I AM sick to death of the negative attitude to good community projects currently coming from Coalfield Challenge!

I spend a lot of my spare time working in the voluntary sector on projects which could change the quality of life for the needy, poor and young of this town and I am sick of hearing that Coalfield Challenge cannot or will not help.

In Wigan, under City Challenge, I see lots of worthy things going on and being supported. Here in Leigh nothing seems to be eligible for funding, or if it is then the funding is insufficient to do the job.

I would like to know what the money has been spent on so far as all I have seen to show for their efforts so far is a fancy office in Bradshawgate.

I also believe (from the Coalfield Challenge newsletter), that if you live in Higher Folds you will be getting a £60,000 shop. I do not know what it will be selling, if anything, nor how the residents will benefit from it. I even doubt if the people of Higher Folds know themselves nor have been consulted.

Besides occasional "fun days" and a caravan at the front of the library in July, I have not seen any way in which ordinary people are involved and/or consulted. If I am correct in my observations, can someone from Coalfield Challenge please enlighten me, as right now I am disillusioned with Coalfield's provision so far.

Do I have to go and live in Wigan to get the benefits of consultation, dynamic management, accountability, funded community and voluntary organisations and well-thought out projects? Never willingly, for I am a Leyther and proud of it!

(Name and address supplied)

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.