'say no to metro'

TWO Independent candidates aim to take Atherton and Tyldesley out of Wigan Metro if they are elected.

Stephen Hall, who is standing in Hindsford, and Stephen Shallcross, who is hoping to represent Atherton, are urging voters to "say no to the metro" and vote Independent.

They claim a less remote and more democratic local government will emerge if Atherton and Tyldesley left the Metro.

The Independent manifesto for Hindsford and Atherton states: "If we are elected, we don't just want to perform the usual role of a Councillor better than our Labour and Lib Dem rivals!

"We want to use our positions to actively promote and build opposition to Labour Big Wigan's attacks on our towns' amenities and in support of a completely new local Government set up for our area outside of Wigan Metro.

"We also want to use our positions to assist others in neighbouring towns who share similar aims"

Grandfather

Mr Hall was a member of the Labour party for 26 years and his grandfather, Stanley, was once the Labour chairman of Tyldesley council.

Mr Hall insists proposals for a new form of local government are not a pipe dream.

He said: "Nobody wants to be in Wigan Metro that I have spoken to. Just look at the Welsh assembly and the Scottish parliament -- that shows things can be changed, nothing's cast in stone."

Mr Hall and Mr Shallcross have also pledged to halt Atherton and Tyldesley's decline and say they will demand the same funding for the towns as 'middle England'.

If successful they aim to stop the towns' assets from being sold and are campaigning against all service cuts and any proposed rent, rate or council tax rises.

Included in their aims are plans to re-open town hall rent and rates office at Atherton.

They hope a victory for either or both of them will send a clear message to Wigan Civic Centre and 10 Downing Street about the strength of feeling about issues they are concerned with.

Mr Hall said: "We have quite a lot of support from ex-Labour members."