, we Brits love Europe…well, for holidays anyway! Make 2012 the year that you do what you’ve been threatening to for years – learn a language! The enrolment night for French, Italian and Spanish lessons at Standish Community High School is on Tuesday 17th January; the lessons start w/c 23rd January and run for 20 weeks. For further details see the advertisement on pages 30/31.

Music Here’s your chance to help to create the triumphant and glorious notes of a brass band. The Old Hall Brass Band is always on the lookout for new players to join the ranks. Rehearsals are Monday and Thursday from 8pm - 9.45pm at Jubilee Methodist Church in Roby Mill. For more information please call Paul on 07889 271291.


NetballIf you know your Goal Attack from your Goal Shooter then you’ll know how to play netball, but did you know that there’s a thriving Netball league in Wigan and Leigh? Twenty four teams of varying ability play against each other in three different leagues. If you’re interested in joining them, email [email protected] for further details.

Orienteering If you’re a keen walker who wants a bit of a challenge, then you might like to take a peek at the world of orienteering. The South East Lancashire Orienteering Club have members from all across Wigan and Bolton with lots of local activities to keep them occupied. This is a small and friendly club that is looking for newcomers to the sport. Details can be found on the website at www.seloc.org.uk or call Stephen Richards on 01257 422299.

PhotographyIf you’ve got a new camera for Christmas and you’d like to ensure you get the best from your new hobby, then you’ll be interested to hear that Wigan Photographic Society will be holding a series of clinics on Saturday January 14th, Saturday January 21st and Saturday January 28th at the Museum of Wigan Life. These drop-in sessions are free; for more information please call 01942 828128.

QuiltingHands up if you watched Kirstie Allsopp’s new series on Channel 4 recently? Yes? Then you’ll know that crafts are back! Quilting is enjoying renewed popularity and many groups are full to new members. If you’re interested, try Standish Quilters who meet on alternate Thursdays (email [email protected]), or Douglas Valley Quilters who meet in Bispham Green on the 3rd Saturday each month (email [email protected]).

Roller Skating Wigan had one of the largest roller rinks in the UK back in the 80’s, and thanks to a revival in the sport, the original venue has reopened at Eckersley Mill in Poostock. If you’re a bit rusty, then lessons at the rink are available for £3 per session. For more details,

including opening hours, visit the website www.wiganrollerrink.com or call 07968 365287.

SailingWigan Sailing Club is based on Scotsman’s Flash in Poolstock and is run entirely by its members to promote and enjoy the sport of sailing. Membership is open to people of all ages and abilities and there is an all year round racing programme for those who want to join in. For more information please have a look at the website www.wigansailingclub.webs.com

Townswomen’s GuildTownswomen are encouraged to have ideas and views, develop new skills, campaign on various issues, make new friends and above all, have fun. The Winstanley and Highfield group meets every 2nd and 4th Monday of the month from 8pm at the Grange Community Centre, and the Orrell groups meets on the 1st Monday of the month from 7.30 at St Luke’s Church Hall.

U�aIf you’re over 50 or retired (or both), then you’ll find a wealth of activities on offer at Up Holland U3A. The name’s a bit strange (it stands for University of the Third Age), but this is a global organisation and Up Holland has one of the largest groups in the region. Over 500 members regularly take part in over 40 different activities, which is far too many to list here, so you’ll just have to visit their website atwww.uphollandu3a.org!

Volunteering Whether you’re looking to gain work experience and broaden your horizons, fulfil your passion in environmental issues or simply want to give a few hours a week to a cause that benefits your community, Groundwork is the organisation that can help you to add something more worthwhile to your life. For more information please contact the Wigan office in 01942 821444.

Willpower Willpower Youth Theatre is the largest in Wigan with more than 250 members. Your child can be part of this exciting group of talented young people. There are no advance term fees; you only pay when you attend classes. This group also has links with professional


casting agencies too.For more information on where classes are held or how to join then please contact Kate on 01942 498339.

X-treme SportsYes, that’s a bit of a cheat, but there’s nothing fake about Extreme Element, who are the UK’s leading extreme sports specialist, offering over 800 Extreme Sports Courses and Outdoor Activity Days, across the UK. Fancy a tandem skydive, flying lessons, rock climbing, skydiving, motocross or quad biking…visit the website www.exelement.co.uk !

YogaYou’ve probably heard that yoga is good for you; but what are the specific health benefits you can expect to enjoy from doing yoga regularly? Pick out one from this list; increase flexibility, increase strength, improve muscle tone, prevent pain and helps us breathe better. Nearby classes are held at Shevington Community Centre and Billinge Road Community Centre; for further details visit www.yoganearby.com

ZumbaThe Zumba craze has swept the nation and has given everyone who puts together an A-Z a reason to be truly thankful! If you’d like to try Zumba, the Eagles Dance Club has new sessions starting in January at St Teresa’s in Up Holland on Monday evenings and St James Social club in Orrell on Wednesday evenings. The Club also has sessions for ballroom, Latin and salsa; for more details visit the websitewww.eaglesdanceclub.co.uk


Words ReturnWigan and Leigh’s annual literature event will go ahead in 2012 thanks to a £40,000 grant from the Arts Council. Organisers are currently finalising the line-up but have confirmed that the author Louisa Young (pictured), shortlisted for the Costa Novel Award, will be coming to Wigan. Her book ‘My Dear, I Wanted To Tell You’ will be Radio Four’s Book at Bedtime during February.

Colin Pinney and Dean Johnson will be performing works of Kipling and Wilfred Owen respectively, whilst the students of Wigan based Willpower Youth Theatre will be performing their brand new play about the Titanic to mark the 100th anniversary of the disaster on the 14th April. The author and academic James Canton will be in the archive at Leigh Town Hall discussing the ‘Anonymous Diaries of a Traveller to the Levant’ written in 1746.

