IT seems that Lord Peter Smith, leader of Wigan Council, again does not want to listen to residents.

In the summer 2016 edition of Borough Life, he refers to the crest of Wigan borough incorporating all the town crests with the motto ‘progress with unity’.

He calls for each town to have their own crests on street signs instead of the borough crest, as though this is irrelevant and easily dismissed.

He then goes on to talk about the first Wigan Pride event, which will take place on Saturday and will highlight how it is a welcoming and tolerant borough.

I don’t think he is listening to the vast majority of residents in the towns which make up the borough of Wigan who would not echo his sentiments.

The towns in the east of the borough have demonstrated beyond doubt that they want to have their own democracy by having their own parish or town councils, and want to retain their historic identity by the ability to use their own town crests.

Lord Smith’s refusal to agree to these requests for local democracy does nothing to increase residents’ support of ‘Wigan pride’, which he wants.

Quite the opposite, it perpetuates the grass roots impression that it is them and us, everything for Wigan and nothing for us.

I plead with Lord Smith to think again and at least let the towns use their historic town crests, and allow areas which request community governance reviews to decide the issue democratically by holding referendums and prove once and for all whether or not they want their own parish or town council.

Norman Bradbury

Hillside Avenue

Atherton