You are correct, The Watcher does mean Clifton Street.Imleythbenter is also correct,as is brad fitler.However am I alone in thinking that the residents of Clifton Street are not a selfish bunch & will gladly give up their cul-da-sac status to help save the fields.

I think you're that alone you'll be able to hear your echo!!

The sooner the road is built along the edge of the marshes the better and as this isn't an RL related topic shouldn't it have O/T attached?

Sorry, I thought RL was played on the threatened sports field in question.

Nah ...... Only Leigh Central Lions these days !!!!!!!!!!!1

..but the sports fields aren't under threat. The road is planned at the edge of the playing fields. No pitches will be lost and the developers are planning to build new changing rooms and improve the drainage to the playing field. Win win situation. The marshes are upgraded and a new relief road is built that will allow more industrial units being built on brownfield land. More jobs for the town will be created. I don't understand what the nimbys are complaining about.

Well whats all the fuss about then ? Why are the locals kicking off ? Why the big banner on someones gable end ? I still think it would be easier to knock the bollards down at the end of Clifton Street though.

Because they have little else to do, have never experienced unemployment, have never played on the Marshes nor used the 'changing facilities'.

If they were building a big chemical plant on the whole of the Marshes then fair enough, but when you look at the improvements it's a winner in my opinion.

all the fuss is about one female Wigan Road resident who loves to hear her own voice being the centre of attention. the sooner this road is in place the better for the easing of road congestion

fully agree with the comments here which doesnt happen often with people on here it is a win win situation for everyone assosiated with the marsh playing fields

Get it built, get um all built the more roads the better, lets see if the dog owners will let their pooch squat in the middle of the road like they do on the grass

Problem is, wherever you build a road there will still be congestion arond Sainsburys roundabout. It will just mean not as much backup on Wigan road. It will seem better but probably wont be.

As for doing the pitches. Is it all of them or just the two near where the road is to be built? Theres a sonking great ditch on the pitch at the other end and the pitch in the middle is a quagmire as soon as it rains

The only area that will be affected is the top strip which runs alongside the houses at Cameron St. This area isn't even used because it's always like a bog.

The planners will build new changing huts, upgrade the fields and landscape the surrounding area. The area where the clayhole used to be will be a wildlife reservation.

I was actually approached by a lady who said they where building on the playing fields and she asked me to attend the public enquiry whenever it was to be. Now I actually know what is going on I wouldnt be against it and think it may do some good.

I'm still a little doubtful about whether it will ease congestion though. The same amount of traffic will still be heading for Sainsburys roundabout.

That's the problem, this lady is giving everyone false information in order to get votes. She seems to be a one woman crusader who just wants to win at any cost!

I cant see the problem really. For most of the winter that area of the marshes is about a foot deep in water anyway.

Looking at the plans the road will cross parsange way and onto Preistners way so i'd imagine the junction at ASDA would also have to be upgraded. It will reduce traffic on Wigan road and if the entrance to the new road will be a roundabout it will slow traffic down coming towards one of the most dangerous bends in Leigh.

I wish they'd start it tomorrow TBH, I think it will massively reduce traffic on Wigan Rd and Sainsbury island and lets face it, a bigger junction at Asda will be far safer than kamikaze island!

its bloody not lol. We play there they just sorted it out its prob the best pitch around now go through clifton street i think

lol

Build a flyover over the marshes

Which pitch? I agree at the moment most are in excellent condition now but we didn't play a game for 5 consecutive weeks in Nov/Dec of last year. As soon as it rains consistently they will bog down once again

There is a long letter in the Journal this week about how the Marshes came to be playing fields.The story is quite interesting but to say it is an insult to the memory of the benefactor is perhaps going over the top somewhat.

Ive read it but its a little over the top to say the least. If there isnt going to be a loss of pitch then I can't see a problem

That family also built the Gymnasium at Leigh 'tech' College for the people of Leigh, when was it used for an 'event' last?

Like I said previously, the pitch at the other end of the marshes to where the road is to be built has a little ditch in it that just totally waterlogs as soon as it rains. We asked the council could they sort this out because it caused us a great many problems last year as well. They said there would be no chance because it would cost £50,000 at least to sort it.

The changing rooms are a joke also. Im surprised they have running water but each room isn't big enough for a full football team to change in never mind a rugby team.

The council do have form over this though. The changing rooms where burned down at the William Fosters ground last year (around August ~I believe) and its taken them to Feb to remove all the deris that was still there. Did they reduce the cost to clubs? Only the clubs could tell us. Saying that, it was probably the best thing for those changing rooms because they where in a worse condition than those on the marshes.

All the clubs using council pitches pay a lot of money forthe use of the whole facilities and it is only right to expect a decent standard back from the council.