Words 2012 co-ordinator Gillian Forrester said she was delighted with the funding announcement which secures the ninth Words Literature Festival. She said: “The funding is vital to this festival and we’re extremely grateful to the Arts Council who have once

again supported us. We’re really looking forward to next year’s festival – it’s bigger and better. In 2012 we’re taking the festival to new heights and to some unusual locations.”

The grant has been awarded from Arts Council England’s National Lottery funded Grants for the Arts scheme. Words Literature Festival is organised by Leigh and Wigan Words Together Management Committee, a dedicated volunteer group which work in partnership with Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust to ensure its success.

The Festival will take place between 9 April and 21 April 2012. For more information contact Gillian Forrester on 01942 828 227.

If you’re a member of a community group and you want to publicise your next event free in Local Life, then just email details along with a contact name and number [email protected].


* All classes listed above are affiliated groups. Enrolment is not required with the school as payments are made directly to the club involved - (Some of the clubs have a direct link from our Website).

Enrolment details:

Tuesday 17th January 2012 at

Standish Community High School School Library

4.00pm - 7.00pm All classes start week commencing: Monday 23rd January 2012

For your convenience, you may wish to download and complete the enrolment form prior to attending the enrolment evening. Forms are available from the ‘Community Learning’ section of our Website:

www.standishchs.wigan.sch.uk

- Please note that places will only be reserved with full payment on enrolment evening. - We are only able to accept payment by cash or cheque.

For further details of the courses/activities please check our Website or contact:

Nicky Crook - Community Cohesion Manager

01257 478736/01257 422265

[email protected]

Subject Level Time Price Day The following courses will run for 8 weeks:

Ballroom Dancing Improvers 7.30pm - 9.00pm £25.00 Tuesday

Photoshop All levels 7.30pm - 9.00pm £25.00 Tuesday

Computers

Beginners & Improvers 6.00pm - 7.30pm £25.00 Tuesday

Beginners (for Senior Citizens) 9.15am - 10.45am Free Tuesday

Cookery Course (Entertaining at Home) All levels 6.15pm - 8.15pm £50.00 Wednesday

The following courses will run for 20 weeks:

French Beginners Improvers

6.00pm - 7.30pm 7.30pm - 9.00pm £60.00 Tuesday

Italian Beginners Improvers

6.00pm - 7.30pm 7.30pm - 9.00pm £60.00 Thursday

Spanish

Beginners Improvers


Beginners Improvers Advanced

9.00am - 10.00am 10.00am - 11.00am 11.00am - 12.00pm

£50.00 Saturday

Mon Skillwise Football 6.00pm-8.00pm

Sports Hall 01942 324421

Standish Genki Shogeki Karate Club 6.30pm-7.30pm

MDA Dance Studio 01257 226166

Tue

Zumba 6.00pm-7.00pm

New Drama Studio 07590220270

Zumba 7.00pm-8.00pm


Yoga 7.30pm-9.00pm

Pavilion 01257 427051

Wed

Standish Panthers 6.00pm-7.00pm

Sports Hall

Slimming World 5.30pm-7.00pm 7.00pm-8.30pm

Pavilion 01695 731343

Standish Freestyle Karate Club 6.30pm - 8.30pm


Thur

Zumba 5.30pm-6.30pm


Yoga 6.45pm-8.00pm




Legs, Bums & Tums 7.00pm-8.00pm

Old Drama Studio 07760157114

Fri Standish Panthers 6.00pm-7.00pm

All Weather Pitch

Skillwise Football 6.00pm-8.00pm


Sat

Skillwise - Little Gems 9.15am-10.00am

10.00am-10.45am MDA Dance Studio

01942 324421

Skillwise - Bright Stars 10.00am-11.00am


Yoga 10.00am-11.00am

Pavilion 07746343282

* All classes listed above are affiliated groups. Enrolment is not required with the school as payments are made directly to the club involved - (Some of the clubs have a direct link from our Website).

Enrolment details:

Tuesday 17th January 2012 at

Standish Community High School School Library

4.00pm - 7.00pm All classes start week commencing: Monday 23rd January 2012

For your convenience, you may wish to download and complete the enrolment form prior to attending the enrolment evening. Forms are available from the ‘Community Learning’ section of our Website:

www.standishchs.wigan.sch.uk

- Please note that places will only be reserved with full payment on enrolment evening. - We are only able to accept payment by cash or cheque.

For further details of the courses/activities please check our Website or contact:

Nicky Crook - Community Cohesion Manager

01257 478736/01257 422265

[email protected]

Subject Level Time Price Day The following courses will run for 8 weeks:

Ballroom Dancing Improvers 7.30pm - 9.00pm £25.00 Tuesday

Photoshop All levels 7.30pm - 9.00pm £25.00 Tuesday

Computers

Beginners & Improvers 6.00pm - 7.30pm £25.00 Tuesday

Beginners (for Senior Citizens) 9.15am - 10.45am Free Tuesday

Cookery Course (Entertaining at Home) All levels 6.15pm - 8.15pm £50.00 Wednesday

The following courses will run for 20 weeks:

French Beginners Improvers


Italian Beginners Improvers

6.00pm - 7.30pm 7.30pm - 9.00pm £60.00 Thursday

Spanish

Beginners Improvers


Beginners Improvers Advanced

9.00am - 10.00am 10.00am - 11.00am 11.00am - 12.00pm

£50.00 Saturday

Mon Skillwise Football 6.00pm-8.00pm




Tue

Zumba 6.00pm-7.00pm


Zumba 7.00pm-8.00pm


Yoga 7.30pm-9.00pm

Pavilion 01257 427051

Wed

Standish Panthers 6.00pm-7.00pm

Sports Hall

Slimming World 5.30pm-7.00pm 7.00pm-8.30pm

Pavilion 01695 731343

Standish Freestyle Karate Club 6.30pm - 8.30pm


Thur

Zumba 5.30pm-6.30pm


Yoga 6.45pm-8.00pm




Legs, Bums & Tums 7.00pm-8.00pm

Old Drama Studio 07760157114

Fri Standish Panthers 6.00pm-7.00pm

All Weather Pitch

Skillwise Football 6.00pm-8.00pm


Sat

Skillwise - Little Gems 9.15am-10.00am

10.00am-10.45am MDA Dance Studio

01942 324421

Skillwise - Bright Stars 10.00am-11.00am


Yoga 10.00am-11.00am

Pavilion 07746343282

�2 Local Life www.locallife247.co.uk

Your Health Breaking news - how we can prevent 40% of cancersThe most recent research shows there is a real miracle prevention available for at least 40% of the cancers affecting people living in the UK. This latest research was headed by Cancer Research UK’s Professor Max Parkin, who said “Looking at all the evidence, it’s clear that around 40 per cent of all cancers are caused by things we mostly have the power to change. “

This is remarkably good news; all too many people in our nation develop cancer or know someone who has. It’s worth a few moments to think that this 40% prevention rate is equivalent to 134,000 people avoiding the pain and suffering of cancer every year in the UK.

