A COUNCIL plan with aspirations to improve the borough over the next decade has been officially launched.

The Deal 2030 strategy, which was created from the views of thousands of people, was launched by representatives from organisations from across the borough in Believe Square in Wigan.

From improving the borough’s town centres to making sure people are healthy; children having the best start in life to the environment being litter-free, the strategy sets out 10 goals.

Deal 2030 was developed by residents, community organisations, businesses and public bodies and outlines how everyone can work together to create a world class place to live, work and visit up to 2030.

The consultation which helped form the plan, the Big Listening Project, was led by Wigan Council over the past year.

More than 6,000 people had their say across 83 locations, giving 10,000 ideas which were then prioritised into the 10 key priorities for the borough.

Wigan Council leader, Cllr David Molyneux, said: “We are so fortunate in Wigan borough to have residents, partners and community organisations that care deeply about the place and the communities in which they live.

“Deal 2030 is an ambitious plan for all of the borough which we can all get behind.

“It has been created by listening to thousands of people and, in-keeping with The Deal, everyone can play their part in delivering it.

“We have achieved so much in Wigan through empowering our communities, breaking down barriers between organisations and working in new ways.

“Now we are looking to the future to achieve the very best for all our residents and our future generations.”

The strategy strongly represents the views of children and young people with the Big Listening Project visiting dozens of schools and youth groups.

Leigh Journal:

Amelia Burrows

Seven-year-old Amelia Burrows, who attends Britannia Bridge Primary School in Ince, gave her opinion on the Big Listening Project when a session took place at her school.

She said: “I want more happiness, encouragement and heart in the borough.”

The launch included representatives from Made In Wigan, Bowl and Plate in Ashton-in-Makerfield, the Wigan Youth Cabinet, carers groups, Greater Manchester Police, Wigan, the Wigan Forward Board, Wigan STEAM, Wrightington and Leigh NHS Hospitals Trust, Wigan NHS Clinical Commissioning Group, Wigan Council and Sunshine House.

Dave Baxter, from Abram Ward Community Cooperative which runs the Made in Wigan community business project, said: “We are proud to be a partner in delivering Deal 2030.

“Partnership working is essential to take our borough forward and to help shape it into the place that we all want it to be.

“The Deal has achieved so much and it is exciting to be entering a new chapter of empowering local people and communities to deliver lasting change.”

William Powell, aged 15 is a member of Wigan Youth Cabinet was part of the consultation to form the strategy.

He said: “We feel truly privileged to have had the opportunity to have been consulted for Deal 2030.

“Deal 2030 has been an excellent opportunity to make sure that young people feel listened to in our community.”

Each priority of the strategy now has to be delivered on and the council and its partners will be held accountable on whether this is achieved through a number of partnership boards and its own governing bodies.

The council will also produce a public annual report which will show how much progress it has made on each priority.