ATHERTON'S new quarter-of-a-million pound square was officially opened this week.
The square -- created in front of St John the Baptist Parish Church at one end of Market Street -- will be a meeting place for shoppers and a space for entertainment and activities.
Atherton stalwarts ex-mayoress Minnie Clarke, widow of former mayor, town councillor and Greater Manchester transport boss the late Joe Clarke, and honorary alderman Jack Sumner, a Metro councillor for 25 years until 1999, jointly launched the new square on Friday.
Cllr Brian Strett, cabinet member for the environment on Wigan Council, said: "The square has made a great improvement to the environment of the town centre and to the setting of this fine listed church."
The square has traditional stone paving, new street lights, benches and litter bins. Part of the Leigh-Bolton Quality Bus Corridor Scheme, it is the first phase of an improvement programme to create a more pedestrian-friendly environment, tempt more passengers on to buses, and give better access to town centre car parks.
The square was jointly funded by Wigan Council, English Heritage, the Landfill Tax Credit Scheme funded through Landfill Management Ltd and Entrust, and the Atherton Building Communities initiative.
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