The steps we need to take are quite easy to apply, and by making these lifestyle changes other areas of our health can be improved also.

By far the biggest culprit is tobacco. Smoking causes over a third of these preventable cancers. There’s no such thing as smoking in moderation, so see your General Practitioner or Pharmacist and get help to quit for good. You’ll also have a lot of extra money in your pocket.

Obesity or being overweight is the next largest lifestyle cause of cancer, accounting for 11% of such cases. Joining a Slimming World group can really make a difference. Losing some weight also helps us reduce our risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes – conditions which drastically reduce our lifespan and enjoyment of it thereof. Including a lot of fresh fruit and veg in our diet can prevent a further 9.5% of lifestyle cancers.

Excessive alcohol intake was found to be responsible for 7.9% of lifestyle cancers. Contrary to popular folklore, drinking small amounts or certain types of alcohol doesn’t really improve our health, whether it’s red wine or not, and the risks far outweigh the benefits over time.

There are also a number of other factors and I would recommend going online to look at www.canceresearchuk.org to learn more.

Dr Mike Paull, Chiropractor

Brought to you in association with the Wigan Family Chiropractic Clinic

Tai ChiThe oriental art of Tai Chi is coming to Poolstock! New classes for beginners start this Tuesday (10th January) at Clifton Street Community Centre in Clifton Street, so if you want a 2012 to be a year of better health and more effective relaxation then call the organisers on 01942 236869 or 01942 322090. You’ll need to wear comfortable clothing and either soft shoes or thick socks; no trainers or bare feet allowed.

Clinic UpdateLocal Life understands that the anticipated start date for the building of the new Orrell Health Clinic has been slightly delayed due to a delay in the developer getting the appropriate funding in place to start the project, and that the start date on the Church Street site is now likely to be in April 2012.

Despite this, progress is being made in other areas; clinical managers from Bridgewater Community Healthcare NHS Trust have met with Dr O’Brien from the Billinge Medical Centre and the existing Church Street surgery to discuss existing and proposed clinical services to be delivered from the new site, the District Valuer is due to re-value the proposed building based upon recent design changes (including one to accommodate community activity in the Clinic), and the legal teams representing all the parties involved are about to finalise the legalities.

��Local Lifewww.locallife247.co.uk

At Wigan Family Chiropractic Clinic, our team of Chiropractors and therapists can help to relieve

most types of muscle, joint and nerve pain.

What sorts of problem can you help me with? We can relieve pain that is caused by a variety of muscle, joint and nerve problems. This includes both new and old pain resulting from your job, sports, poor posture, accidents and some types of arthritis or wear & tear. We specialise in treating neck and back pain as well as pulled muscles, stiff joints and trapped nerves.

How can you help me? We always start off with a 45 minute consultation and exami-nation to find the underlying causes of your problem. We then use gentle, safe hands-on treatments to relieve your pain.

Why do you have a digital x-ray department? We have our own digital x-ray department at the clinic so that we can take and show you your pictures within 24 hours.This helps us to show you the underlying causes of your problem, allowing us to start treatment quickly and get you out of pain.

How soon can you help me?We are open six days a week and offer appointments the same or the next day. We are open Monday-Friday 8am-7pm, Saturdays 8am-4pm.

Why do we offer gentle treatments? Because we treat young children and senior citizens, we know that people prefer gentle, painless treatments.

Don’t suffer with muscle, joint or nerve pain!

Find out how we can help you:

01942 498480www.wiganbackpain.com

WIGAN FAMILY CHIROPRACTIC CLINICTReATMeNT FOR YOuR sPINe, MusCLes, jOINTs & NeRves27 BRIDGeMAN TeRRACe. sWINLeY. WIGAN. LANCAsHIRe. WN1 1TD

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Dr Matt BirchDoctor of Chiropractic

Chris GreenSports Injury Specialist

Jenny RichmondSports Injury Therapist

Mike PaullDoctor of Chiropractic

suFFeRING WITH MusCLe, jOINT OR NeRve PAIN?

Low back or neck pain? visit our clinic

• Consultation & Examination £59• Digital X-ray pictures (per area) £59• Treatment sessions (each) £35

A5_single page_WFC1.indd 1 28/11/11 22:22:43


Visit our double fronted showroom with fabulous displays over two floors.

Traditional, classic and contemporary styles available.

Expert advice and customer care

Great range of accessories - stylish mirrors and eye-catching pictures

Open seven days a week

Unbeatable selection of gas and electric fires, stoves and fireplaces


The Real Flame, 282-284 Church Road. Haydock. WA11 0LF(On site of Harold Spencer’s old shop)

Call - 01942 274000www.therealflame.co.uk

Specialists in supply and fitting of all types of fires and fireplaces

20% off all

complete fireplaces

Orders must be placed by

31st January 2012

January Sale now on!

�� Money & Investment brought to you by Prosper Independent Financial Advisers

Firstly, happy new year to all readers let’s hope that it is going to be a (wait for it!) ‘Prosperous’ one!Without a doubt, 2011 was a massive challenge for investors with the awful events in Japan following the tsunami and nuclear threat. The Libyan crises and the ongoing Euro debt issue all created nervousness which impacted upon global stock markets. At the time of penning this article (5th December) a summit meeting has been arranged with all the Euro leaders to deal with the support package for Europe. The outcome of this will now be known and my hope is that a robust, credible package has been agreed which the markets find favour with. My message to readers is that markets do tend to be resilient and historically have bounced back from previous corrections.

