"The Dodge City days are over": The future for three Greater Manchester towns

The growth of online retail has seen empty units mount in our town centres. And pulling people back is at the heart of a Wigan Council regeneration plan that wants to make its high streets a ‘destination’.

Members of the Confident Places Scrutiny Committee gathered in the town hall to hear of plans for Wigan, Leigh and Ashton-on-Makerfield.

Releasing unused council assets, securing funding pots and establishing a 'joined-up vision' for centres is how the council are looking to make a difference across the borough of Wigan, the March 22 meeting heard. Although the strategic focus currently resides with the three largest towns in the area, plans for others will follow, Melanie Lamb, service manager for regeneration, told the committee.

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Here, the Local Democracy Reporting Service looks at the details.

The council’s signature project, currently underway, is the redevelopment of The Galleries. The £135 million project comprises a six screen, 700 seat cinema, multi-lane bowling alley, indoor mini golf, a climbing wall and a wide range of other indoor leisure activities.

Plans for the multimedia centre were given the green light at the beginning of March and there is hope the new market hall, the first section to be built, could be completed by late 2024. Construction will only start once demolition of the old site is finished - which is set to conclude by the end of 2023.

Wigan Pier, once a bustling scene for nightlife, has become derelict and an eyesore - however the project to turn this area into a wedding venue, gin distillery, microbrewery and food hall with eight townhouses is now