CREATING SAFER STREETS IN WIGAN

OUR WALKING CONNECTS TEAM HELD A COMMUNITY STREET REVIEW IN THE SCHOLES AREA OF WIGAN IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SAFER STREETS TEAM, WIGAN COUNCIL. THE EVENT WAS ALSO ATTENDED BY LISA NANDY, MP – SHADOW SECRETARY OF STATE FOR LEVELLING UP, HOUSING AND COMMUNITIES.

Walking Connects aims to inspire over 50s to get out and about on engaging led walks and provides the opportunity to voice their need for changes to their local walking environment.

a group of people pose on a park bench, including a living streets staff member
the group carrying out a community street review

We should all be able to walk on safe and accessible streets that are free from clutter and pollution. A poor walking environment can have a huge impact on how much people want to walk in their area. Issues such as feeling unsafe, experiencing cluttered and poorly kept pavements, and lack of seating can particularly effect older people choosing to walk.

The day started with our Walking Connects Project Coordinator, Liz Neary, hosting a training session for a group of local residents (most of them over 50), equipping them with all the tools to set out on the Community Street Review.

A new, creative approach to how we collected evidence for the review was taken by inviting artist, Pierre, from Mindful Photo Lab along. Pierre provided the team Polaroid cameras to help them document their observations visually. This gave them an extra way of expressing themselves without the use of words, making the review more accessible and fun!

ISSUES OBSERVED ALONG THE ROUTE INCLUDED:

uneven pavements, littering, lack of crossings, safety, lack of greenery graphic
pictures of the group on the csr taking photos

After the review, the group sat down with a cuppa, looked over the photos and notes and compiled a list of improvements and things they liked from the walking environment. Pierre then guided the team through an exercise in which they wrote a manifesto of change for the area, outlining how Scholes would look in a utopian world.

The presence of local MP, Lisa Nandy, (Shadow Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities) meant that residents could voice their findings to someone with the influence to make changes. Lisa fully recognised the issues described, and supported the suggestions offered.

A full report is being compiled and will be shared with Wigan Council to work towards making improvements for walking in and around Scholes.