THE council has announced a £1.38m investment into local green spaces.

Nineteen of the borough's favourite green spaces are to get improvements over the coming months – with upgrades to well-trodden pathways and paved areas. Several will also benefit from landscaping and drainage works.

Cllr Chris Ready, Wigan Council’s cabinet portfolio holder for communities and neighbourhoods, said: “We’re incredibly proud of our local parks and we know how important they are to our residents, being fabulous places to play, meet friends, spend time with family and get some fresh air and exercise.

“These wonderful green spaces at the heart of our communities are vital for our physical and mental wellbeing, which is why in Love Parks Week we’re delighted to announce we’re investing in making them as welcoming and accessible as possible. The path upgrades will be particularly important for those with wheelchairs or mobility issues.

“This investment will also support our community wealth building objectives, creating work for local people and drawing on local suppliers, while our contractors have pledged to deliver added social value through work experience for young people, donations to local food pantries and contributions to local community projects.

“We’re excited to see it all take shape in the months ahead.”

Greater Manchester-based environmental improvement specialists J. Hopkins Contractors Ltd have been appointed to carry out the works – news of which comes hot on the heels of Atherton’s Central Park earning Green Flag status, joining Mesnes Park (Wigan), Pennington Hall Park (Leigh), Alexandra Park (Newtown) and Jubilee Park (Ashton-in-Makerfield) on the list of the UK’s best-kept green spaces.

Three of those parks (Central Park, Alexandra Park and Pennington Hall Park) are included in the pathways programme, as are Orrell Water Park, Borsdane Wood Nature Reserve and Amberswood Common.

Lilford Park, Firs Park, Westleigh Park and Sanderson’s Croft in Leigh are on the list too, along with Tyldesley’s Astley Street Park, Leyland Park and Rayner Park in Hindley, and Westlake (Clayhole) Park in Hindley Green.

Also set to benefit are Abram Park, Kipling Park (Worsley Mesnes), Margaret Street Park (Springfield), Ashfield Park (Standish), and Lawns Wood (Standish Lower Ground).