Listening to the constant doom and gloom on the news you would be forgiven if you felt nervous at

the thought of investing at the moment. The likes of Robert Peston (BBC Business Editor) get wheeled out whenever markets fall and belch out statements along the lines of ‘billions wiped of pension funds’, ‘we are facing financial meltdown’ etc. It’s interesting how he fails to report with such enthusiasm when markets head north!

Many journalists call the last ten years, ‘The Lost Decade’. In other words, investors would have been better investing in cash rather than shares over the last 10 years. But how true is this label – would you really have been better off sticking your cash in the bank? Let’s have a look at the facts according to the Financial Times Money Management August 2011;

Investing £25,000+ in an average UK savings account from July 2001 to July 2011 would have brought you an investment return of 17.2% (net of tax).

Money & Investment

The Lost Decade?

�7Visit us online at www.prosper-ifa.co.uk

Let’s have a look how the markets as a whole performed over that same period;

Best Emerging Market fund 450.1%Average Emerging Market fund 255.1%Best UK Equity Income fund 136.4%Average UK Equity Income Fund 61.8%Best UK all Cos fund 203.9%Average UK all Co’s fund 51.9%Best Global Equities 245.3%Average Global Equities 46.8%FTSE100 5.7%

‘Never let the facts get in the way of a good story’ is a favourite saying for journalists and you can see that the media have focused on the FTSE100 to ‘prove’ their point. It’s true that the FTSE100 has had a rough ride over the past decade, but the index is only part of the story. It does not include the value of the dividends that have been generated from these underlying companies during this period.

Assuming a dividend yield of just 2.8% pa over ten years, this would add a further 30% plus over the 10 year period and therefore would have comfortably beaten the average savings account return. Of course past performance is no guarantee to future returns and shares do not have the same security of capital as cash savings.

Ordinarily within any investment cycle we tend to see one or possibly two colossal events which result in huge swings in share prices both during and after these events, but this last

decade really has been quite exceptional. The dot com fall out of 2001 was quickly followed by the Twin Towers attacks and the Enron accounting scandals. The London terror attacks happened in 2005, followed by the credit crunch of 2008, the BP disaster in 2010 and the long running Eurozone Debt Crisis. All of these events happened in the past decade and have affected confidence in the markets, but history shows that the markets are resilient and confidence soon returns. So if you have committed capital to the stock market for the long term as part of a balanced portfolio, you should not be too swayed by day-to-day movements. Such volatility is the price you pay for returns that have consistently been, over the long term, higher than those from cash deposits or fixed interest investments. If you feel the New Year is time to review and blow the dust off your investment plans then please do not hesitate to give us a call.

Past performance is not a guide to future performance. Investments can go up or down, and you may not get back the original amount invested

Brought to you by David Barton of Prosper Independent Financial Advisers. David is a specialist in retirement and investment planning for the over 50’s

Choosing a financial partner may be the most important decision you’ll ever make.

Financial AdviceInvestment SolutionsPortfolio ManagementInheritance Tax planningRegular Financial Reviews

Call Prosper today on 01257 423800 to arrange your FREE no obligation initial consultation.

Prosper Independent Financial Advisers Ltd Prosper House, 99a High Street,

Standish. WN6 0HD01257 423 800

www.prosper-ifa.co.uk

●●●●●

David K. Barton DipPFS

�� Local Life www.locallife247.co.uk

There’s a lot of financial doom and gloom about at the moment, something that we are all touched by, but this isn’t a new feeling for Wiganers who have often been in the middle of trying times and have had to roll with the punches over the years.

George Osborne is the current Chancellor of the Exchequer, the holder of the country’s purse strings, but did you know that the very first ever Chancellor of the Exchequer has a connection to Wigan? King Henry III created the role for his right hand man John Maunsell in 1234, the same John Maunsell who

went on to become a Rector of Wigan a decade or so later.

Now John Maunsell may not have spent that much time in Wigan, busy as he was helping the King, but he was responsible for seeing that Wigan was able to prosper. In 1246, while he was Rector of Wigan, John Mausnell was given a charter that granted Wigan the right to become a Borough. This meant that a market could be held each week generating income and the people of Wigan were also permitted to make some governing decisions of their own. For richer or poorer; Wiganers had a say in their own lives.

Wigan, with its new Borough status, thrived and as the town was known for its healthy waters there was a Spa built at Scholes, (of all places!) and Wigan was nicknamed New Harrogate. Bell founding, clock making, nail making and other cottage industries grew up around the town. The mining of coal and ore have always played an important role in this area and Orrell owes its name to ore dug out of its hill – ore hill.

Skip forward a few centuries to the 1600’s and Wigan once more found itself in a politically and economically important place. The country had been in turmoil due to a war between wealthy Earls and Barons and the King, this time Edward II. In particular, Thomas the Earl of Lancaster opposed the throne and the North West saw an important standoff between the King and his opposition. One of the final battles of the Civil War took place on Wigan Lane and, much later, Charles II presented the then Mayor of Wigan with a special sword. It had the title ‘Ancient and Loyal’, a reward for Wigan’s faithfulness in times of strife.

In 1937, Wigan became synonymous with Northern poverty and deprivation when the George Orwell book ‘Road to Wigan Pier’ was published. The book highlighted the hardships we endured living and working in and around the cotton mills and coal mines of the town. George lived for a time in Darlington Street and, with his genteel middle class upbringing, found Northern life horrific and disturbing.

Over the past few decades though, good transport links to the rest of the North West and investment by companies such as Heinz and the Tote have helped Wiganers prosper to a degree. So whatever 2012 throws at us, we’re ready for it! Wigan’s wealth comes and goes, but it’s the attitude of the people that get us through in times of need. That and our pies!

