Wigan Council looking into project for Railway Road improvements

With "excellent architecture" and buildings designed by local architect J.C Prestwich, Railway Road has been designated as a Conservation Area by Wigan Council in order to protect its architecture and history.

Although this means that many developments are subject to planning permission in the designated area, the council feels that small changes to buildings and shop fronts have not helped the look and feel of the area.

And as many departing businesses have not been replaced over the years, this has resulted in rows of empty shops, dilapidated buildings, and a general feeling of neglect and deterioration.

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Railway Road is a protected Conservation Area by the council (Image: Wigan Council)

Whatever has led to the decline of buildings on and around Railway Road, business owners believe that this is one of the main reasons for the unpredictable and dwindling footfall in the area.

Neil Fallows, owner of the Coffee Stop at Railway Road, said that he has "never known a more unpredictable pattern of footfall at the minute", and that there has been a "definite drop off" in passing trade since opening in 2016.

Joanne Leeson, owner of Jo's Cakery a few doors down from Neil's coffee shop, said that her business would not be able to survive if it wasn't for her online custom.

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Neil Fallows, owner of the Coffee Stop on Railway Road, has seen unpredictable and declining footfall in recent years (Image: Leigh Journal)

As premises along Railway Road are privately owned, Wigan Council said that its shop front scheme included in its Levelling Up bid could have allowed many of the shops to improve the outlook of their building and therefore the wider area.

However, as the bid was unsuccessful, the council confirmed it is still looking at options to improve the area, which could go some way towards encouraging more people to invest and shop along the road.

Deaprting businesses have left empty shops along the road (Image: Leigh Journal)

Aidan Thatcher, Director for Growth and Economy, said “Railway Road is a designated Conservation Area. A recent plan published by the council recognised that the area has excellent architecture, undermined by some unsympathetic changes to the buildings and some shop fronts that have been left to deteriorate.

“The Levelling Up bid for Leigh proposed a grant scheme to help owners improve their shop fronts and support investment to bring empty shops back into use.

"This was unfortunately unsuccessful, but the Council is exploring the potential for a project focussed on this area, and more information will be available later this year.”

The former Wigan and Leigh College building which is to be converted into apartments on Railway Road (Image: Google Maps)

Answering calls to bring in more days of free parking around Railway Road and the wider town centre, the council said they already offer this in council-owned car parks every weekend.