A COMMUNITY group remains committed to taking over a former library building.

Atherton Community Trust (ACT) outlined its interest in running the Wigan Council site on York Street in January to offer a hub for a range of age groups.

The town's library relocated to the neighbouring refurbished Atherton Town Hall, which offers multiple services and was opened last December.

Registered charity ACT proposes it would use the former library site as a base for a veterans hub, a youth zone, and provide facilities for education, arts and recreation.

It is hoping to take over the building via a community asset transfer from the council.

An ACT spokesman said: "Our aims are to promote and engage with the community and work together with as many groups as possible to ensure their future.

"We want to promote Atherton as a place to invest, live happily and socialise.

"We aim to help to promote the history of Atherton, its legacy, and to provide beautiful greenspaces, promote the parks and local events, such as Proms in the Park and the Atherton Carnival.

"We are all passionate about our town and will endeavour to make it a place to be proud of.

"The trustees are from a wide variety of backgrounds, including councillors, community activists, representatives from industry and business who are all local to Atherton."

Last week ACT chairman Norman Bradbury and resident Carol Knowles went to the Tesco Superstore on Crab Tree Lane in a bid to raise funds for the group.

Leigh Journal:

Carol Knowles and Norman Bradbury at the Tesco Superstore in Atherton

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They told people how they could buy a Unity Lottery ticket, in which half of the proceeds of the £1 price can go to ACT.

For more details on how to join the lottery call 0370 050 9240 or visit www.unitylottery.co.uk.

To ensure money from the sale of the ticket goes to ACT, select Atherton Community Trust on the drop-down list.