Rolling with the PunchesClare Sweeney


CMA Accountancy Guide to Success in 2012Hello and welcome to the latest article from CMA, a proactive accountancy firm based in Appley Bridge. By the time you read this article most tax returns will have been submitted and it will be time to plan for the future.

Here at CMA, as well as making sure your businesses finances are in the best shape we are also experienced business advisers and provide assistance to help you grow.

This month we are looking at business planning for 2012 and how to get the best from your employees and create a winning team. Whether you are thinking about starting out or you have been running a business for a long time, here are some useful steps to take to build a great business:

Assess where you are today – make a realistic assessment of your business and look at your strengths and weaknesses and what do you need to build on.

Failure to plan is plan for failure – January is a good time to plan for the next 12 months. Set your sales targets for the next year and think about any new products or services you can offer your customers.

Define your teams’ roles – make sure everyone in your business is clear on their respective roles.

Identify Goals – Develop and implement a performance measurement and reward system to support your plans.

Coach your team – Regularly provide guidance and training so that they are updated with the latest trends and issues in your market.

We are happy to talk to anyone about their plans for the next year and look at ways to help you grow your business. If you would like to find out more about any of the issues raised in this article CMA offers a free initial consultation, either at our office or yours, at a time to suit you. If you would like to see how we can help, please get in touch.

Contact DetailsChris Alcock ACMA, CMA Accountancy 39 Skull House Lane, Appley Bridge, Wigan, WN6 9DRTel: 01257 255521 Email [email protected] web www.handsonaccounting.co.uk

Tax TipsIf you’re on a low income and have savings with a bank or building society, are you paying tax on your interest?

The PAYE system is complicated and as a result there are vast numbers of incorrect PAYE tax codes. Is your tax code correct?

When setting up as a sole trader, did you know that you can claim against your profits for items used in your business even if they were purchased prior to commencement of trade?

Did you know that married couples can arrange their finances to utilise each personal allowance (£7,475 for 2011/12) and lower rate tax bands (£35,000 for 2011/2012). Can you transfer income producing assets to a spouse to take advantage of their lower taxable income?


Community Cash AvailableGrants of up to £2,000 are available to help Wigan folk organise their own community events celebrating the 2012 London Olympics. Wigan’s Cultural Partnership is supporting the cultural element of London 2012 by running a one-off grant scheme for cultural community organisations including youth groups, schools, churches and sports groups.

To celebrate and inspire people locally, grants up to the sum of £2,000 are available to develop and hold events in your local community and it doesn’t just have to be around sport. They can be themed around play, heritage, the environment, dance, music, theatre, visual arts, film and digital innovation – celebrating the cultural elements of the Olympics. The events will need to take place between February 2012 and 9th September 2012 which is the closing date of the 2012 Paralympics

Gill David, Interim Chairperson of the Cultural Partnership, said: “This is about encouraging, promoting and enjoying what will be a ‘once in a lifetime event and we want communities across the borough to come up with as many fantastic and fun ways they can think of to enjoy the spirit of London 2012.”

If your group has the ideas, innovation, motivation and team spirit then contact 01942 486 256 or email [email protected] to apply for your grant application pack.

The closing date for applications is Monday 30th January 2012. The decision-making panel will then meet to decide where the grant money will be allocated. The Cultural Partnership is made up of local representatives from the public, private and voluntary sectors.

Gill David added: “The Cultural Partnership is committed to improving the lives of individuals and communities across the borough, increasing the accessibility of cultural resources and developing recreational opportunities reflective of people’s needs. “London 2012 represents a very clear way to celebrate and create opportunities for communities across our borough.”



What‘s the current role of the network?Carol: The Community Network is still acting as a voice for residents. Major areas of concern recently have been the potential loss of Green Belt Land near to the M6 Slip road, the future use of the Old Community Centre site at Anthorn Rd, together with Smithy Brook Park, and the lack of suitable access onto St. Aidan’s Playing Field for emergency vehicles and our Annual Fayre on the Field.

Dorothy: The Orrell & Billinge Community Network aims to bring together the community at a local level; listening and acting on residents’ concerns and campaigning hard for identified priorities such as the new Orrell Health Centre.

How will the Network be affected by the closure of the Forums?Dorothy: We have always been pro-active and independent-minded so the closure of the Forum will have little effect on us at a local level. The money that used to come to the Network is now to be determined by the ward Councillors but as we have a good relationship with them I am hoping that we can work together for the good of the area.

Carol: We have been little affected. Helped by the success of our Grange Community Complex, we are still regarded as valuable partners by the Council and all the partner agencies. We have close links with Officers throughout the new Council structure and with the evolving new Third Sector Assembly.

What would you see as the future role of the Network?Carol: We work closely with our local community groups and would like to strengthen these links to make a real difference in our Community. The

Over ten years ago, as part of Wigan Council’s Township Forum initiative, two community groups were launched in the local area to facilitate community engagement with the Council and other agencies. These groups were known as the Orrell & Billinge Community Network and the Winstanley & Highfield Community Network. Both groups still exist today; they are run by local residents and meet each month to discuss and act on matters of concern in their respective communities.

Now that Wigan Council has finally brought the axe down on the Township Forums, Local Life asks the question; what’s the future for the local Community Network groups? We got together with Dorothy Walls, the Chair of the Orrell & Billinge Community Network, and Carol Watson, the Chair of the Winstanley and Highfield Community Network, and asked them a few questions.

New Dawn for Community Groups


Network also promotes and supports the work of the Grange Community Complex and Hope Community Library. Fund raising is also essential as funding for courses, local projects and activities is becoming very hard to access.

Dorothy: We aim to strengthen further our links with the community as a whole – local residents, clubs, churches and other groups, to work in partnership to make the area a better place in which to live. We’d also like to raise funds to improve life for all age groups and to support new and existing community groups in their aims and aspirations.

