HAIGH HALL CHANGE AND DECAY ALL AROUND I SEE

In the Observer last week the disgraceful state of Haigh Hall was highlighted and the general state of neglect and decay of the grounds.
10 years ago I was in a party given a tour behind the scenes at the hall where we found a building rapidly deteriorating owing to lack of maintenance.
In places the roof was supported by "temporary" supports and buckets were under holes in the roof to catch the water.
By the famous antique "Runnigar staircase" which is not open to the public was a small office for social services and prominently on the staircase were attached posters about AIDS. I queried this and was told that the building had to be used for the people of Wigan in spite of the fact that a building in the town centre would have been better for all concerned.
Money was also used as an excuse for the neglect as usual.

THIS IS OUR PREMIER BUILDING AND THE METRO ARE THE CUSTODIANS OF IT,IN OUR NAME.
To find the money to preserve our heritage should be their top priority but it seems they are more concerned on spending money on celebrating "diversity" and paying for the likes of Elliot Brown, than celebrating Wigan's past and the contribution our ancestors have made to our country. How much does his department cost us taxpayers?
Money seems to be available in plenty for new offices to accomodate the burgeoning bureaucracy of the town hall and increases in salaries for the senior officials, (who authorises their salaries or rises by the way?)

It is to be hoped that this beautiful building and its grounds, which were created by the sweat of our ancestors are preserved for our children and not lost by incompetence and neglect, as were the Roman remains under the Grand Arcade.

SO COME ON WIGAN METRO,FIND THE MONEY ,
FORGET DIVERSITY and CELEBRATE WIGAN.
WE,THE TAXPAYERS DEMAND IT.
IT BELONGS TO US.