What role do local councillors play in the Community Network?Carol: We are a non-political organisation and all Councillors are welcome at our meetings. Councillor Stan Barnes gives us his full support, but we have been disappointed that we have had no such commitment from our other two Councillors for months. We believe we should all be working together for the good of the community that we serve.

Dorothy: The work of the Network complements that of the ward Councillors who are broadly supportive and attend meetings when they can. They quite often offer instant feedback and/or advice to residents so their presence is much appreciated.

How will the new Localism Bill affect the group? Dorothy: Anything that gives local people more say over what happens in their area is a good thing in my book. I am not sure yet how we can make this work for us but we will have a good try!

Carol: We are reserving our judgement on this until things are clearer. In principle it should be a force for good, but in practice there is still a long way to go.

How can I help?Dorothy: We need more people who are willing to get involved. We have lots of great ideas, what we don’t have is the time and commitment from a sufficient level of volunteers to turn some of the ideas into action. If you really haven’t got a few hours a month to spare to attend our meetings, then come along and support the events we organise instead.

Carol: Committed volunteers are as valuable as gold. If you can spare a little time to help we can continue to bring benefits to our community, to improve the quality of life for everyone and play an active part in shaping the future of our area.

How does the Network represent me?Carol: Come to our monthly meetings and make your views known. Not just when you have a problem, but whenever you can. We always try our best to act as an effective channel of communication from residents to the Council and other agencies and vice-versa, but we need your input to do this accurately.

Dorothy: To make your views heard you’ll need to come along to our the Network meetings or monthly coffee morning but we are planning an Open Day in March where you can discover what the Network does, and more importantly, you’ll be able to give your views on how we can improve the Orrell and Billinge area. The time, date and location of the Open Day will be publicised in the next edition of Local Life. In the meantime you can catch up on what’s happening through our Facebook page.

The Orrell & Billinge Community Network meet at Orrell Methodist Church on Church Drive in Orrell on the 2nd Wednesday of the month. The next meeting is this Wednesday (11th January) at 7pm)

The Winstanley and Highfield Community Network meet at the Grange Community Centre in Highfield Grange Avenue on the 1st Wednesday of the month. The next meeting is on Wednesday 1st February at 7pm.



Business NetworkingThe next meeting of the Wigan Borough Business Club is this Tuesday (10th Jan) at Westleigh Community and Learning Zone from 6.30pm. The meeting is sponsored by Pulse Training and Development Ltd. who will be running a session at the meeting. If you’re a business owner, you can enjoy a good head start to 2012 by taking in a short but invaluable action-packed session from Pulse Training and Development on communication.

Pulse assures us that ‘Whether it’s building relationships with new customers, negotiating, influencing, problem solving or managing others, our skill at communicating is almost always the difference between success & failure’. As usual, food and refreshments will be served and there is no cost involved. There will also be a chance to network with your fellow business owners on the evening, both before and after the presentation.

Panto FunIf you’re not ready to let go of the festive period just yet, then make sure you book tickets for the WLT’s pantomime, Dick Whittington. Slapstick comedy, romance, dancing and singing abound in this festive treat for all the family. The pantomime runs from Friday 6th to Saturday 21st Jan, with matinee performances on 7th & 14th Jan. Bookings for these productions can be made by telephoning the box office on 01942 242561, in person at the box office or by completing a postal booking form. If you would like more information about what’s on, prices or how to book then visit the website at www.wiganlittletheatre.co.uk


Picture HouseParbold’s Picture House is readying itself for a busy January, which includes a very timely screening of Gasland, a documentary about the controversial energy extracting practice known as fracking, which has caused uproar in the Fylde area of Lancashire. When the film-maker, Josh Fox, was asked to lease his land for gas-drilling, he embarked on a journey across America to discover all he could about drilling by hydraulic

fracturing (fracking)and the risks it poses to human and environmental health. Gasland is screened on Sunday 29th January at 7pm.

Other films screened in January by this community cinema include Little Voice on Sunday 8th and Jane Eyre on Sunday 22nd. All films start at 7pm at Parbold Village Hall and the doors open 30 minutes before the screening starts. Admission costs are just £3 and refreshments are available.

Competition WinnerWe had an amazingly high response to our Lancashire dialect competition which was in the November edition of Local Life; there’s obviously many of our readers who are not yet ready to let go of our heritage! The winner, who received a meal for two at Holland Hall restaurant in Up Holland, was Ella Crank from Dorchester Road in Up Holland. Well done Ella! For details of the winners of our Christmas Hamper competition, turn to pages 50 & 51.


4� Travel brought to you in association with Marken Travel

Beautiful scenery, a rich historical past, awesome art treasures, wonderful food and sunshine too – it is no wonder that the British, as pilgrims, adventurers, poets and tourists, have been going there for more than 1,000 years. All the great things in life; beauty, food, wine, opera, football, art and the pursuit of happiness – seem to matter more in Italy.

But Italy retains strong regional differences and it is this diversity - of cuisine, art, outlook and landscape – which is one of the great joys of the country, making it a pleasure to visit and re-visit.

Throughout the 15th century, its various cities vied with each other to produce ever more wonderful works of art and architecture - and many of them are still there. Florence is the ultimate city of art, and it is home to Michelangelo’s David and Botticelli’s Birth of Venus. The town centre is like some glorious open-air museum.

Rome is one of the world’s most photogenic cities; a glorious city filled with classical antiquities, medieval buildings and Renaissance palaces. Gaze in wonderment at the ceiling in the Sistine Chapel, and take in the gladiatorial majesty of the magnificent Colosseum.

You can take a trip up the mountains of the Apennines on the way through Umbria to peaceful Assisi, one of Italy’s most beautiful mountain towns. Here you’ll find the Basilica of St Francis of Assisi, a huge split level

church built into the hills of Assisi, which was built in c13th after the local saint’s death, and now a World Heritage site.

And thenthere’s Venice.

Described recently in the New York Times as “Undoubtedly the most beautiful city built by man”, Venice is renowned for its artworks and architecture, but its magical setting across 117 islands in the marshy Venetian Lagoon is what makes it truly distinctive. You simply can’t visit Venice without cruising along Venetian canals in romantic gondolas, soaking in the music and the unique atmosphere. And if it’s romance you want (and who doesn’t!), you can visit the site of what is, perhaps, history’s saddest love story in nearby Verona, looking up at Juliet’s balcony in the courtyard of the Capulet home.

Travelling through the peaceful landscapes of Tuscany, with its rolling hills of well-tended vines and olive trees, punctured by the occasional medieval walled hill-town, you’ll start to appreciate the essence of Italy and what draws tourists to return year after year.Sounds wonderful doesn’t it, and that’s without mentioning the beauty of Sorrento, historic Pompeii, striking Sicily, the delightful Isle of Capri, the gorgeous Italian Riviera and the sublime grandeur of the Italian

A Taste of Italy

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Lakes; there’s just so much to write about!

So if you’re set on Italy this summer you’ll be spoilt for choice, but to get the best of your holiday you need the very best tour operator to help you plan your trip and that’s where Insight Vacations comes in!

Once you land in Italy, you’ll travel in style and comfort across the country in luxury coaches (with lots of leg room), scenic railways and river cruise boats, taking in a fabulous selection of sights with a small group of fellow tourists. Think of travelling business class with expert drivers and knowledgeable guides, staying only in premium hotels in central locations, and having free time available to explore beautiful Italy at your leisure and that is what’s on offer from Insight Vacations.

Insight Vacations boasts the finest collection of premium and luxury escorted journeys throughout Europe, the US and many other destinations. If you’re interested in one of their Italian tours or you’d like to discover what else this tour operator can offer you, don’t miss the informal Italian evening hosted jointly by Insight Vacations and Marken Travel, which is being held at Marken Travel on Main Street in Billinge on Wednesday 18th January between 6.30pm and 8.30pm – see advertisement below for more details.

Free case of 6 fine Italian wines to every customer who books an Insight Vacations tour to Italy before 31st January at Marken Travel!



would like to thank the following companies for sponsoring ourChristmas Hamper competition and raising £500 for Wigan and Leigh Hospice.

0%bespoke fused glass design

morpheus glass

Orrell Councillors Delph Tavern

Our annual Christmas Hamper competition went down a storm again this year! The lucky winners are listed below and all received their hamper a couple of weeks before Christmas. We would like to thank our hamper sponsors (see the advertisement below) who dug deep and paid £100 for the privilege of sponsoring a hamper. Half of the money that they donated went to Wigan and Leigh Hospice, so Local Life presented a £500 cheque on their behalf to the hospice just before Christmas.

Local Life would also like to thank Windy Arbour Farm Shop who, in addition to sponsoring a hamper, also provided many of the goods at cost price, which enabled us to maximise the donation to the hospice. Pictured pulling out the winning competition entries were the good ladies from the Pemberton Wigan and Leigh Hospice Shop; Evelyn Kenny, Marie Baxendale, Elaine Birchall, Marie Pocock and Ann Stringman.

Pictured on the opposite page are;James Hall from Tarnside Road in Orrell, being presented with his hamper by Ian Roscoe, the landlord of the Delph Tavern in Tontine.

Maureen Greenacre from Kilburn Road, also in Orrell, who is pictured receiving her Christmas hamper from Donna Gornal from De Reve Bathrooms, Kitchens and Stoves in Billinge.

Mrs Bailey from Fulbeck Avenue in Marus Bridge, who was lucky enough to win a Christmas Hamper donated by Gareth Watts of Up Holland electrical company G Watts Electrical.

Geraldine Griffin from Belmont Avenue in Billinge who is pictured receiving her festive hamper from David Arrowsmith, Steve Murphy and Richard Clayton, the Ward Councillors for Orrell & Billinge.

Barbara Colton from Warminster Grove in Winstanley who is pictured with the hamper sponsored by Manor House Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning.

Other hamper winners not pictured here include; John Hanley from Whitley Crescent in Wigan, Melanie Taylor from Woodhurst Drive in Standish, Mrs Holmes from Chorley Road in Hilldale near Parbold, Mrs Billings from Longbrook in Shevington and Catherine Ackerley from Arbour Lane in Standish.

Hamper Winners

�1Local Lifewww.locallife247.co.uk



Promote your business in our pet section for just

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�4 Local Gardening Life www.locallife247.co.uk

Spruce up your borders!Happy New Year everyone - I hope you had a lovely time. Now that the decorations have been put back in the loft it’s time to look forward. January can be hard work after the giddiness of the festive season but don’t let the gloomier aspects of this month get you down. The best tonic I find is to have something to plan and look forward to and apart from re-decorating our bedroom (I can hear hubby groaning at the thought and he’ll never understand why I want to dress the bed with gorgeous sparkly cushions) I’m thinking about warmer, sunnier days to be spent outside in the garden.

As you probably know by now, I like to think of my garden as another room in the house and if you are finding that you tend not to use your garden much, this can be a useful tool in understanding the reasons why you don’t make the most of your outside space. The following checklist may help:

Is the garden practical and does it have useable spaces for dining outside, sunbathing, entertaining, children’s play

Is it overlooked and lacking privacy?

Is the garden boring without focal points or nice planting. Does it lack features such as a pergola or water feature?

If you don’t want a full garden makeover, tweaking your garden can make a big difference. For instance give your lawn a strong shape with defined edges. Unless you prefer

a contemporary style, curves usually work best. Just tidying up the borders and adding some new plants can breathe new life into your garden. Place a large urn or pot in the border, amongst the planting, and you instantly have a focal point.

And my two absolute favourite plants for late winter are Sarcococca confusa and Daphne odora ‘Aureomarginata’. They are both evergreen and at this time of year produce highly scented flowers (white and pink respectively) - perfect! Place the Sarcococca in a shady spot and the Daphne in sun and they will instantly add glamour to your borders. See, hubby - just like my sparkly cushions add glamour to the bedroom!

Author: Angie Barker (Dip GD) Inst GD BA (Hons)

Our resident gardening expert Angie Barker, provides us with some more gardening hints, tips and seasonal selections.

Sarcococca confusa

Daphne odora ‘Aureomarginata’

��Local Gardening Lifewww.locallife247.co.uk


Renault reckons it’s high time the Twingo put the fun back into the city car. Andy Enright agrees.

The Renault Twingo always offered a fun drive but was starting to look a little old fashioned. The latest version retains the fun factor but refreshes the styling and adds a little more quality into the mix.

When Renault first introduced the cheeky Twingo to European markets way back in 1992 it proved an instant hit with British holidaymakers. Renault deciding not to import it to the UK fearing it would cannibalise profitable Clio sales and it wasn’t until 2007 that Renault started bringing in the Twingo, in a vastly different second generation guise. It was a very good car but never had the sheer force of personality of its predecessor. Renault is working to rectify that situation with a heavily revised Twingo that aims to put the fun back into the model line.

Since diesel power generally makes sense only for larger superminis, the Twingo emphasis is, not surprisingly, on petrol power. The units in question, like the chassis, are borrowed largely from the previous

generation Clio and for keen drivers, that’s good news as the Clio II boasted one of the most capable and fun small car platforms around. Electric variable power steering is fitted as standard, with the sportier models getting a beefier set up to complement the use of stiffer bushes in their suspension set-ups.

SUPER COOPER


The Twingo has been treated to quite a radical piece of cosmetic surgery. The rather bland face of the old car has been replaced by something a lot busier. The massive sidelights that bulge from the edge of the front grille are almost Nissan Juke-like while the headlights get a set of eyelid type mouldings that give it a sleepy-eyed look. At the back there’s a new bumper and light clusters and Renault’s wheel designers have been caning the overtime with 17 new designs for alloy rims and wheel trims.

The cabin demonstrates Renault’s aim to improve perceived quality with some interesting uses of colour and material. It gives the car a more considered and upmarket feel than the surprisingly bland finish of its predecessor. The two rear seats can slide 220mm fore and aft to prioritise space for either people or luggage and they also fold flat and then tumble forwards, offering up to 959 litres of space in this guise.

Budget between £7,500 and £13,500 for your Twingo, depending on the specification you choose. If that seems fairly close to what you’d pay for a Clio, that’s fair comment, but many prefer the Twingo’s cheeky personality to the rather more mature feel of the Clio. The latest Twingo expresses that side of its nature rather more extrovertly with a choice of a five different roof decals, an idea clearly purloined from MINI and Citroen. Each one is factory fitted, with the contrasting motifs offering different visual atmospheres. Customers can also choose contrasting colours for the door mirrors and tips of the protective side mouldings, which stand out boldly against the main body colour.

The Twingo has earned a reputation for offering a lot of fun at very little cost. The great thing about the little Renault is that even the entry-level cars can put a big smile on your face and you’ll see over 55mpg from the 75bhp 1.2-litre engine. Even the raciest Renaultsport version should average 42mpg if you drive it fairly sensibly, although I readily concede that the chances of that are small. Likewise insurance costs are very reasonable, ranging from group 10 at the bottom to a fairly acceptable group 21 for a Renaultsport 133. Depreciation is well controlled as there’s always a market for economical city cars and improved build quality is bolstering residuals still further.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and although I’m not fully sold just yet on the styling of the latest Twingo, I have a suspicion that it’s something I’ll grow to like. The Renaultsport model I’m not so sure about but it drives so well I’d probably own one even if were emblazoned with rainbows and cherubs.

In summary, Renault has taken a good car that’s imbued with a broad streak of fun, and has made it a little better, with improved quality inside and more customer choice in terms of personalisation. It’s a car that looks as if it has changed more than it actually has, but perhaps that’s no bad thing. The underpinnings were sound already. If you’re looking for an entertaining car that won’t cost the earth, the Twingo deserves serious consideration. Efficiency hasn’t replaced fun just yet.

To book your test drive or for more details about the Twingo please contact:Arnold Clark’s at Scot Lane Wigan (01942 225565), Sherdley Road St Helens (01744 457000) or Gemini Retail Park in Warrington (01925 575885).


Motoring



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The Useful NumbersMedicalPemberton Surgery 0844 477 9459Pemberton PCT Clinic 01942 775820Concourse Walk-in Centre 01695 588640Bradshaw St Surgery 01942 222336Church St Surgery 01695 622982Hall Green Surgery 01695 622268Holmes House Ave Surgery 01942 483213Hall Green Clinic 01695 622781Orrell Clinic 01942 775750Wigan Infirmary 01942 244000Ormskirk Hospital 01695 577111Moor Rd Dentist 01942 215091Church St Dentist 01695 625565Tower Hill Dentist 01695 622410Hall Green Dentist 01695 622066NHS Direct 0845 4647Emergency Dental Repairs 01695 623334Wigan Chiropractic Clinic 01942 498480Mathew Ryder Clinic 01695 624042NHS Dentist, Up Holland 01695 627617

Police, Councils and CouncillorsGreater Manchester Police 101Local Policing Team 0161 856 7188Wigan Council 01942 244991Wigan Council (Out of Hours) 01942 404040Cllr Clayton (Orrell & Billinge) 07979 734969Cllr Arrowsmith (Orrell and Billinge) 01942 486859Cllr Murphy (Orrell & Billinge) 01942 487688Cllr Barnes (Winstanley) 01942 766454Cllr Morgan (Winstanley) 01942 486880Cllr Winkworth (Winstanley) 01942 766229Skelmersdale Police Station 01695 566134Up Holland Police Team 0845 1253545West Lancs DC 01695 577177Cllr Moran (Up Holland) 01695 550256Cllr Pollock (Up Holland) 01695 632710Cllr Fillis (Up Holland) 0781 138 8153County Cllr Evans (Up Holland) 01695 624683

Other Useful NumbersHope Community Library 01942 777545Lamberhead Green Library 01942 705060Up Holland Library 01695 622368Local Life magazine 01695 627999


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I75 Local Life Wigan Jan 2012